These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (2024)

Michael B. Sauter

Though a postsecondary education improves one’s chances of finding a high-paying job, college enrollment has been declining in the United States in recent years, likely due to rising tuition costs. However, though a bachelor's degree greatly increases an individual's earnings potential, there are still many high-paying jobs that do not require higher education but instead value experience, training, and skill.

While the median income of a typical American adult with at least a bachelor’s degree is $52,782, the median income of those with a high school diploma is just $31,600 per year. Some jobs that do not require a college education, however, pay well more than the median across all education levels.

24/7 Wall Street reviewed Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation data to find the 50 highest paying jobs that do not require a college education.

Some of these jobs are in management roles and higher-ranking positions, accessible to those who worked their way up from low-level positions at jobs that do not require a degree, such as law enforcement or sales. Many of these jobs require years of on-the-job experience or training, and some require specific credentials or licenses.

None of these 50 jobs requires a bachelor’s degree, and yet they all makethousands more than the typical American worker’s wage of $37,360. The median income of 10 jobs on this list is more than double the national median.

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These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (2)

50. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators

Median annual wage: $57,260

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 19,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -1.6%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (3)

49. Postal service mail sorters, processorsand processing machine operators

Median annual wage: $57,260

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 106,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -16.5%

48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistant

Median annual wage: $57,410

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 685,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -17.4%

47. Rail car repairers

Median annual wage: $57,460

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 22,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.2%

46. Pile-driver operator

Median annual wage: $57,650

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 3,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +14.6%

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45. Roof bolters, mining

Median annual wage: $58,450

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 3,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -5.2%

44. Postal service clerks

Median annual wage: $58,550

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 79,000
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -12.1%

43. Property, real estateand community association managers

Median annual wage: $58,670

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 317,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +10.3%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (4)

42. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Median annual wage: $58,870

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 621,400
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -0.3%

41. Construction and building inspectors

Median annual wage: $59,090

40. Fire inspectors and investigators

Median annual wage: $59,260

Typical on-the-job training needed: 5 years or more
Total employment: 12,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +7.3%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (5)

39. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

Median annual wage: $59,300

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 4,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.5%

38. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Median annual wage: $59,890

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 35,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.8%

37. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

Median annual wage: $60,300

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 41,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -2.1%

36. Locomotive firers

Median annual wage: $60,360

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 1,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -78.6%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (6)

35. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

Median annual wage: $60,840

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 13,900
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +2.9%

34. Locomotive engineers

Median annual wage: $60,990

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 38,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -2.8%

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33. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Median annual wage: $61,020

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 132,000
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.9%

32. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Median annual wage: $61,050

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 684,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +7.0%

31. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Median annual wage: $62,100

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 17,600
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.9%

30. Chemical plant and system operators

Median annual wage: $62,170

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 33,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -9.2%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (7)

29. Boilermakers

Median annual wage: $62,260

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 17,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +9.0%

28. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Median annual wage: $62,500

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 45,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -7.8%

27. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

Median annual wage: $62,810

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 3,900
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.4%

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26. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Median annual wage: $64,070

25. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Median annual wage: $64,780

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 462,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +7.1%

24. Claims adjusters, examinersand investigators

Median annual wage: $64,900

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 311,100
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -1.4%

23. Subway and streetcar operators

Median annual wage: $66,420

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 12,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.1%

22. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operatorsand gaugers

Median annual wage: $67,770

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 41,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +2.8%

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21. Signal and track switch repairers

Median annual wage: $68,400

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 10,000
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +1.3%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (9)

20. Gas plant operators

Median annual wage: $69,030

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 17,300
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +0.0%

19. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Median annual wage: $69,380

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 120,900
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +13.9%

18. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Median annual wage: $69,620

Typical on-the-job training needed: 5 years or more
Total employment: 1,028,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -0.8%

17. Transit and railroad police

Median annual wage: $70,280

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 4,900
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.3%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (10)

16. Captains, matesand pilots of water vessels

Median annual wage: $70,920

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 38,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +8.8%

15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Median annual wage: $71,650

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 405,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.9%

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14. Transportation inspectors

Median annual wage: $72,140

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 28,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +5.9%

13. Gaming managers

Median annual wage: $72,930

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 4,500
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +2.5%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (11)

12. Ship engineers

Median annual wage: $73,110

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 10,100
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.5%

11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Median annual wage: $74,840

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 14,200
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -20.9%

10. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers

Median annual wage: $76,170

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 59,100
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +7.2%

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9. Power plant operators

Median annual wage: $77,180

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 36,100
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +1.3%

8. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substationand relay

Median annual wage: $78,410

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 23,400
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.7%

7. Commercial pilots

Median annual wage: $78,740

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 40,800
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +3.8%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (12)

6. Elevator installers and repairers

Median annual wage: $79,480

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 22,100
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +12.1%

5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Median annual wage: $79,970

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 110,900
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +4.5%

4. Power distributors and dispatcher

Median annual wage: $82,510

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 11,600
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -2.5%

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3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Median annual wage: $87,910

Typical on-the-job training needed: Less than 5 years
Total employment: 104,700
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.6%

2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Median annual wage: $92,460

Typical on-the-job training needed: 5 years or more
Total employment: 115,500
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): +6.7%

These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree (13)

1. Nuclear power reactor operators

Median annual wage: $93,370

Typical on-the-job training needed: None
Total employment: 7,000
Employment growth projection (2016-2026): -10.2%

Detailed findings

Many of the positions on this list require a body of knowledge not covered in the typical college curriculum. A textbook on how to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a police or fire chief, for example, would be a poor substitute for real-world experience gained on the job. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, most police chief positions and other high-paying jobs in such non-academic fields require years of experience, training, and advancement through the ranks.

In high-paying professions for which there are no degree-granting programs associated with the discipline — gaming manager and commercial airline pilot, for example — there often is a professional association that offers an alternative form of credentialing. To work as a captain, mate, or pilot of a water vessel, candidates must have a license administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

In some cases, the duration of the certification process is nearly as long as the four-year college experience. To apply for a nuclear power plant operator’s license, for example, candidates must have at least three years experience working in a power plant, and they must have spent at least six months at the plant in which they seek employment.

While not a formal requirement, employers in some fields may prefer candidates with some college experience. For example, college-level courses in electronics and electrical engineering may provide a beneficial foundation for on-the-job training in electrical repair positions. Approximately 41% of all police detectives and criminal investigators have taken some college courses without graduating.

While these higher-paying jobs do not require a college degree, like a great deal of blue-collar work, these jobs appear to be disappearing. Of the 50 jobs on this list, 16 are projected to shrink between 2016 and 2026. All but nine of the 50 will either decrease in total employment or increase less than the national 7.4% growth rate over that period.

Methodology

To identify the highest paying jobs that do not require a college degree, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual median wage estimates for all occupations from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor. Wage data are from the May 2017 survey. The typical education needed to enter the 50 occupations listed -- high school diploma or equivalent, no formal education credential, postsecondary nondegree award, and some college but no degree -- came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2014 Employment Projections program. The share of workers 25 and older that completed each major tier of education -- no formal education through a doctoral or professional degree -- also came from the BLS Employment Projection Program. Full- and part-time occupations are counted across all employment types, including federal, state, and local governments, as well as all private establishments. The Employment Projections program includes self-employed workers. The OES excludes self-employed workers.

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