The Highest Paying Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

Gambling manager is one of the 25 highest paying jobs in America that does not require a college degree. Gambling managers plan, direct, and coordinate gaming operations at casinos. The career has a median income of nearly $77,000.

Though a relatively small number of people, 3,660, work in this job, the occupation’s workforce is projected to grow by 24% from 2020 to 2030. This is largely attributed to the predicted growing popularity of gambling establishments as well as states amending their laws to allow more such businesses to operate.

Transportation equipment electronics installers and repairers work with mobile electronics communication equipment on trains, watercraft, or other mobile equipment. This includes sound, sonar, security, navigation, and surveillance systems.

These workers typically earn over $77,000 per year. The field is projected to expand relatively slowly, growing by just 2% from 2020 to 2030, according to BLS projections.

Professional athlete ranks as one of the highest-paying jobs one can get without a college degree, with an median annual wage of $77,300.

Though there is technically no educational requirement, many of the largest pro sports leagues in America like the NFL and the NBA generally require players to be of a certain age before they are draft eligible. This generally means athletes play in college before heading to the majors, though some players have opted for foreign leagues instead. With a unanimous Supreme Court ruling striking down the NCAA’s amateurism rules, even college athletes can now profit off their name, image, and likeness via endorsements and other opportunities.

Gas plant operators are in charge of regulating the facilities that pump gas for utility companies and ensuring pipelines are at the proper pressure to keep operations running smoothly and safely.

These workers are typically required to have a high school diploma (as well as long-term on-the-job training) to get the job. Workers have a median annual wage of $77,850, one of the highest-paying jobs you can get without a college degree. Nationwide, the median annual wage for all jobs is $45,760.

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers ensure that people battling fires and working to stop them from starting or advancing are doing their jobs as safely and effectively as possible. This difficult and dangerous job has a median annual wage of $78,230 and requires certification, on-the-job training, and similar work experience.

The number of firefighting supervisors working in the U.S. is projected to increase by 8% from 2020 to 2030, roughly in line with the growth rate across all jobs.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers is one of several electronics-related career fields that pays relatively well, despite not requiring a college degree. Most of these workers earn over $78,000 per year, well above the median wage of $45,760 for all jobs.

Power-line worker is one of the most commonly-held jobs in the country, with over 120,000 people working in the field.

Petroleum pump system operator ranks as one of the 20 top paying jobs for people without college degrees. Monitoring and directing the operations of petroleum pump systems pays an median annual wage of $79,540, and the job typically requires prospective workers to have no more than a high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training.

As renewable energy becomes more commonplace, jobs in the oil and natural gas industry are projected to dip. The number of pump system operators is projected to decline by 14% from 2020 to 2030, according to the BLS.

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers oversee those who sell goods and services to businesses and individuals. Such supervisors are often responsible for budgeting and personnel work, as well.

These workers earn a median annual wage of nearly $80,000, one of the highest medians among jobs that do not require a college degree. With over 240,000 workers, these supervisors are in one of the most commonly-held jobs in the country.

Locomotive engineers drive all types of trains, including passenger and freight trains, across the country. They must be familiar with all train signals and rules and regulations, so even though the job does not require education more than a high school diploma, engineers do typically go through months of on-the-job training.

Locomotive engineers have a median income of $79,740, well above the median annual income across all occupations of $45,760.

Transportation inspectors are responsible for inspecting vehicles and transported cargo, including on trains and in trucks. These inspectors earn a median annual wage of $79,770 — nearly $25,000 higher than the median annual wage across all jobs in America.

Transportation inspectors are most commonly employed by the government, either at the local or federal level. However, private rail transportation and auto repair businesses also employ thousands of these inspectors.

Postmasters and mail superintendents oversee operations at U.S. post offices. These workers earn a median of nearly $80,000 per year, well above the median annual wage of $56,310 for all workers.

Physical mail has steadily been replaced by online correspondence, while other delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx are now providing many of the shipping services. In addition, the USPS is facing a major budget crunch due to significant budget cuts and burdensome legislation. These factors largely explain why the number of postmasters and mail superintendents is projected to drop by 9% from 2020 to 2030.

Signal and track switch repairers are responsible for testing, maintaining, and repairing the communication equipment and switches needed to keep railroad systems running.

These workers earn a median of over $80,000 per year, one of several transportation-related fields that rank among the highest paying jobs that do not require a college degree. With just over 8,000 total repairers in the U.S., it is one of the less common jobs on this list.

