20 Jobs That Don’t Require Background Checks

Looking for jobs that don’t require background checks is common. If you’re afraid you’ll be discriminated against for a past indiscretion, finding a job where you know you can prove yourself by your current work ethic and not your past is essential.

In this article, we’ll provide a list of 20 jobs that don’t background check so you can streamline your job search.

Key Takeaways:

• Background checks are often done at the discretion of the employer because some companies have strict rules about background screening, and they do it for every potential hire.

• Some companies are open about their willingness to work with people who have a criminal record.

• Background checks are just a way for an employer to confirm who you are and make sure you are eligible to work there.

7 best-paying jobs that don’t require background checks

So, you don’t want a background check, but you want a big paycheck. Who can blame you? These are some jobs where you can make serious cash while not having to worry about a background check.

1. Actor
   Average Annual Salary: $65,311

   If you’re a good actor, most companies, studios, and theaters that hire actors don’t care much about their backgrounds. In fact, it sometimes seems that the shadier the background, the more interesting the person is.

   It’s not an easy field to get into, and it’s even harder to carve out a name for yourself and start getting paid the big bucks, but it’s a possibility.

   Find Actor/Actress jobs near me

2. Carpenter
   Average Annual Salary: $41,000

   A lot of construction companies don’t care about your background — they just want hard workers. Starting out, you might not make much, but the more you learn, the better you become and the more you’ll make.

   With some hard work and skill development, you can even eventually go out on your own and run your own business.

   Find Carpenter jobs near me

3. Social media influencer
   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Creating your own social media empire doesn’t require a background check because you’re your own boss.

   Do you have a knack for fashion, comedy, home renovations, fitness, cooking, or anything else people might find interesting? There are a lot of ways to craft a social media presence and then start using your influence to make money from advertisers. It’s hard work, but it can be done, and the paychecks can be more than generous.

4. Masonry Contractor
   Average Annual Salary: $62,960

   Masonry contractor jobs don’t do background checks because it’s a physical job that’s more about work ethic and skill and not your past.

   If you can prove to the owner of the company that you’re a hard worker willing to learn the trade, you can earn a very good living.

   Find Masonry Contractor jobs near me

5. Truck Driver
   Average Annual Salary: $51,000

   As long as your driving record is good, you can find many truck driver jobs that don’t require a criminal record check.

   Whether you work for a company or branch out on your own, this can be a rewarding job with good benefits and opportunities to own your own business.

   Find Truck Driver jobs near me

6. Roofer
   Average Annual Salary: $33,000

   Many roofing companies offer jobs with no background check, so if you aren’t afraid of heights and hard work, this could be the job for you.

   Roofers are always in demand, and it’s typicallya good-paying job. You can even work your way up to owning your own roofing company in the future.

   Find Roofer jobs near me

7. Entrepreneur
   Average Annual Salary: $74,000

   When you’re your own boss, you don’t need a background check for yourself, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to income.

   If you have a great idea, a solid work ethic, and some business know-how, this could be the best way to make the most of your talents.

   Find Entrepreneur jobs near me

9 entry-level jobs that don’t require background checks

If you don’t have much education and experience, you’re going to need to find entry-level jobs that don’t do background checks. These roles might not pay much at first, but that’s okay: This is the first step to building your work experience so you can earn those higher paychecks in the future.

1. Customer Service Representative
   Average Annual Salary: $29,000

   Many companies don’t care about your background when you’re applying for a customer service job. This is especially true if you’re providing technical support and not taking financial information over the line.

   You don’t usually need any experience for this role, and it’s possible it can be a work-from-home job as well.

   Find Customer Service Representative jobs near me

2. Delivery Driver
   Average Annual Salary: $37,000

   Your driving history will be important here, but many delivery driver jobs don’t require criminal record checks.

   Shipping companies, individual businesses, and food delivery apps all need delivery drivers, so if exploring your city sounds interesting to you, this might be a great job option.

   Find Delivery Driver jobs near me

3. Server
   Average Annual Salary: $20,000

   Serving people in restaurants is a job that many people do at some point in their lives, and it often doesn’t require a background check.

