Jobs That Don't Background Check

Many professional jobs perform a background check before hiring an employee. These background checks provide relevant information about an applicant, so it's not an unfair practice. However, background checks make it challenging for some people to get jobs.

The good news is that there are great jobs that don't require them. We're going to take you through many examples of jobs that don't require background checks.

What Is a Background Check? 

Background checks are done on people to discover more information about them. For example, companies use background checks to verify someone's identity during the hiring process. These checks are also useful for discovering criminal records, sex offender status, and more. Background checks may also reveal information about someone's history, education, criminal record, general court records, and more.

What Information Shows Up on a Background Check?

Background checks reveal a lot of information about someone. For example, depending on the type of background check, you'll find out about someone's criminal record, traffic violations, or court records. 

More in-depth background checks will reveal information about someone's sex offender status, social media profiles, dating profiles, and information about spouses. Background checks will also provide basic information like someone's full name (with middle initial), address, phone number, and email address.

Why Do Jobs Require Background Checks?

Many jobs require background checks because it verifies someone's identity. When someone claims to study at the University of Southern California, for example, background checks will verify if there are records of the person studying or living there. Background checks will also show potential employers someone's criminal record or sex offender status, which may influence the hiring decision.

Can I Decline a Background Check?

Yes, you can decline a background check, and it is illegal for an employer to perform a background check on you without your prior expressed knowledge and consent. 

However, declining one is often seen as a red flag for many employers, and you might not get the job. If you're concerned about your background check, that's something you should discuss with your potential employer during the interview. 

5 of the Best Jobs That Don't Perform a Background Check 

There are hundreds of jobs that don't require a background check. That said, some jobs are better than others. We'll take you through five of the highest-paying and most flexible jobs that don't require a background check. 

We list these jobs below.

• Contractor
• Entrepreneur
• Freelance writer
• Landscaping
• Web development 

1.Contractor

Contractors are individuals who operate their entities. Instead of being employees, contractors are 1099 workers who work on a per-job basis. Contractors are common in construction, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more. Most contractors are not subjected to background checks because construction companies just want someone who works hard. The only time that contractors may get checked is if they're going to work for a union.

Contractors also can work for themselves. They can create companies, function as a middle man for labor and materials, or work as something like a freelance carpenter. With many options and plenty of flexibility, contracting is one of the best jobs that doesn't require a background check.

Each year, contractors make between $30,000 and $120,000. The industry is expected to grow by almost 9% in 2022, and it continues to be one of the best fields someone can enter. 

Keep in mind that we're referring to construction-based contracting with this entry.

2. Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are individuals who create companies or work for themselves. Many entrepreneurs create startup companies or develop small businesses. In fact, many entrepreneurs create big corporations like Tesla, Microsoft, or Google. While CEOs and other members of a company are often subjected to background checks, the owner is not.

So, why don't entrepreneurs get background checks? The answer is simple. Entrepreneurs work for themselves. Therefore, running a background check on yourself would be counterproductive because you already know everything. 

Still, you can run a background check on yourself if you're curious about the results. Just use Information.com's background check tool. Entrepreneurs make between zero dollars and billions of dollars because it depends on the business they create. In the United States, average small business owners make between $40,000 and $136,000.

3. Freelance Writer

Writing is another job that doesn't require a background check, and freelance writing is one of the most popular contracting jobs around. Writers write books, short stories, newspapers, online articles, sales copy, and much more. Depending on your writing skills, becoming a freelance writer is easy and doesn't require a background check.

Freelance writers don't get background checks because they often work as independent contractors. Ultimately, writers aren't treated as employees but as contracted professionals. Typically, companies that hire writers as contractors aren't interested in performing background checks.

When it comes to money, freelance writers make between $35,000 and $90,000 on average. However, remember that the amount of money someone makes as a freelance writer will vary. Like other types of contract work, there's no floor or ceiling.

4. Landscaper

When it comes to jobs that don't require background checks, landscaping is one of the most popular options. For people who live in the suburbs, landscaping is a lucrative career. Most people who own homes enjoy keeping their grass, shrubbery, and trees looking nice. But unfortunately, many people don't have the time to maintain their property. This is where landscapers come in.

Landscapers cut grass, blow leaves, trim hedges, and more. Plus, the work pays well, and the hours make for big paystubs. Landscaping jobs also don't do background checks because the labor is often cheap. Additionally, many landscaping companies are also small businesses, and many small business owners avoid using expensive background check companies.

On average, landscapers make between $30,000 and $70,000 per year. The amount that landscapers make fluctuates based on the region. For example, landscapers in New York or California make more than landscapers in the midwest. Landscaping is also an industry that continues to grow and will grow by 2.2% in 2022.

5. Web Developer

Developing landing pages, websites, and other things on the internet is becoming a popular industry. In fact, the industry is expected to grow by 5% between 2021 and 2031. Web development continues to grow because more and more companies are building online brands. Having someone to build websites and web pages makes it easy for companies to expand.

Many web developers don't get background checks because they work as contractors instead of employees. People who work as contractors are professionals who work for themselves. Therefore, no hiring process requires a background check unless a web developer wants to work in-house. Web development also blends into jobs like IT, back-end development, front-end development, and more.

Typically, web developers make between $50,000 and $120,000. That said, it depends on the company and whether or not a web developer works in-house.

Final Thoughts

Getting a lucrative job without being subjected to a background check is possible. When looking for a job, make sure you check out the top five jobs we listed earlier or any of the other jobs that don't require a background check.

There are also ways to limit the amount of information about you that's available to the public. Taking down social media posts and limiting your online footprint can all help with your hiring potential.