Most power plant operators earn over $80,000 per year, one of the highest median wages for jobs that do not typically require a college degree. The job does require long-term on-the-job training.

This is one of several jobs involved in the creation, operation, and maintenance of the country’s power infrastructure systems. As many nuclear power plants are being shuttered and jobs automated, the number of such operators is projected to decline sharply over the next decade.

Subway and streetcar operators ferry passengers using public transit systems. There are more than 10,000 such workers in the U.S. today, and the workforce is projected to expand relatively slowly over the next decade.

Subway and streetcar operators have a median income of $81,180, making it one of the highest paying jobs that do not require a college degree – though it does typically require on-the-job training.

Captain, mates, and pilots of water vessels oversee operations of ferries, tugboats, and other ships and boats. Though a college degree is not required to captain a ship, these workers do need to earn a license issued by the Coast Guard as a prerequisite for employment.

With so many waterways around the U.S., there are over 33,000 nautical workers in this field – most of whom earn over $81,500 per year.

Ship engineers are responsible for coordinating the activities of the ship’s crew and maintaining the ship’s engines and other machinery. The job is one of just 10 that pay a median annual wage of over $82,000 without requiring a college degree.

Though the job does not require a college degree, it stands out from most other jobs on this list because prospective workers typically need to get a mariner’s license from the Coast Guard before they are considered for a job as an engineer.

Detectives and criminal investigators are in one of the 10 highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree. The median worker in this field earns over $83,000, much higher than the median wage of all occupations of $$45,760.

Though a college degree is not necessarily required to be a detective or criminal investigator, most people working in this field hold at least a bachelor’s degree.

Though electrical repairers who work at generating stations and relays do not need a college degree, that does not mean it is an easy job to become qualified for. In order to be considered for this job, a prospective worker typically needs a postsecondary certification, work experience in a related field, and some on-the-job training.

These workers have median earnings over $93,000 in wages per year. This is more than double the median wage for all jobs of over $45,000.

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn nearly $100,000 per year. Though the job does not require a college degree, it does typically require an apprenticeship with a more experienced worker.

There are more than 22,000 people working as elevator and escalator installers and repairers in the U.S., a figure that is projected to increase by roughly as much as the typical job from 2020-2030.

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers handle the logistics of moving and storing items. They are often employed by warehousing and storage companies, trucking businesses, and federal and local governments. These managers have a median income of over $98,000, well above most jobs, not just those requiring a college degree.

Though these workers are not required to have a college degree in most cases, they typically need at least five years of related experience, if not more, before they can move up to a managerial level.

Power distributors coordinate and regulate the distribution of electricity or steam power. The occupation has a median annual wage of $98,530, the fifth highest wage among all jobs that do not require a college degree.

Though a college degree is typically not necessary to work as a power distributor and dispatcher, workers generally do need long-term on-the-job training to be qualified for the job.

Like the investigators they oversee, first-line supervisors of police and detectives rank among the highest paid workers in jobs that do not need a college degree. These law enforcement officers include those with a rank of sergeant, captain, and lieutenant. These supervisors have a median annual wage of more than $99,000.

Though a college degree is not necessarily required for this job, many police departments prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like criminal studies or psychology.

Commercial pilots earn a median annual wage of almost $100,000 to fly airplanes, helicopters, and other aircrafts — the third highest wage of any job that does not typically require a college degree.

Pilots are required to train extensively to earn their pilot’s license. The field is projected to expand by about 13% from 2020 to 2030, well up from the 42,770 workers who currently hold that title.

Though nuclear engineers must be college educated, nuclear power reactor operators, who operate the controls and monitor equipment at nuclear power plants, are not typically required to have a college education. They do need long-term training, and once they get the job of operating a nuclear reactor, they typically earn over $104,000 in annual wage.

There are fewer than 5,000 nuclear power reactor operators working in the U.S., though that figure is projected to decline by 14% from 2020 to 2030 as most American nuclear power plants are heading towards the end of their anticipated lifespan, and very few new ones are being built. These plants have 20-year operating licenses, and while some are being renewed, they are still set to go offline in the 2030s and may be phased out in favor of solar and wind energy options.

Theatrical and performance makeup artists apply makeup to people in movies, television, plays, dance performances, and other productions. Most workers in this field earn over $130,000, making it by far the highest paying job that does not require a college degree.

Makeup artists typically need some kind of cosmetological certification to be considered for this job. Though there are fewer than 2,000 working theatrical and performance makeup artists in the U.S., the total employment in this field is projected to increase by nearly 20% from 2020 to 2030.