20 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree
You don't need a four-year degree to land one of the highest-paying jobs, such as special effects artist, security analyst or airline pilot.
In certain industries, relevant work experience, internships, training and certifications are just as important, if not more important, than graduating with a four-year degree.
Job applications usually have a minimum educational requirement — some college, an associate degree or a bachelor’s or master’s degree. But with student loan debt topping $1.77 trillion in the third quarter of 2024 (an increase of 66% over the past 10 years), according to the Federal Reserve, you may ask if a four-year college degree is worth it.
The answer will likely depend on your career choice. Some professions — medical and healthcare providers, lawyers, teachers, nuclear engineers — all require a degree or degrees. (Here's our look at the best college majors for a lucrative career). However, some underrepresented career fields welcome applicants who never attended college or didn’t graduate with a four-year degree, and some of these careers pay very well.
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There are plenty of in-demand careers with a salary higher than $56,420 (the median U.S. annual salary), according to 20 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree, a report from career resource platform Resume Genius. The list spotlights well-paying jobs and their accompanying educational requirements, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here are the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree this year:
1. Airline and commercial pilot
- Median annual salary: $148,900
- Number of jobs: 142,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
- Educational requirements: Vocational training or Associate’s degree
- Work experience: None, but FAA certifications and flight hours are required
2. Information security analyst
- Median annual salary: $112,000
- Number of jobs: 168,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 32%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
- Work experience: None, but relevant certifications are beneficial
3. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
- Median annual salary: $99,999
- Number of jobs: 25,100
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 1%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or GED
- Work experience: Apprenticeship
4. Special effects artist and animator
- Median annual salary: $98,950
- Number of jobs: 89,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
- Work experience: Portfolio of work. Certifications can be beneficial
5. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager
- Median annual salary: $98,560
- Number of jobs: 14,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; certification programs beneficial
- Work experience: Five years in a related field
6. First-line supervisors of police and detective
- Median annual salary: $96,290
- Number of jobs: 4,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, police academy training
- Work experience: Several years in the police force
7. Radiation therapist
- Median annual salary: $89,530
- Number of jobs: 15,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 2%
- Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
- Work experience: Clinical experience/certification
8. Subway and streetcar operator
- Median annual salary: $88,260
- Number of jobs: 300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: On-the-job training
9. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
- Median annual salary: $82,340 per year
- Number of jobs: 122,400
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma. Technical training preferred
- Work experience: Apprenticeship
10. Dental hygienist
- Median annual salary: $81,400
- Number of jobs: 219,400
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
- Educational requirements: Associate’s degree in dental hygiene
- Work experience: Licensing (varies by state)
11. Web developer
- Median annual salary: $80,730
- Number of jobs: 216,700
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 16%
- Educational requirements: Ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree (education requirements vary by employer)
- Work experience: None.
12. Medical sonographer
- Median annual salary: $78,210
- Number of jobs: 142,800
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 10%
- Educational requirements: Vocational school, associate's degree
- Work experience: Licensing (varies by state) and clinical experience
13. Police and/or detective
- Median annual salary: $69,160
- Number of jobs: 808,700
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, police training academy for an entry-level position. Detective work might require some college coursework or a degree
- Work experience: Police academy and on-the-job training
14. Flight attendant
- Median annual salary: $63,760
- Number of jobs: 111,100
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 11%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, flight attendant training program. International routes may need fluency in a foreign language
- Work experience: Experience in customer service
- Medical/physical requirements: Must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline
15. Lodging manager
- Median annual salary: $61,910
- Number of jobs: 50,800
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: Experience in various hotel operations, from front desk to housekeeping
16. Property, real estate, and community association manager
- Median annual salary: $60,670
- Number of jobs: 429,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and licensing (varies by state)
- Work experience: Several years of work experience in a related occupation, such as real estate brokers and sales agents
17. Electrician
- Median annual salary: $60,240
- Number of jobs: 762,000
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: Apprenticeship program and licensing (varies by state)
18. Telecommunications technician
- Median annual salary: $60,190
- Number of jobs: 299,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and a certificate or an associate’s degree (varies by employer)
- Work experience: None
19. Industrial machinery mechanic
- Median annual salary: $59,470
- Number of jobs: 507,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 13%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, associate’s degree in industrial maintenance for some positions
- Work experience: None
20. Computer support specialist
- Median annual salary: $59,660
- Number of jobs: 914,110
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and some IT knowledge
- Work experience: Certification and some college coursework (varies by state)
Skills-based hiring
Given the soaring cost of college and an explosion in online learning and certificate courses, it's no wonder that students and employers are both looking for non-traditional ways to join the labor force.
“A college degree doesn’t mean quite what it used to, and we're witnessing a significant shift towards skills-based hiring," explains Eva Chan, a career expert at Resume Genius. "This change is creating more accessible opportunities, including a range of lesser-known yet well-paying roles."
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For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.
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