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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | First-line supervisors of personal service 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 | $48,590 | 6.3% |
| 252 | Motorcycle mechanics 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 | $48,580 | 2.1% |
| 253 | Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers 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 | $48,570 | 2.5% |
| 254 | First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services 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 | $48,560 | 5.3% |
| 255 | Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, 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 | $48,540 | -1.7% |
| 256 | First-line supervisors of retail sales 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 | $48,520 | -3.7% |
| 257 | Billing and posting 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 | $48,500 | -0.1% |
| 258 | Models DetailsEducation: No formal educational credential. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | No formal educational credential | $48,470 | -2.1% |
| 259 | Healthcare support workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $48,430 | 4.8% |
| 260 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles 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 | $48,420 | -14.5% |
| 261 | Sales and related workers, all other DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $48,280 | 1.1% |
| 262 | Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, 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 | $48,250 | 2.5% |
| 263 | Coil winders, tapers, and finishers 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 | $48,220 | -4.0% |
| 264 | Meter readers, utilities DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $48,150 | -10.5% |
| 265 | Foundry mold and coremakers 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 | $48,110 | -23.0% |
| 266 | Dental assistants DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: None. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $48,070 | 7.4% |
| 267 | Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle 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 | $48,040 | 2.6% |
| 268 | Medical appliance 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 | $48,030 | 3.5% |
| 269 | Fence erectors 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 | $47,980 | 5.6% |
| 270 | Cooks, private household DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,940 | 5.1% |
| 271 | Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, 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 | $47,920 | -8.9% |
| 271 | Bus drivers, school DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $47,920 | 0.7% |
| 273 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics 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 | $47,880 | 2.3% |
| 274 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers DetailsEducation: Some college, no degree. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Some college, no degree | $47,810 | -3.0% |
| 275 | Helpers--extraction workers 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 | $47,730 | 1.7% |
| 276 | Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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 | $47,720 | 0.7% |
| 277 | Medical equipment preparers 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 | $47,700 | 10.8% |
| 278 | New accounts 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 | $47,670 | -6.5% |
| 279 | Automotive glass installers and repairers 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 | $47,630 | 5.7% |
| 280 | Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters 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 | $47,550 | -11.7% |
| 281 | Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $47,540 | -6.0% |
| 282 | Motorboat operators DetailsEducation: Postsecondary nondegree award. Experience: Less than 5 years. Training: None. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | Postsecondary nondegree award | $47,520 | 4.9% |
| 283 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $47,450 | -3.4% |
| 284 | Opticians, dispensing 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 | $47,260 | 4.2% |
| 285 | Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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 | $47,180 | 0.6% |
| 286 | Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $47,160 | 7.3% |
| 287 | Construction laborers 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 | $47,120 | 7.3% |
| 288 | Bill and account collectors 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 | $47,030 | -10.4% |
| 289 | Roustabouts, oil and gas 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 | $46,960 | 3.6% |
| 290 | Fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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 | $46,880 | 4.6% |
| 291 | Grounds maintenance workers, all other 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 | $46,860 | 3.7% |
| 292 | Self-enrichment teachers 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 | $46,800 | 3.5% |
| 292 | Correspondence clerks DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $46,800 | -5.6% |
| 294 | Parking enforcement workers DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Short-term on-the-job training. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $46,730 | -1.1% |
| 295 | Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters 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 | $46,680 | -2.9% |
| 296 | Cutting and slicing machine setters, 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 | $46,570 | -0.9% |
| 297 | Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic 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 | $46,550 | -10.8% |
| 298 | Adhesive bonding machine 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 | $46,460 | 1.3% |
| 299 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners DetailsEducation: High school diploma or equivalent. Experience: None. Training: Apprenticeship. Source period: 2025–2035 projections · 2025 median annual wages | High school diploma or equivalent | $46,420 | 1.9% |
| 299 | Industrial truck and tractor 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 | $46,420 | 1.5% |
Wages marked + are top-coded: the published figure is the lower bound of the capped wage.
487 ranked entries.