High-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a College Degree in 2026
Explore 14 high-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, with current salaries, training paths and job outlook data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some high-paying U.S. careers do not require a four-year bachelor’s degree, although specialized training or licensing may be required. · Empregara
A four-year college degree is not the only path to a high-paying career.
Several U.S. occupations offer median salaries near or above $100,000 without requiring a bachelor's degree.
Some require apprenticeships, licenses, certifications, technical training or substantial work experience instead.
Others typically require an associate degree, which takes less time than a traditional four-year program.
In this guide, “without a college degree” means a bachelor's degree is not the typical entry requirement.
Some careers below still require an associate degree, certificate, apprenticeship, license or specialized training.
Salary figures in this guide use the latest available U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook data.
The wage figures are median annual salaries from May 2025.
A median wage is not the starting salary.
Half of workers earn more than the median, while half earn less.
High-paying jobs without a four-year degree at a glance
| Career | 2025 Median Pay | Typical Entry Path | 2025–35 Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controller | $148,080 | Associate degree or qualifying experience + FAA training | +2% |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 | Flight training + FAA certificates | +5% |
| Nuclear Technician | $110,240 | Associate degree typically | +1% |
| Elevator Installer and Repairer | $109,910 | High school + apprenticeship | +6% |
| Transportation, Storage and Distribution Manager | $107,230 | High school + related experience | +6% |
| Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | Associate degree | +3% |
| Power Plant Operator / Dispatcher | $105,080 | High school + long-term training | -4% |
| Nuclear Medicine Technologist | $101,370 | Associate degree | +4% |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | Associate degree + license | +8% |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 | Associate degree | +14% |
| MRI Technologist | $95,480 | Associate degree + related experience | +8% |
| Electrical Power-Line Installer | $95,320 | High school + long-term training | +10% |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | Associate degree | +9% |
| Aircraft and Avionics Technician | $80,180 | Postsecondary certificate or training | +6% |
1. Air Traffic Controller
Median pay: $148,080 per year
Air traffic controllers coordinate aircraft movement and maintain safe distances between planes.
It is one of the highest-paying careers that may be entered without a bachelor's degree.
The BLS lists an associate degree as the typical education level.
However, qualifying work experience can also provide an entry path for some candidates.
Candidates must meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
They also complete specialized FAA training and extensive on-the-job training.
The occupation is projected to grow 2% between 2025 and 2035.
Read the official BLS Air Traffic Controllers profile .
2. Commercial Pilot
Median pay: $123,220 per year
Commercial pilots fly aircraft for charter flights, tours, aerial services and other commercial operations.
Do not confuse commercial pilots with airline pilots.
Airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Commercial pilots typically need flight training instead.
Some employers may still prefer or require a degree.
Commercial pilots must earn FAA certificates and meet flight-hour requirements.
Employment for commercial pilots is projected to increase 5% through 2035.
Learn more through the BLS Airline and Commercial Pilots profile .
3. Nuclear Technician
Median pay: $110,240 per year
Nuclear technicians support scientists and engineers working with nuclear energy and radiation.
Many work inside nuclear power plants or laboratories.
An associate degree in nuclear science or related technology is the typical entry path.
However, the BLS notes that some workers enter through military experience or apprenticeships.
Workers usually receive substantial additional training after being hired.
Employment is projected to grow only 1% through 2035.
The BLS still projects replacement openings as existing workers leave the occupation.
See the official Nuclear Technicians career profile .
4. Elevator and Escalator Installer or Repairer
Median pay: $109,910 per year
This is one of the strongest-paying careers requiring only a high school diploma for entry.
Nearly all workers learn the trade through an apprenticeship.
Most states also require elevator installers and repairers to be licensed.
The work combines electrical systems, mechanical equipment and troubleshooting.
It may also involve confined spaces, heights and emergency repairs.
Employment is projected to grow 6% between 2025 and 2035.
Visit the BLS Elevator and Escalator Installers profile .
5. Transportation, Storage and Distribution Manager
Median pay: $107,230 per year
These managers oversee how goods or people move through transportation and distribution systems.
They may work in logistics, warehouses, trucking, distribution centers or related operations.
A high school diploma is the typical entry-level education listed by BLS.
However, workers generally need significant experience before reaching management.
BLS lists five years or more of related experience as typical.
Employment is projected to grow 6% through 2035.
