20 Jobs That Don’t Require Background Checks

Hey, we’re not nosy. We don’t care why you don’t want a background check to be done by a potential employer. We just know that some people would prefer not to have a future employer do a background check on them.

And that’s just fine with us. That’s why we’ve come up with a handy list of different jobs where you might not be required to have your background researched.

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.

• There are even some companies that 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 that you can make serious bank at while not having to worry about a background check.

1. Actor/Actress
   Average Annual Salary: $65,311

   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.

   Most companies, studios, theaters, etc., that hire actors and actresses don’t care about their backgrounds. In fact, it sometimes seems that the shadier the background, the more interesting the person is.

   Find Actor/Actress jobs near me

2. Carpenter
   Average Annual Salary: $41,000

   Starting out, you might not make much, but the more you learn, the better you become and the more you’ll make. A lot of construction companies don’t care about your background — they just want hard workers. If you’re good enough, you can go out on your own and set your own rules.

   Find Carpenter jobs near me

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

   Have a knack for something? Anything? There are a lot of ways to craft a social media presence and then turn around and start using your brand to make money. It’s hard work, but it can be done, and the paychecks can be ridiculous.

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

   This is another physical job that’s more about hard labor and skill and not your past. If you can prove to the owner of the company that you’re willing to learn a 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 have a great career as a truck driver. Whether you work for a company or branch out on your own, this can be a rewarding job.

   Find Truck driver jobs near me

6. Roofer
   Average Annual Salary: $33,000

   Not afraid of heights? This could be the job for you. Again, being willing to do the job is the key to getting it. Roofers are always in demand, and it’s a good-paying job. Many roofing companies are independently owned, and they might be more lenient when it comes to background checks.

   Find Roofer jobs near me

7. Entrepreneur
   Average Annual Salary: $74,000

   Striking out on your own and making the most of your talents can be the best idea you’ve ever had. You don’t need a background check for yourself, obviously, and the sky’s the limit when it comes to income.

   Find Entrepreneur jobs near me

8 Entry-Level Jobs That Don’t Require Background Checks

To be honest, most jobs that pay a lot require experience and education, or at least some on-the-job training. That means when you get your first job, you’re not going to be making that much. But that’s okay; you can earn those monster paychecks one day.

In the meantime, let’s get some experience under your belt. These entry-level jobs typically don’t require background checks.

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

   Whether you’re doing it on the phone or on a computer, many companies don’t care about your background. Especially if you’re providing technical support and not taking financial information over the line — as a side note, sometimes this can be a work-from-home job.

   Find Customer Service Representative jobs near me

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

   Yes, your driving history will be important here, but a criminal background shouldn’t hold you back from doing this job.

   Find Delivery driver jobs near me

3. Waitress/Waiter
   Average Annual Salary: $20,000

   Serving people in restaurants is a job that many people do at some point in their lives. It has such high turnover that many employers don’t bother with background checks because of the expense, and there’s no need.

   Find Waitress/Waiter jobs near me

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

   Speaking of working in restaurants, the crew behind the scenes also doesn’t need a background check in most situations. The restaurants are just happy to get someone who can make a mean meal.

   Find Chef/Cook jobs near me

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

   Dog walking, pet sitting, doggie daycare, poop-scooper, and other pet-related tasks are decent entry-level jobs, especially if you love animals. Whether you work for a company or start your own, it’s doubtful that a background check will matter.

   Find Pet Care Specialist jobs near me

6. Uniform and laundry services
   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   One of the companies that are noted for hiring felons is Aramark, which has a large division of uniform and laundry services.

   While they do a background check, they might not care what comes back. There are also other companies that might be more than happy to have you in this field without a background check.

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

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

   Find Retail Specialist jobs near me

8. Mover
   Average Annual Salary: $28,000

   If you’re strong, then working for a moving company can be a great starting job for just about anyone. You might even learn enough to start your own moving company one day.

   Find Mover jobs near me

5 Work-From-Home Jobs That Don’t Require Background Checks

One way to avoid a background check is to start your own business. Theoretically, all of these jobs are work-from-home because you don’t have an outside office (unless you want to, of course), but some of them may require you to go out into the world and do work that’s not in your home.

Either way, these are fantastic ways to work without a background check and actually make some decent money, too.

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

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

   Find Graphic artist jobs near me

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

   Even better than graphic design, being a freelance writer is a solitary job that can be done at home, and the only tools you need are a computer and the internet.

   Find Freelance writer jobs near me

3. Transcriptionist
   Average Annual Salary: $28,930

   If you’re great at typing and have a good ear, then being a transcriptionist might be a good job for you. Sometimes there will be work with sensitive information, like legal and medical work, but you can hone in on other areas and still make a pretty good living.

   Find Transcriptionist jobs near me

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

   This position all depends on the type of data you’re dealing with. If it’s sensitive, you might need a background check. But there are so many companies drowning in data right now, with almost none of it being sensitive. They’ll just be happy to have someone working.

   Find Data entry clerk jobs near me

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

   You can run your business from home, but you’ll have to go to the job site to get the work done. This is a great way to branch out on your own and not worry about any background issues.

   Find House painter 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, but not the only thing.

The thing is that many employers do feel that information 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 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 allows for a potential employer to verify identity, check criminal history, and education background. This allows for an employer to know if the person they are hiring is who they are saying they are.

3. What is a red glad 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 checks when doing a background check. Depending on an employers 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.