   This is a great way to build your customer service, problem-solving, and organizational skills while earning a solid paycheck.

   Find Server jobs near me

4. Chef/Line Cook
   Average Annual Salary: $44,000

   Behind-the-scenes restaurant positions are also jobs that don’t do background checks most of the time. Some positions will give you on-the-job training, while others require you to have a few certifications and skills.

   The good news is that there are usually plenty of opportunities to obtain these without much money or a background check.

   Find Chef/Cook jobs near me

5. Pet Care Specialist
   Average Annual Salary: $21,603

   Especially if you start your own company, you probably won’t need a background check to take care of people’s pets. Even if you do, it’s doubtful that the results will matter as long as you don’t have a history of animal cruelty.

   Dog walking, pet sitting, doggie daycare, poop-scooper, and other pet-related tasks are decent entry-level jobs, especially if you love animals.

   Find Pet Care Specialist jobs near me

6. Uniform and Laundry Services
   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Some well-known uniform and laundry service companies openly hire individuals with criminal histories and others don’t do background checks at all.

   While this line of work may not be glamorous, it’s a great way to get back into the professional world and start earning a paycheck.

7. Retail Specialist
   Average Annual Salary: $38,000

   It depends on where you decide to apply, but working in retail is a very common entry-level job, and not all businesses care about your background.

   It’s often especially easy to get seasonal retail jobs when stores are bulking up their staffing levels during busy times of the year.

   Find Retail Specialist jobs near me

8. Mover
   Average Annual Salary: $28,000

   Moving people’s possessions can be great no-background-check jobs for just about anyone. If you’re physically strong and good at working as a part of a team, there’s a good chance you can find employment in this arena.

   You might even learn enough to start your own moving company one day.

   Find Mover jobs near me

9. House Painter
   Average Annual Salary: $33,404

   Whether you run your own painting business or work for someone else’s, many house painter positions don’t require background checks.

   This job is hard physical work, but it also requires finesse, so be ready to work to hone your skills.

   Find House painter jobs near me

4 work-from-home jobs that don’t require background checks

When you work from home, the likelihood of your needing a background check decreases significantly. This is especially true if you do freelance work.

1. Graphic Artist
   Average Annual Salary: $47,000

   Graphic artists or graphic designers can work full-time for a specific company or do freelance work — either way, it isn’t a job that typically requires a background check.

   This is a job that’s easy to do from home, the equipment needed isn’t too expensive, and you often get to pick your own hours.

   Find Graphic Artist jobs near me

2. Freelance Writer
   Average Annual Salary: $52,025

   Media outlets and private companies alike will pay for written work, and they won’t typically check your background when they do.

   If you have a knack for words, a computer, and the internet, you can start working as a freelance writer right away.

   Find Freelance Writer jobs near me

3. Transcriptionist
   Average Annual Salary: $28,930

   Transcriptionists work from home converting voice recordings into written documents, and it often doesn’t require a background check to get started. If you’re great at typing and have a good ear, then being a transcriptionist might be a good job for you.

   Some roles that deal with sensitive information, like legal and medical work, may require a background check, but you can hone in on other areas that don’t.

   Find Transcriptionist jobs near me

4. Data Entry Clerk
   Average Annual Salary: $28,000

   Whether or not these jobs do background checks depends on the type of data you’re dealing with. If it’s sensitive, you might need a background check, but there are many companies drowning in non-sensitive data right now that will just be happy to have someone working.

   All you typically need for this job is a computer, a reliable network connection, and attention to detail.

   Find Data Entry Clerk jobs near me

What are background checks?

Most people think of criminal or legal issues as being the primary goal of background checks. They are definitely a part of it — and a big part at that –, but not the only thing.

Many employers do feel that the information on your background check is relevant. Especially if the job involves money, children, law enforcement, security, or sensitive information, these employers want to make sure they’re not putting their company, employees, their reputation, customers, or the public at risk.