Explore the official BLS career profile .
6. Radiation Therapist
Median pay: $105,310 per year
Radiation therapists administer radiation treatments to patients with cancer and other serious diseases.
An associate degree is the typical entry-level education.
Most states also require licensing or certification.
The work requires technical accuracy and close interaction with patients.
Employment is projected to grow 3% through 2035.
Read the BLS Radiation Therapists profile .
7. Power Plant Operator, Distributor or Dispatcher
Median pay: $105,080 per year
These workers operate and monitor systems that generate and distribute electricity.
The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma.
Workers then receive extensive long-term on-the-job training.
Nuclear power reactor operators must also obtain a federal license.
One downside is the employment outlook.
BLS projects total employment in this group to decline 4% through 2035.
Replacement openings will still occur as workers retire or change occupations.
See the BLS Power Plant Operators profile .
8. Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Median pay: $101,370 per year
Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs used for medical imaging or treatment.
An associate degree is the typical education requirement.
Certification is common, and licensing is required in some locations.
Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2025 through 2035.
See the BLS Nuclear Medicine Technologists profile .
9. Dental Hygienist
Median pay: $98,100 per year
Dental hygienists provide preventive dental care and examine patients for signs of oral disease.
An associate degree is typically required.
All states require dental hygienists to be licensed.
Programs commonly take about three years to complete.
Employment is projected to grow 8% through 2035.
BLS projects thousands of openings each year.
Learn more from the BLS Dental Hygienists profile .
10. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
Median pay: $96,590 per year
Diagnostic medical sonographers use ultrasound technology to create images inside the human body.
An associate degree is the typical education level.
The occupation also has one of the strongest growth rates on this list.
Employment is projected to increase 14% between 2025 and 2035.
That is significantly faster than the projected rate for all U.S. occupations.
Visit the BLS Diagnostic Medical Sonographers profile .
11. MRI Technologist
Median pay: $95,480 per year
MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging equipment used for medical diagnosis.
They typically need an associate degree.
MRI technologists also commonly need related healthcare experience.
Certification is frequently required or preferred by employers.
Employment for MRI technologists is projected to grow 8% through 2035.
See the BLS Radiologic and MRI Technologists profile .
12. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
Median pay: $95,320 per year
Power-line installers build and repair electrical transmission and distribution systems.
A high school diploma is the typical entry-level education.
Workers usually receive technical instruction and extensive on-the-job training.
Apprenticeships are also common.
The work can involve high-voltage electricity, severe weather and significant heights.
Employment is projected to grow 10% through 2035.
Read the BLS Electrical Power-Line Installers profile .
13. Respiratory Therapist
Median pay: $82,280 per year
Respiratory therapists care for patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary conditions.
An associate degree is typically required.
Many work in hospitals, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Employment is projected to grow 9% between 2025 and 2035.
Demand is expected to benefit from growth in the older U.S. population.
See the BLS Respiratory Therapists profile .
14. Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanic or Technician
Median pay: $80,180 per year
These workers maintain aircraft engines, systems, instruments and electronic equipment.
A bachelor's degree is not the typical entry requirement.
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education level.
Many workers attend FAA-approved aviation maintenance programs.
Others enter through military training or related work experience.
Employment is projected to grow 6% through 2035.
Read the BLS Aircraft and Avionics Technicians profile .
Which high-paying jobs require only a high school diploma?
Several careers on this list do not typically require an associate degree.
Strong examples include:
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Transportation, storage and distribution managers
- Power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers
However, “high school diploma” does not mean “no training.”
Many of these occupations require years of experience, apprenticeships or long-term workplace training.
Which jobs pay more than $100,000 without a bachelor's degree?
Based on current BLS median wage data, several occupations cross the $100,000 mark.
- Air Traffic Controllers — $148,080
- Commercial Pilots — $123,220
- Nuclear Technicians — $110,240
- Elevator Installers and Repairers — $109,910
- Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers — $107,230
- Radiation Therapists — $105,310
- Power Plant Operators, Distributors and Dispatchers — $105,080
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists — $101,370
Again, these are median salaries rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
Which career has the strongest job growth?
Among the careers highlighted here, diagnostic medical sonography has particularly strong projected growth.
BLS projects employment for diagnostic medical sonographers to increase 14% through 2035.
Electrical power-line installers are projected to grow 10%.
