Even as Americans owe a collective $1.65 trillion in federal student loans, many college graduates aren't using their degrees. Only 47 percent of recent graduates in 2022 found jobs related to their college major.
With rising student debt and uncertain outcomes for college graduates, you might wonder if there are high-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree.
Find out the best occupations for workers with no college degree, plus advice on succeeding as a professional without a degree.
23 Good Paying Jobs Without Degree Requirements
We reviewed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to find the highest-paying jobs with no degree requirements. All these jobs have median wages above $70,000 a year. That's enough to be middle-class in most states.
We also reviewed job descriptions from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Our list includes the experience, skills and education you need to work in these occupations. We also use government data to show the projected number of new openings between now and 2032.
1. Commercial Pilots
Average Salary: $123,000
Job Requirements: Commercial pilots need multiple certifications from the FAA, including a Private Pilot certificate, instrument rating and Commercial Pilot certificate. They also need hundreds or thousands of hours of flight time in the aircraft they will fly.
New Openings: 6,000
Commercial pilots fly aircraft for passengers, cargo delivery, aerial surveying and other reasons. They're responsible for getting the aircraft safely from one place to another while following FAA regulations and instructions from air traffic controllers.
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Commercial pilots must complete flight school and earn FAA certification, but they don't need a college degree. This is also different from being an airline pilot, which is a more advanced position that requires additional training.
2. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Average Salary: $118,000
Job Requirements: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators need a reactor operator (RO) license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Some employers offer on-the-job training to prepare for the license exam.
New Openings: 400
Nuclear power reactor operators sit behind the controls at nuclear power facilities. They operate the control rods that determine reactor temperature and power. They also follow strict safety guidelines to prevent reactor emergencies.
This is a high-pressure job that requires advanced technical knowledge. But you can learn those skills in your first year on the job.
3. Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers
Average Salary: $109,000
Job Requirements: Distribution managers need at least five years of experience in distribution and warehousing. Some jobs might require certifications like Certified Distribution Management Professional (CDMP) or APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD-APICS).
New Openings: 15,900
Distribution managers are responsible for supply chains between warehouses and storefronts. They plan and execute procedures to keep supply chains running efficiently and on time.
Many distribution manager jobs don't need a bachelor's degree, but they do require significant work experience. The best way to become a distribution manager without a degree is to work your way up from entry-level warehouse positions.
4. Captains, Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels
Average Salary: $104,000
Job Requirements: Ship captains need several years of experience working on ships and a valid Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) certification.
New Openings: 4,100
Ship captains are responsible for getting their ship, crew, cargo and passengers safely from one port to another. They set courses based on maritime navigational principles, ensure everyone onboard follows safety procedures and make the final decisions about all shipboard activities.
This is not a position you can start with no experience. Instead, you work your way up to ship captain after many years of experience in other maritime roles.
5. Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Average Salary: $101,000
Job Requirements: Power distributors and dispatchers should have several years of experience working with electrical systems. They often get on-the-job training to learn how to operate a power plant.
New Openings: 700
Power distributors (sometimes called power system operators) work in power plants managing electricity grids. They monitor the flow of electricity across an area, ensure power grids stay online and coordinate repair crews as necessary.
Distributors can work long shifts (sometimes 12 hours) and must work on weekends and holidays to keep electrical grids running. But they're paid very well for their efforts.
6. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
Average Salary: $99,000
Job Requirements: Police supervisors need at least five years of experience as a police officer and several years of experience as a police sergeant.
New Openings: 9,500
Police supervisors (or police captains) coordinate police officer activity during their shifts. They create shift schedules, supervise criminal investigations and train other police.
These positions sometimes require some college-level coursework in criminal justice, but you don't need a four-year degree to become a police supervisor.
7. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
Average Salary: $94,000
Job Requirements: Installers benefit from previous experience in construction or electrical work. Employers usually provide on-the-job training for the specific equipment.
New Openings: 2,100
Elevator and escalator installers and repairs build and maintain these specialized systems. They work on job sites installing new equipment or maintaining old elevators and escalators in buildings. That includes installing the physical parts, but also setting up the technical systems that run the equipment.
This work is mentally and physically challenging, but it involves skills outside the typical college curriculum.
If you're searching for jobs in this area, look for titles like "elevator adjustor," "elevator constructor," "elevator mechanic" and "elevator service technician."
8. Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Average Salary: $92,000
Job Requirements: Detectives have several years of experience as patrol officers, where they learn the fundamentals of law enforcement and gain experience around crime scenes.
New Openings: 8,600
Detectives investigate crimes to identify and charge criminal perpetrators. They evaluate crime scenes, examine bodies for clues and follow criminal investigation guidelines so their findings can be used as evidence later.
