text: where can i get a good job without a high school diploma in california?   your question begs all manner of smartazz answers, but to be serious and perfectly blunt, your odds of finding a decent job as a high-school dropout are very slim. there are a lot of factors that will make it hard. most importantly, by dropping out of high school you are voluntarily stepping to the back of the line when it comes to getting a job. all else being equal, companies will hire a person who has proven that they have the persistence to complete school and not even consider you. that alone sets you back. another strike against you is that many jobs require at the very minimum a high school diploma or a ged. you can't even hope to interview with them without one. basically you will spend the rest of your life competing against other dropouts for the crappy low-paying jobs. but if that's really where you see your dreams taking you, then there's no better time to quit school than tomorrow morning.