Respiratory therapists are projected to grow 9%.
Dental hygienists and MRI technologists are projected to grow 8%.
High salary does not mean an easy career
Many careers on this list pay well because they require specialized skills or significant responsibility.
Some also involve physical risk, difficult schedules or intense concentration.
Air traffic controllers work under substantial pressure.
Power-line installers may work around high-voltage electricity and at significant heights.
Healthcare workers may need licenses and years of technical education.
Commercial pilots must complete extensive flight training and maintain FAA credentials.
Consider the complete career path rather than salary alone.
Do you need experience to get these jobs?
It depends on the occupation.
Transportation managers typically reach the position after years of operational experience.
Elevator installers generally enter through apprenticeships.
Healthcare careers usually require an accredited educational program and licensing.
Other jobs provide structured training after hiring.
If you are starting your career, also see: 26 Jobs That Usually Don’t Require Previous Work Experience .
How to prepare for a high-paying career without a bachelor's degree
Start by researching the exact qualifications required for the occupation.
Then identify the shortest legitimate pathway into that field.
That might include:
- An apprenticeship
- A community college program
- A technical school
- An industry certificate
- A state license
- Employer-provided training
- Military experience
The CareerOneStop Certification Finder can help identify industry credentials.
You can also research occupations through O*NET OnLine .
Build a resume around the skills employers actually need
A degree is only one signal employers may use.
Relevant skills, licenses, certifications and experience can matter even more for many technical occupations.
Study several job postings before writing your resume.
Look for recurring skills and credentials.
Then include the ones you genuinely possess.
See our guide to the 50 best skills to put on a resume .
You can also review our ATS-friendly resume format guide .
What if you have no previous work experience?
A lack of experience does not automatically prevent you from building a strong application.
Apprenticeships and entry-level training programs can provide a path into skilled careers.
Your resume can also include relevant education, projects, volunteering and transferable skills.
Read our guide on how to write a resume with no work experience .
Prepare for the interview
Technical credentials may get you considered.
The interview still determines whether employers understand what you can contribute.
Prepare examples showing how you solve problems, learn new skills and handle responsibility.
Use our 25 Job Interview Tips to Help You Get Hired before your next interview.
Compare salary before accepting an offer
Pay can differ substantially by location, employer, industry and experience.
National median salary should therefore be used as a benchmark, not a guaranteed offer.
BLS provides state and metropolitan wage data for many occupations.
CareerOneStop also provides location-based salary information.
If you receive an offer, read our guide to negotiating salary .
Explore current job openings and find positions that match your skills and experience.
Browse Jobs on Empregara →Frequently asked questions
Can you make $100,000 without a college degree?
Yes.
Several U.S. occupations have median salaries above $100,000 without typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Examples include air traffic controllers, commercial pilots and elevator installers.
What is the highest-paying job without a bachelor's degree?
Among the occupations in this guide, air traffic controllers have the highest median salary.
Their May 2025 median annual wage was $148,080.
What jobs pay well with only a high school diploma?
Examples include elevator installers, power-line installers and power plant operators.
Transportation managers may also enter without a degree after gaining substantial experience.
Do high-paying jobs without degrees require training?
Usually, yes.
A bachelor's degree may not be required, but employers still need evidence of job-specific competence.
That can come from apprenticeships, certificates, licenses, technical education or workplace experience.
Can you work in healthcare without a bachelor's degree?
Yes.
Several healthcare careers use an associate degree as the typical entry path.
Examples include dental hygienists, sonographers, respiratory therapists and radiation therapists.
Are salaries the same everywhere in the United States?
No.
Wages vary by state, metropolitan area, employer, experience and industry.
The figures in this article are national median wages.
Are these starting salaries?
No.
The figures are median wages for workers already employed in each occupation.
Entry-level salaries may be considerably lower.
Which jobs without a degree are growing fastest?
Diagnostic medical sonographers have one of the strongest outlooks in this list.
BLS projects 14% employment growth from 2025 through 2035.
Official career and salary resources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
- O*NET OnLine
- CareerOneStop — U.S. Department of Labor
- Apprenticeship.gov
Last updated: October 2026. Salary figures are national median annual wages from May 2025. Education and employment projections reflect current BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook data. Requirements vary by employer, state and occupation.
Turn the guide into action with current listings and alerts.