The majority of Americans do not obtain college diplomas. The U.S. Census Bureau found in 2021 that only 38% of the population over the age of 25 had bachelor’s or advanced degrees. Among the rest, nearly 28% ended their education with a high school diploma, 15% were college dropouts, 11% had associate degrees, and 9% did not finish high school.
While earning a college degree isn’t a guarantee that you will find a great job or make a high salary, it does improve your career options and can eventually lead to more money down the road. Data consistently shows that people with college degrees tend to earn more than people without them. The Social Security Administration estimates men with bachelor’s degrees earn $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women earn $630,000 more. The gap grows to more than $1 million for both men and women who earn graduate degrees.
For those without a college degree, there are often few opportunities for economic and occupational advancement, but there are some job categories that pay much more than the average for the level of education. (Also see, the 25 worst jobs in America.)
Data on wage and typical education entry requirements from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was reviewed by 24/7 Wall St. to determine the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree. Occupations that typically do not require a college degree were ranked based on average annual wage as of 2022. Data on average annual wage and total employment are from the BLS May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Data on typical entry education requirements as of 2021, educational attainment for workers 25 and over for the years 2018 and 2019, and projected employment change from 2021 to 2031 came from the BLS Employment Projections program.
There are specific jobs on the list, such as fashion models and athletes, that require unique skills and attributes the typical American of any educational background may not possess. Other occupations that do not require a college degree but are among the highest paying would require some technical education, apprenticeship, and/or licensing, such as commercial diving, sound engineering, or safety inspecting.
The most common jobs for people without college degrees are the 2.2 million wholesale manufacturing sales representatives and services sales representatives, positions that pay an average annual income of about $77,000 full-time.
There are also nearly 1.3 million jobs as first-line supervisors in construction, energy and mining, and manufacturing, which offer similar average pay to sales reps. The average annual pay for these 40 occupations ranges from $73,380 for claims adjusters to $123,250 for commercial pilots — excluding professional athletes who earn an average of $358,000 annually.
Here are the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.
40. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Average annual wage: $73,380
- Total employment: 285,270
- Adults in field without college diploma: 38.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -5.8%
39. Locomotive Engineers
- Average annual wage: $73,850
- Total employment: 36,440
- Adults in field without college diploma: 75.7%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +4.7%
38. Lighting Technicians
- Average annual wage: $74,020
- Total employment: 8,540
- Adults in field without college diploma: 40.4%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +14.7%
37. Sound Engineering Technicians
- Average annual wage: $75,590
- Total employment: 13,420
- Adults in field without college diploma: 40.4%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +7.5%
36. Subway and Streetcar Operators
- Average annual wage: $75,880
- Total employment: 9,120
- Adults in field without college diploma: 73.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.5%
35. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Average annual wage: $76,020
- Total employment: 559,050
- Adults in field without college diploma: 72.3%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.6%
34. Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
- Average annual wage: $76,110
- Total employment: 261,120
- Adults in field without college diploma: 46.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +2.8%
33. Transit and Railroad Police
- Average annual wage: $76,380
- Total employment: 3,370
- Adults in field without college diploma: 43.4%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.2%
32. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
- Average annual wage: $76,890
- Total employment: 1,273,400
- Adults in field without college diploma: 42.4%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.7%
31. Fire Inspectors and Investigators
- Average annual wage: $76,910
- Total employment: 14,510
- Adults in field without college diploma: 54.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.1%
30. Insurance Sales Agents
- Average annual wage: $76,950
- Total employment: 445,540
- Adults in field without college diploma: 41.7%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +6.3%
29. Models
- Average annual wage: $77,310
- Total employment: 2,070
- Adults in field without college diploma: 64.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +9.2%
28. Signal and Track Switch Repairers
- Average annual wage: $77,370
- Total employment: 6,880
- Adults in field without college diploma: 79.3%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.7%
27. Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
- Average annual wage: $77,390
- Total employment: 1,075,750
- Adults in field without college diploma: 37.2%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +6.7%
26. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Average annual wage: $77,650
- Total employment: 720,900
- Adults in field without college diploma: 81.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +4.1%
25. Gas Plant Operators
- Average annual wage: $78,430
- Total employment: 14,290
- Adults in field without college diploma: 76.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -9.0%
24. Chemical Plant and System Operators
- Average annual wage: $79,290
- Total employment: 18,710
- Adults in field without college diploma: 76.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -1.1%
23. Transportation Inspectors
- Average annual wage: $79,770
- Total employment: 24,420
- Adults in field without college diploma: 64.3%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +1.8%
22. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
- Average annual wage: $82,770
- Total employment: 119,510
- Adults in field without college diploma: 76.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.2%
21. Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Average annual wage: $83,790
- Total employment: 6,250
- Adults in field without college diploma: 62.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -2.8%
20. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
- Average annual wage: $84,140
- Total employment: 31,360
- Adults in field without college diploma: 76.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +3.0%
19. Postmasters and Mail Superintendents
- Average annual wage: $84,190
- Total employment: 13,460
- Adults in field without college diploma: 36.8%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -4.8%
18. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
- Average annual wage: $84,810
- Total employment: 84,040
- Adults in field without college diploma: 44.3%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +4.1%
17. Commercial Divers
- Average annual wage: $85,630
- Total employment: 3,860
- Adults in field without college diploma: 79.3%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +14.7%
16. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Average annual wage: $88,770
- Total employment: 25,440
- Adults in field without college diploma: 69.2%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -5.0%
15. Power Plant Operators
- Average annual wage: $88,960
- Total employment: 31,590
- Adults in field without college diploma: 62.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -15.5%
14. Real Estate Brokers
- Average annual wage: $90,930
- Total employment: 52,310
- Adults in field without college diploma: 39.2%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +5.7%
13. Detectives and Criminal Investigators
- Average annual wage: $91,610
- Total employment: 107,400
- Adults in field without college diploma: 29.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -0.7%
12. Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Average annual wage: $93,850
- Total employment: 2,970
- Adults in field without college diploma: 67.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +7.0%
11. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
- Average annual wage: $93,960
- Total employment: 24,380
- Adults in field without college diploma: 77.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +2.9%
10. Gambling Managers
- Average annual wage: $95,830
- Total employment: 4,800
- Adults in field without college diploma: 47.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +13.0%
9. First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
- Average annual wage: $96,890
- Total employment: 237,520
- Adults in field without college diploma: 48.6%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -0.3%
8. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Average annual wage: $99,410
- Total employment: 131,860
- Adults in field without college diploma: 37.4%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +2.8%
7. Ship Engineers
- Average annual wage: $100,980
- Total employment: 8,650
- Adults in field without college diploma: 75.6%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -0.7%
6. Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Average annual wage: $101,360
- Total employment: 9,380
- Adults in field without college diploma: 62.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -6.6%
5. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
- Average annual wage: $104,190
- Total employment: 34,940
- Adults in field without college diploma: 71.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +1.2%
4. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Average annual wage: $108,910
- Total employment: 169,910
- Adults in field without college diploma: 60.9%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +8.4%
3. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
- Average annual wage: $117,510
- Total employment: 5,450
- Adults in field without college diploma: 62.5%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: -26.8%
2. Commercial Pilots
- Average annual wage: $123,250
- Total employment: 48,750
- Adults in field without college diploma: 18.2%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +5.1%
1. Athletes and Sports Competitors
- Average annual wage: $358,080
- Total employment: 11,930
- Adults in field without college diploma: 36.6%
- Projected employment change, 2021 to 2031: +35.7%
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