Detective is an advanced position in the police force. You can work your way up to it after going through a police academy and getting several years of practical experience as a police officer.
9. Electrical and Electronics Repairers for Powerhouses, Substations and Relays
Average Salary: $89,000
Job Requirements: Electrical repairers need advanced technical knowledge about electronic systems. They can get this knowledge through on-the-job training and prove it with Electrical Power Testing certification.
New Openings: 2,100
Electrical technicians work on many electronic systems, keeping them functional and safe. The highest-paying jobs in this field work with powerhouses, substations and relays, the backbones of the electrical grid.
Some electrical technicians have associate degrees in applied science, but many are high school graduates with technical training.
10. Power Plant Operators
Average Salary: $89,000
Job Requirements: Several years of experience working with mechanical or electrical systems. Experience with the type of power plant you'll operate, such as hydroelectric, coal or diesel.
New Openings: 2,100
Power plant operators keep power facilities operational. They sit behind control panels at power plants, monitor power generation and match electrical output to demand.
You typically don't start as a power plant operator. Instead, you gain two or three years of experience working as a mechanical or electrical technician before looking for jobs in power plants.
This occupation category doesn't include nuclear power plant operators, who do more technical work but also earn some of the highest salaries possible without a college degree.
11. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Average Salary: $85,000
Job Requirements: Firefighting supervisors need five years of experience in less senior firefighter roles. They may also need state or local firefighting certification, depending on where they work.
New Openings: 5,700
Firefighting supervisors (fire captains, fire chiefs or engine bosses) manage fighter departments. They're responsible for day-to-day business at the station, like scheduling shifts or planning training. They also direct firefighting and live-saving activities in emergency situations.
This is the most senior position in a fire department. You need to work your way up to fire captain after years of experience fighting fires.
12. Farmers, Ranchers and Other Agricultural Managers
Average Salary: $84,000
Job Requirements: Farm managers need at least two years of farming experience. Prior management experience is also helpful.
New Openings: 88,800
Farm managers direct farms and other agricultural operations. They monitor crops and livestock, assign duties to staff and ensure the farm runs efficiently.
You need at least some agricultural experience to become a farm manager, but there are training or certification prerequisites for most positions.
13. Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators and Gaugers
Average Salary: $84,000
Job Requirements: Refinery operators need technical knowledge related to the systems they'll operate, but they can learn these skills on the job.
New Openings: 2,800
These workers operate petroleum pumps and refinery units. They're one part of the system that extracts oil from the ground and turns it into gasoline and other petroleum products. They control the flow of oil from pumps and refineries to maintain supplies and ensure worker safety.
Refinery operators can work long hours—sometimes 12-hour shifts—but entry-level positions don't require much prior experience or training. You might need to relocate nearer to oil processing facilities to get one of these jobs.
14. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
Average Salary: $83,000
Job Requirements: Becoming an apprentice lineman requires no prior experience. You need to complete an apprenticeship before you can become a full lineman.
New Openings: 9,700
These workers, also called linemen, work on-site building, maintaining and repairing powerlines. They drive vehicles with specialized equipment to job sites, connect power lines and follow safety procedures.
You can start this career by becoming an apprentice lineman and working your way up to more advanced positions.
15. Chemical Plant and System Operators
Average Salary: $79,000
Job Requirements: Chemical plant operators need advanced technical knowledge of the systems they work with, but they can learn this in on-the-job training. Some jobs may require a Process Technology Certificate to demonstrate expertise.
New Openings: 1,700
Chemical plant operators monitor control panels in chemical facilities. They watch for potential emergencies and regulate equipment in the plant to maintain production while keeping workers safe.
Chemical plant operators can work unusual shifts and may sometimes work for 12 hours at a time.
16. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
Average Salary: $78,000
Job Requirements: Construction managers need work experience in construction. Experience operating heavy machinery is also useful.
New Openings: 66,600
Construction managers (or construction foremen) manage teams on job sites. They assign tasks and ensure that construction work is done on time, within budget and according to relevant safety guidelines.
You can work your way up to being a construction foreman after gaining several years of experience in entry-level construction jobs.
17. Gas Plant Operators
Average Salary: $78,000
Job Requirements: Gas plant operators need technical skills related to the equipment they use, but they can learn these skills through on-the-job training programs.
New Openings: 1,100
Gas plant operators sit behind control panels at gas plants. They monitor equipment and perform regular checks to make sure everything is functioning properly and within safety guidelines.
Becoming a gas plant operator requires good attention to detail and the ability to work under pressure, but it's a role accessible to anyone with a high school diploma or GED.
Gas plant operators can work unusual schedules. For example, seven days on and seven days off, consecutively.
