How much not having a GED costs you

You lose $4,000-$10,000 per year without a GED. Same job. Same work. Lower pay.

Here’s the real cost of not having a GED and what it takes to fix it. Let’s take a look at a real-life example.

You’re searching online for “CNA classes – no GED required,” and you come across a program that costs $2,500 and takes 12 weeks to complete.

You learn hard, you earn your CNA Certificate, and you get hired, making $15 per hour as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Later on, you learn from your coworker, who does exactly the same job, that she makes $17 per hour. But she has a GED!

Same hospital, same job. But you earn almost $4,000 less per year because you don’t have a GED.

Let’s do some real math and see what not having a GED costs you.

The weekly difference

• Certified Nursing Assistant

Without a GED, you earn $15 per hour (x 40 hours = $600 per week)
With a GED, you earn $17 per hour (x 40 hours = $680 per week)

The difference: $80 per week
That’s $320 per month, or $3,840 per year.

This means that, over ten years, you will lose $38,400 while doing exactly the same work.

More real numbers from common jobs

• Truck driver

On average, truck drivers without a GED earn $42,000 a year.
On average, truck drivers with a GED earn $52,000 a year.
The difference is $10,000, so your annual loss is $10K.

• Cosmetologist

Cosmetologists without a GED (limited to assistant roles) earn $25,000 a year.
With a GED (full stylist license), the annual earnings will be $35,000-$42,000.
Your annual loss: $10K-$17K

• Pharmacy technician

Practically all states won’t certify you as a pharmacy technician without a GED. You’re locked out completely.

You can find more common examples of jobs that do not require a 4-year college degree to earn an income in the 40-70K range in this post. Many jobs just need you to register with a vo-tech school in your area.

What it costs to fix this

In the examples above, you’re losing between $4,200 and $17,000 per year; each year!

Earning a GED diploma will cost you $223 to $379 in total.

Explanation: In most states, the GED exam costs around $144 to $180 for the complete exam (four independent subtests). The price varies slightly by state, and some states offer the exam entirely free to residents.

Onsego GED Prep (the full Advantage Plans) costs $79-$199, depending on how fast you want to finish. To learn more about Onsego online classes, <- check this page.

So simple math shows that your GED pays for itself in the first month of higher wages. After that, you can keep the extra $4K-$17K every single year.

The 10-year comparison

Without a GED, you will lose between $4,000 and $17,000 per year, meaning your 10-year loss is somewhere from $40,000 to $170,000.

If you hold a GED diploma, your one-time cost is between $223 and $379, so your gain over those 10 years will be between $40,000 and $170,000 as well.

So you see, that’s the difference between spending $350 once and losing up to $170,000 over a 10-year period!

Why “no GED required” jobs pay less

Just imagine you find a truck-driving school that requires no GED and has a tuition of $4,000. They promise you’ll earn $45,000 per year.

Now, compare that with CDL programs that require a GED and place you with companies that pay $52,000-$58,000. Same license. Better employers.

The fact of the matter is that companies that hire drivers without a GED usually:

• Have smaller operations
• Drive local routes only that pay less
• Offer fewer benefits
• Require you to work longer hours

So you see, having a GED opens doors to bigger companies with better pay and more benefits. Read also our page about why companies ask for a GED for 45K+ positions.

Why keep searching “no GED required?”

Let’s consider the most frequently mentioned reasons why so many people keep searching for jobs that don’t require a GED:

• They think getting a GED takes too long. They need a job right now.
• They think the GED is too hard. Because they didn’t finish high school, they think they’ll also fail the GED test.
• They think it’s too expensive. They think getting a GED is not worth it.

Well, all three assumptions are wrong!

How long do you need to pass the GED test?

Onsego offers a number of pathways to complete your GED. Important factors to consider include your prior education level, how much time you can dedicate to learning, and your commitment.

1. Fast track (4 weeks): If you study 3-4 hours per day, you can get your GED in as little as 4 weeks. You use Onsego’s $199 Advantage Pro Plan, which includes priority instructor support. This is the perfect option if you’re strong in most subjects and need to pass the GED quickly.
2. Standard pace (8-12 weeks): If you study 1-2 hours per day, you can earn your GED diploma in 8 to 12 weeks. Most Onsego students complete their preparation in this timeframe. This is a good solution if you’re balancing a job and family obligations. You can best use Onsego’s $119 Advantage Plus Plan.
3. Slow and steady (6-7 months): This option requires you to learn 30 minutes per day. This is a good option if you’re working full-time, cannot spend so much time on learning, and want to go at your own pace. Onsego’s $79 Advantage Plan is most suitable.

Let’s go back to the CNA example from the beginning. The CNA program you found takes 12 weeks to complete, so even Onsego’s standard GED prep course (Advantage Plus) fits in that same timeframe.

You don’t need to do well in school to pass the GED

This is important: The GED is not high school! You’re not sitting in a classroom for months. So if you were not good at school, you can still pass the GED.

Onsego breaks the entire GED curriculum into short video lessons. This allows you to retain the given information much better!

And there’s more help with Onsego’s AI tutor. Suppose you get stuck on a math problem at 11 pm. Simply click on the AI tutor icon and submit your question. You’ll get an answer in seconds, and nd you can ask as many questions as you want. Isn’t that amazing?

Keep in mind that the GED test doesn’t require you to memorize formulas. You must be able to think logically and analytically.

Onsego will teach you how to think through problems, and that’s exactly what the GED actually tests, but most GED programs don’t explain that.

What you get with Onsego

Onsego GED Prep is a comprehensive program that will prepare you for the four GED Subtests fast and efficiently.

GED Testing Service, the developer and publisher of the GED Test, qualifies the course as fully aligned to the computer-based GED exam.

Onsego’s Advantage Plans offer the following:

The payback period

• Video lessons for all four GED subjects (math, science, social studies, and language)
• Unlimited practice questions, so you can check your knowledge level
• AI tutor available 24/7
• Real instructors to review your essays
• Lots of free bonuses, including motivational courses, quitting-protection course, GED Calculator course, and a lot more.
• Pass guarantee (you don’t pass, you don’t pay)
• Onsego’s Advantage Plans range from $79 to $199, depending on your timeline and support level, and the four GED subjects are also available as stand-alone courses.
• If you want to read more about Onsego’s Essay Checker, <- visit this page.

If you go the GED pathway, you’ll spend between $223 and $379 on your GED preparation.

If we go back to the CNA example above, you see that, as a CNA with a GED, you will earn $320 more per month than without one.

That’s simple math: Your GED pays for itself in the first month! After that, your GED will generate pure profit. It will bring in an extra $3,840 more per year. Every year!

The bottom line

If you don’t get your GED, you’ll be losing between $4,000 and $17,000 per year. Each year! Getting your GED will cost you between $223 and $379 in total.

Getting a GED diploma will take you anywhere from 4 weeks to 7 months, depending on your pace and how much time you can dedicate to learning.

But the key thing is that your GED will pay for itself already in the first month at a better job.

So, stop searching for “no GED required” programs and jobs. Get your GED fast with Onsego and access jobs that actually pay well.

Start your free trial with Onsego today. Pass Guarantee included.

Last Updated on January 23, 2026