While the phrase “everyone deserves a second chance” is popular, for convicts this doesn’t always seem like a reality.
Many ex-criminals struggles to find work after their release from prison or following court-mandated rehabilitation programs. Unfortunately, this can cause a relapse back into the patterns of behavior that first got them into trouble.
Luckily, there are jobs out there that welcome ex-convict. Keep reading to learn 7 of the best jobs for people with a criminal record.
1. Tech Sector Jobs
If you’re computer-savvy, a little bit of training can help you land one a job in one of the fastest growing fields in the tech sector.
Web and Software Developers are among the careers with the highest rate of growth.
Because there are more jobs than applicants for many tech careers, you’ll find that most employers won’t run a background check. In fact, they won’t worry much about your past at all, just so long as you know your way around coding, web design, and analytics.
2. Auto Body Technicians
Perhaps when every car on the road is self-driving, we won’t have to worry about accidents anymore. But for now, the demand for auto body technicians to repair the damage from accidents will continue to exist.
Many autobody shops are known for being welcoming to ex-convicts looking for a fresh start. If you know your way around a car and they have an opening, you’ll just need to ace that interview to have a shot.
Plus, auto body techs earn an average salary of $47,000 a year.
3. Welding
Welding is an in-demand job field where skills are valued over education or your background.
Most welders get their start in small, privately owned shops. These locally owned operations often won’t run a background check or will be forgiving of a criminal background, just as long as you have the skills they are looking for.
To get those skills, you will need to attend a trade school or other welding education program.
Welding jobs pay an average of $17 an hour. But experienced welders can expect to bring in even more. Specialized fields, like underwater welding, are among some of the highest paying careers available to those with trade school training.
4. Electrician
Like welders, electricians are in constant demand. Once you’ve gotten the necessary training and completed an apprenticeship, you’ll be ready and able to work on your own.
With a never-ending demand for electrical work in commercial and residential buildings across the nation, you’ll have no trouble finding work.
You could opt to work as a home electrician, serving individual homeowners in need of electrical help. You could also go commercial, or even work directly for a construction power company.
Working as an electrician is a great opportunity to be outside and moving around to different locations throughout the day. This is great for active individuals and those who hate the idea of being confined to a desk in an office all day long.
The salary of an electrician is enticing as well; the average electrician earns $57,000 a year.
There are a few states that bar those with a criminal record from obtaining the licensing you’ll need to work as an electrician. Always be sure to research your state and its laws before you start a training program with the goal of beginning a new career.
5. Carpenter
If you’ve always been someone who is creative and enjoys working with his or her hands, you might have a future as a carpenter.
Few people care about the criminal background of an individual if they can craft beautiful furniture, sturdy cabinets, or stunning wood flooring.
The job title “carpenter” actually covers a wide range of careers. You could work in small, local stores making hand-crafted furniture or cabinetry. You could also work on a more massive scale, providing woodwork for everything from skyscraper projects to bridges.
Just as with electrician positions, you’ll likely need to complete an apprenticeship before you can go out on your own or work as an employee for a company. After that, you can expect to earn an average salary of $45,000 a year.
6. Freelance Writing
For those who enjoyed writing in their school days and have a firm understanding of grammar, there’s a treasure-trove of jobs on the web that can be performed right from the comfort of your couch.
Freelance writing is a field that gives back what you put in. That means that individuals willing to put in a lot of work to get a few bylines and work their way up towards higher paying jobs can make a solid living writing web copy and other business print.
Changes to the laws, such as bail reform, have increased crime in many areas of the country. This has led to some stigma towards ex-criminals as well.
Working on the web can be a great way for ex-cons to get their foot in the door towards a career without worrying about that stigma.
Read more about those changing laws and their flaws here.
7. Commercial Truck Driving
As long as your record doesn’t include too many traffic violations or an arrest for DUI, there is plenty of commercial truck driving positions that accept those with a criminal past.
Truck drivers are in high demand across the country. You will need to get your , or CDL before you can land your first job.
But in just a few months, you could start earning a median salary of around $34,000. Companies like Walmart may pay drivers much more, with some reports claiming that their drivers can expect to make more than $70,000 a year.
Finding the Best Jobs for People with a Criminal Record
Now that you know a few of the best jobs for people with a criminal record, it’s time to choose the right one for you.
Unfortunately, trouble finding a job won’t be the only issue you’ll face after your release from prison. If you’ve been an arrest for a DUI, learn more about other consequences you can .