18. Fire Inspectors and Investigators
Average Salary: $77,000
Job Requirements: Fire inspectors need International Code Council (ICC) certification. Previous construction experience is also helpful.
New Openings: 1,300
Fire inspectors examine buildings for potential fire hazards. As investigators, they explore the scenes of extinguished fires, looking for clues about how the fire started and who, if anyone, might have been involved.
Study for and pass the ICC Certification Exam to become a fire inspector. Check to see if your state has its own licensing requirements.
19. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers
Average Salary: $76,000
Job Requirements: Supervisors need several years of experience in the trade they want to manage. If there are equipment certifications (i.e. forklift certification) in their field, they should have those.
New Openings: 49,200
These managers supervise and coordinate mechanics, installers and repairers in their professions. They sign off on their teams' work, inspect equipment to schedule repairs, interpret specifications and train new trade workers.
These positions are sometimes called maintenance foremen, electrical and instrumentation (E and I) supervisors or service managers. You can work your way up to one of these jobs after spending several years as a mechanic, installer or repairer in your trade.
20. Locomotive Engineers
Average Salary: $74,000
Job Requirements: Locomotive engineers need a valid driver's license. They learn to use locomotive equipment on the job.
New Openings: 2,400
Locomotive engineers operate trains, ensuring they reach their destination safely and on time. They interpret railway signals, work with conductors and control acceleration and braking on trains.
Locomotive engineers usually start as switch- or brake-persons on the railroad. They work their way up to more senior positions, like trainmaster.
21. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Average Salary: $73,000
Job Requirements: Aircraft mechanics need vocational training and an Airframe & Powerplant License from the FAA.
New Openings: 10,900
Aircraft mechanics inspect, maintain and repair aircraft. They examine aircraft components like landing gears, hydraulic systems and deicers. Their work is part of the routine inspection processes that keep aircraft safe.
You need to complete a vocational training program and pass a licensing exam from the FAA to become an aircraft mechanic.
22. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Average Salary: $71,000
Job Requirements: Police officers need training from a government-approved police academy. This leads to Peace Officer's Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certification according to local laws.
New Openings: 55,000
Police officers uphold the law and protect life and property in their jurisdictions. They conduct patrols, watch for suspicious activity and pursue and arrest criminal suspects.
You need to pass physical and mental examinations to become a police officer. The exact requirements vary depending on the state or federal agency you apply for.
23. Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Average Salary: $71,000
Job Requirements: Executive secretaries have several years of experience in assisting lower-level managers or departments.
New Openings: 35,600
Executive administrative assistants take calls, schedule events and manage their supervisor's daily activities in the office. They set themselves apart from regular administrative assistants by working for high-level executives, like company presidents and CEOs.
You can start working in entry-level administrative assistant jobs. After a few years, use your experience to apply for the highest-paying assistant roles available.
Virtual executive assistant is also one of the few remote jobs with high pay that doesn't require a college degree.
How To Get a High-Paying Job Without a Degree
These jobs don't require degrees, but sometimes you'll need to do more than just apply online. Here are some steps toward getting a high-paying job without a college degree:
Build Transferrable Skills
Transferable skills can help you move into higher positions within a career. For example, from patrol officer to detective.
They can also help you move from one occupation to another. For example, if you develop your attention to detail and ability to work in high-pressure situations at a power plant operator, those skills can help you get a higher-paying job at a nuclear power plant.
Get Technical Training
These jobs don't require college degrees, but most of them demand technical knowledge in a relevant field. You can develop these skills in on-the-job training or by attending vocational school, like an electrical trade schooling program.
Grow Your Network
Some of these jobs on our list, like linemen, require an apprenticeship with an experienced worker in the field.
But getting a good apprenticeship can depend on who you know. Build your professional network and find people you can learn from. These mentors can also help you plot your path for a career without a college degree.
Work Your Way Up
The highest-paying jobs on this list are not entry-level positions. If you want to get these jobs, be prepared to work your way up and build experience along the way.
Identify a career plan that takes you from an entry-level job—like firefighter—to the highest paying job in your field—like fire captain or battalion chief.
Be Prepared to Work Hard
These jobs aren't easy. The highest paying positions, like a commercial pilot or power plant operator, carry lots of responsibility and demand your best work in high-pressure situations.
Long, 12-hour shifts are also common in these jobs. And workers that fill essential functions, like power plant operators, take shifts on weekends and holidays.
If you take one of the jobs on this list, you can expect to work hard but earn good money for your efforts.
You don't need a college degree to get a high-paying job. Vocational or on-the-job training in technical skills are enough to succeed if you choose the right occupation and set achievable goals.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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