By Charyn Pfeuffer

Hey, ladies! Did you know you could skip earning a college degree and still
snag a well-paid job? There are a wide variety of careers out there where a
college education may be helpful, but is not essential.

According to a May 2010 Forbes article, "Best-Paying Jobs For Women," women
make up more than half of the workforce and are more likely that ever to be
primary or co-breadwinners in their families. It's not surprising that they are
demanding top dollar for their time.

If you'd like to take home more than $65,000 per year -- without a degree --
here are five fields where women dominate and may more easily find work. All
educational data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you aspire to be the next Project Runway contestant, consider a job as a
fashion designer. Creativity reigns supreme in this field, where designers study
trends, sketch designs, select fabrics and see production of clothing, footwear
and accessories through until it reaches the consumer.

Typical earnings: $68,000

Girl power: 88% of fashion designers are women.

Educational background: An associate's or a bachelor's degree in fashion
design may give applicants an advantage, although experience in textiles,
sewing, tailoring and computer-aided design (CAD) all come in handy.

-- Find fashion designer jobs

Rest assured, not all dental hygienists are treated like Jennifer Aniston's
sidekick in Horrible Bosses. In fact, these professionals play an
important role in keeping your pearly whites in tip top condition. From removing
deposits to providing preventative care, these practitioners help patients
maintain good oral hygiene.

Typical earnings: $67,700

Girl power: 97% of dental hygienists are women

Educational background: If you have a high school diploma and college
entrance test scores, it's generally enough to gain entry to a dental hygiene
program. Although a degree is not a must, dental hygienists must be licensed by
the state in which they practice.

-- Find dental hygienist jobs

When it comes to matters of the heart, cardiovascular technologists and
technicians assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions.
Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in areas of practice that require
invasive procedures, such as assisting with open-heart surgeries or inserting
pacemakers.

Typical earnings: $66,000

Girl power: 74% of vascular technologists are women

Educational background: Some cardiovascular technologists may need an
associate's degree for entry-level employment, but many simply receive
on-the-job training. Others may complete a two-year junior or community college
program resulting in an associate's degree.

-- Find vascular technologist jobs

If you want to work directly with patients, you may want to consider a career
as a registered nurse. These hard-working professionals wear a variety of
"hats," assisting physicians with everything from performing diagnostic tests to
providing emotional support. When placed in an emergency room setting, these
nurses size up a patient's immediate needs and care for patients with
life-threatening conditions.

Typical earnings: $67,720

Girl power: 92% of registered nurses are women

Educational background: Registered nurses can enter this field via several
educational programs, including an associate's degree followed by the successful
completion of a national licensing examination.

-- Find registered nurse jobs

When your pregnant friends post pics of their to-be-born baby on Facebook,
those images were captured by an ultrasound technologist. These medical
professionals operate specialized equipment and guide patients into position for
best visual results for physician review.

Typical earnings: $65,100

Girl power: 90% of ultrasound technologists are women

Educational background: Some people in this industry may pursue formal
education via either a two-year or four-year programs, but employers may accept
training in an accredited practice or a vocational certificate.

-- Find ultrasound technologist jobs

Source: All salary data is provided online salary database by
PayScale.com. Salaries listed are for full-time, female employees with 9-12
years of experience. Percentage of female workers is provided by PayScale.com,
as well.