By: U.S. Career Institute
August 2026
There was a time when many people leaving high school viewed college as the only path
to a well-paying job. But for people willing to take control of their future with
skills-based learning, there are options for jobs that provide a decent salary without
requiring a costly four-year degree.
Using data pulled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Career Institute
compiled a list of 82 jobs that don’t require a degree and have an annual median salary
of more than $50,000. Learn more about these 82 jobs that pay well without a degree and
their projected job growth over the next ten years.
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What Is the Highest-Paying Job Without a Degree?
The highest-paying job without a degree is that of a commercial pilot, with a median
annual wage of $122,670. Commercial pilots typically need a postsecondary nondegree
award, plus flight training and a commercial pilot’s license, before being able to
start the job. Additional careers that pay well without requiring a college education
include:
20 Jobs That Earn the Highest Annual Salaries Without a Degree
- Commercial Pilots: $122,670
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: $106,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $105,980
- Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers: $103,600
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: $102,010
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers: $97,540
- Postmasters and Mail Superintendents: $92,730
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers: $92,560
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: $92,430
- Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers: $87,980
- Transportation Inspectors: $85,750
- Subway and Streetcar Operators: $84,830
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: $84,130
- Signal and Track Switch Repairers: $83,600
- Gas Plant Operators: $83,400
- Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians: $79,140
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians: $78,900
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers: $78,690
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers: $78,300
- Fire Inspectors and Investigators: $78,060
Which Jobs Are Projected to Grow the Fastest?
The career projected to have the highest job growth between 2024 and 2034 is that of
wind turbine technicians, which are estimated to see a 50% increase in the number of
jobs that will become available during this time. Wind turbine technicians earn an
annual median salary of $62,580 and typically require a postsecondary nondegree award.
Some other fast-growing career paths include:
15 Jobs Projected to Grow the Fastest Between 2024–2034
- Wind Turbine Technicians: 50%
- Hearing Aid Specialists: 18%
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians: 12%
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights: 13%
- Electricians: 9%
- Flight Attendants: 9%
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: 8%
- Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance: 8%
- Chefs and Head Cooks: 7%
- Medical Records Specialists: 7%
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers: 7%
- Food Service Managers: 6%
- Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians: 6%
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: 6%
- Private Detectives and Investigators: 6%
High Paying Certificate Career Programs
Check out a few of these online programs that can get you moving in a new direction quickly:
Online Medical Assistant School
Online Patient Care Technician School
Online Medical Coding and Billing School
Online Sterile Processing Technician School
Online HVAC School
If you’re interested in exploring one of these programs—or something else—to start a
new career journey, speak to an admission representative to discuss your next steps.
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