Highest-paying jobs without a degree
Find occupations that typically do not require an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment ProjectionsPeriod: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wagesRetrieved 2026-10-05T08:25:31+00:00
Includes no formal educational credential, high school diploma, some college with no degree, and postsecondary nondegree award. Excludes associate’s degrees as well as bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Certificates, apprenticeships, and experience may still be required. National BLS detailed occupations only. Wages are median annual employee wages, not starting salaries or self-employed earnings. Missing wages are excluded from pay rankings. A “+” means a lower bound, not an exact wage; equal reported bounds share a rank. Education describes the typical entry requirement, not a guarantee of eligibility. Training, licensing, and experience may still be needed.
| Rank | Name | Typical education | Median annual wage | Projected growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial pilots DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $123,220 | 5.2% |
| 2 | Nuclear power reactor operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $122,890 | -5.9% |
| 3 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $109,910 | 5.7% |
| 4 | Ship engineers DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $109,530 | 2.7% |
| 5 | Transportation, storage, and distribution managers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $107,230 | 6.1% |
| 6 | Power distributors and dispatchers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $106,730 | 1.2% |
| 7 | First-line supervisors of police and detectives DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $106,040 | 3.3% |
| 8 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $103,020 | 9.7% |
| 9 | Power plant operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $102,040 | -5.1% |
| 10 | Makeup artists, theatrical and performance DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $97,150 | 6.1% |
| 11 | Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $96,710 | -1.9% |
| 12 | Postmasters and mail superintendents DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $96,660 | -0.3% |
| 13 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $95,320 | 10.3% |
| 14 | Detectives and criminal investigators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $93,790 | 0.2% |
| 15 | First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $93,530 | 3.7% |
| 16 | Gambling managers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $93,220 | 3.6% |
| 17 | Signal and track switch repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $92,460 | 1.8% |
| 17 | Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $92,460 | 4.0% |
| 19 | Transportation inspectors DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $92,100 | 2.2% |
| 20 | Transit and railroad police DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $90,230 | 3.2% |
| 21 | Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $89,900 | -3.4% |
| 22 | Gas plant operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $87,820 | -6.0% |
| 23 | First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $87,520 | 0.5% |
| 24 | Subway and streetcar operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $86,380 | 3.7% |
| 25 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $84,890 | 5.4% |
| 26 | Avionics technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $82,280 | 9.4% |
| 27 | Locomotive engineers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $81,410 | 0.5% |
| 28 | First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $79,920 | 5.0% |
| 29 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $79,870 | 5.4% |
| 30 | First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $79,860 | 4.1% |
| 31 | Stationary engineers and boiler operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,620 | 3.1% |
| 32 | Roof bolters, mining DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,540 | -18.9% |
| 33 | Insurance appraisers, auto damage DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $78,240 | -8.7% |
| 34 | Chemical plant and system operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,120 | -5.2% |
| 35 | Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,000 | -5.5% |
| 35 | Railroad conductors and yardmasters DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,000 | 0.9% |
| 37 | First-line supervisors of correctional officers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $77,970 | -2.5% |
| 38 | Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $77,320 | 2.1% |
| 39 | Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,590 | 0.0% |
| 40 | Boilermakers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,410 | -1.8% |
| 41 | First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,400 | 1.9% |
| 42 | Police and sheriff's patrol officers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,210 | 3.5% |
| 43 | Terrazzo workers and finishers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $76,170 | -13.0% |
| 44 | Fire inspectors and investigators DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $75,920 | 4.2% |
| 45 | Construction and building inspectors DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: 5 years or more. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,690 | 0.0% |
| 46 | Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $74,500 | -15.8% |
| 47 | First-line supervisors of production and operating workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,450 | 1.8% |
| 48 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,340 | 4.3% |
| 49 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,330 | -3.4% |
| 50 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $74,090 | 0.3% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
487 ranked entries.