On a lot of levels, that makes sense. You certainly don’t want a sex offender working in a daycare center. And you probably don’t want a habitual embezzler as your accountant.

Here are what employers look for in a background check.

• Employment history. An employer might do a background check to see if your employment history jives with what you’ve told them. Believe it or not, people lie on their resumes, and it’s best for companies to check them out rather than go on blind faith.

• Education. Similarly, they’re going to check out your education claims. Again, sometimes people aren’t completely honest, and an employer wants to confirm this information. Also, if they find that you lied in part of your job application, they might not trust anything you say.

• Work eligibility. If you’re from another country, you’re going to have to prove that you can legally work in this country. And an employer is probably going to check that out.

• Credit report. Why does a potential boss need to know your credit history? In most situations, they don’t. But if you’ve been bankrupt several times and are applying for a financial position, it might matter to them.

• Motor vehicle record. This really only applies to you if you’re trying to get a job where driving is related. Obviously, you can see why this would matter.

• Social media. Interestingly, it’s the policy of many companies to spy on the social media accounts of potential employees. This is a growing area and a growing concern. Just know that what you put out there in public can easily be seen by a potential employer and your grandma.

• Drug and alcohol tests. Not actually a part of a background check, these tests are often lumped in that category of things people don’t like to share with their employers.

Why don’t some jobs require background checks?

Here are a few different reasons why they might not do a background investigation:

• Laws. There are a lot of laws surrounding background checks and making sure that they’re fair. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Trade Commission have lengthy data on what’s required when doing screenings to be fair to all.

  Quite frankly, it can also be easier and cheaper for a company just not to do them.

• Cost. Speaking of cheaper options, background screenings can be expensive. Most companies hire an outside firm to do this and, if they want to comply with federal rules, they need to perform the same checks for all job applicants who are considered an actual candidate for the job.

• Doesn’t matter. Some employers feel that a background check is simply superfluous. They don’t care and don’t feel it applies to the job.

• Pro-felon. The number of companies that want to help ex-felons get back into the workforce keeps growing. These companies hire felons and make it a part of their company fabric.

• No time. If time is of the essence, there might not be time to do a background check. And if the hiring manager is in charge of it, they might be too busy to go through all of the hoops.

Background checks FAQ

1. What happens if I say no to a background check?

   You may not get the job if you say no to a background check. Employers must get written permission before running a background check from a background reporting company so you have the right to say no. If you say no to them running a check, they may not want to hire you for the job.

2. Why do employers ask for a background check?

   Employers want background checks to save them from hiring any dangerous or unsavory individuals. Background checks allow a potential employer to verify identity and check criminal history and educational background. This allows for an employer to know if the person they are hiring is who they say they are.

3. What is a red flag on a background check?

   A felony on your criminal record is a red flag for employers. Crimes such as robberies, serious drug offenses, and sexual offenses make it difficult for a background check to pass. While it can be difficult, it’s still possible to get a job with these crimes on your record.

4. What ruins a background check?

   Poor employment history and criminal history can be reasons for disqualification of a job. Employment gaps or a pattern of job hopping can be a reason for a potential employer to disqualify you from a job. Employers want someone who will stay with them for a long time instead of someone who will be there for a short time.

   A criminal history is one of the first things that are checked when doing a background check. Depending on an employer’s standards, it may or may not disqualify a candidate from the position.

Final thoughts

Background checks aren’t fun for anyone. Scrutiny can be uncomfortable, especially when you’re called into question. If you’d rather not have someone looking into your past, then there are a lot of jobs you can look into that don’t require a background check.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you start and run your own company, you never have to worry about background checks. You can also set your own hours, your work conditions, and you can determine how much you’re going to make – within reason, of course.

If it’s a criminal background that you’re worried about, you might not need to worry too much. There are a lot of companies that are a bit more progressive and actively hire people who have been convicted of a crime.

References

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Tractor-trailer Truck Driver Occupational Outlook

2. Federal Trade Commission – Employer Background Checks and Your Rights

Author

Kristin Kizer

Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.