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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Structural iron and steel workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $62,780 | 3.1% |
| 102 | Fabric and apparel patternmakers 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 | $62,750 | -15.0% |
| 103 | Riggers 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 | $62,640 | 3.9% |
| 104 | Timing device assemblers and adjusters 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 | $62,620 | -6.1% |
| 105 | Chefs and head cooks 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 | $62,470 | 6.6% |
| 105 | Plant and system operators, all other 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 | $62,470 | 2.3% |
| 107 | Insurance sales agents 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 | $62,280 | 3.3% |
| 108 | Postal service clerks 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 | $62,130 | -0.3% |
| 109 | Brickmasons and blockmasons DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $62,120 | 1.1% |
| 110 | Computer user support specialists DetailsEducation: Some college, no degree. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Some college, no degree | $61,860 | -3.5% |
| 111 | Continuous mining machine operators DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $61,810 | 3.2% |
| 112 | Sheet metal workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $61,800 | 2.5% |
| 113 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists 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 | $61,770 | 3.6% |
| 113 | Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers 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 | $61,770 | 4.3% |
| 115 | Occupational health and safety technicians 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 | $61,560 | 19.4% |
| 116 | Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $61,390 | 0.0% |
| 117 | Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons 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 | $61,290 | -13.7% |
| 118 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers 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 | $61,010 | 10.9% |
| 119 | Maintenance workers, machinery 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 | $60,850 | -1.9% |
| 120 | Paramedics DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $60,600 | 5.7% |
| 120 | Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers 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 | $60,600 | 0.8% |
| 122 | Carpenters DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $60,580 | 3.9% |
| 123 | Postal service mail carriers 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 | $60,550 | -0.3% |
| 124 | Earth drillers, except oil and gas DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Long-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $60,190 | 3.6% |
| 125 | Security and fire alarm systems installers 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 | $60,070 | 6.8% |
| 126 | Water and wastewater treatment plant and system 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 | $60,020 | -5.7% |
| 127 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment 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 | $59,850 | 4.6% |
| 128 | Production, planning, and expediting clerks 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 | $59,650 | -1.3% |
| 129 | First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry 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 | $59,320 | 3.8% |
| 130 | Firefighters 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 | $59,280 | 3.7% |
| 131 | Traffic technicians 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 | $59,090 | 4.0% |
| 132 | Bus drivers, transit and intercity 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 | $59,050 | 4.1% |
| 133 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,970 | -5.3% |
| 134 | Correctional officers and jailers 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 | $58,940 | -7.4% |
| 135 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,930 | 2.5% |
| 136 | Tank car, truck, and ship loaders 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 | $58,870 | 2.8% |
| 137 | Machinists 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 | $58,750 | 1.0% |
| 138 | Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers 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 | $58,650 | 2.1% |
| 139 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,640 | 3.8% |
| 140 | Derrick operators, oil and gas DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,620 | 1.6% |
| 141 | Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators 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 | $58,470 | -5.3% |
| 142 | Farm labor contractors DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,460 | 7.4% |
| 143 | Massage therapists DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,450 | 15.3% |
| 144 | First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping 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 | $58,430 | 4.0% |
| 145 | Insulation workers, mechanical DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $58,340 | 5.1% |
| 146 | Payroll and timekeeping clerks 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 | $58,260 | -15.9% |
| 147 | Aircraft cargo handling supervisors 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 | $58,170 | 9.2% |
| 148 | Service unit operators, oil and gas DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $58,160 | 1.1% |
| 149 | Audio and video technicians DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,100 | 3.9% |
| 150 | Chemical equipment operators and tenders 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 | $58,040 | 3.6% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
487 ranked entries.