Earning a bachelor’s degree is no longer the only way to get a high-paying job.
Resume Genius’ latest report used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree.
Eva Chan, career expert at Resume Genius, said the report shows that “there is no one way to land a high-paying job.”
“All jobs require some level of training, and some require schooling, but all are very achievable without a degree,” she says.
Chan said blue-collar jobs such as power line installers and repairmen are becoming more popular.
“Probably 10 to 15 years ago, they weren’t considered lucrative,” Chan says, but more people are realizing that blue-collar roles and skilled jobs can offer “high pay” and lots of growth opportunities.
According to Chan, management and sales positions, such as insurance sales agents, are ideal for people with strong interpersonal skills.
“If you’re consistent and good at building relationships, your pay can increase quickly,” she says.
According to Resume Genius, these are the 15 highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, along with each job’s median annual salary, median hourly wage, and estimated employment growth rate over the next 10 years.
1. Elevator and escalator installation and repair companies
Average annual salary: $106,580
Median hourly wage: $51.24
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 5%
2. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager
Average annual salary: $102,010
Median hourly wage: $49.05
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 6%
3. Power line installers and repairers
Average annual salary: $92,560
Median hourly wage: $44.50
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 7%
4. Aircraft and avionics mechanics and technicians
Average annual salary: $79,140
Median hourly wage: $38.05
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 5%
5. Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Average annual salary: $77,270
Median hourly wage: $37.15
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 3%
6. Engineer
Average annual salary: $75,680
Median hourly wage: $36.38
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 1%
7. Wholesale/manufacturing and sales staff
Average annual salary: $74,100
Median hourly wage: $35.63
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 1%
8. Flight attendant
Average annual salary: $67,130
Median hourly wage: $32.27
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 9%
9. Real estate/real estate/neighborhood association manager
Average annual salary: $66,700
Median hourly wage: $32.07
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 4%
10. Water transport workers
Average annual salary: $66,490
Median hourly wage: $31.97
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 1%
11. School lunch manager
Average annual salary: $65,310
Median hourly wage: $31.40
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 6%
12. Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians
Average annual salary: $62,740
Median hourly wage: $30.16
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 6%
13. Athletes and athletes
Average annual salary: $62,360
Median hourly wage: N/A
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 5%
14. Chef and head chef
Average annual salary: $60,990
Median hourly wage: $29.32
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 7%
15. Insurance sales agent
Average annual salary: $60,370
Median hourly wage: $29.02
Estimated employment growth rate from 2024 to 2034: 4%
These jobs may not require a traditional four-year degree, but they do require “real skills and real training,” Chan said.
She advises job seekers to research the position and “consider any education that may be required.”
“Sometimes you need a license, sometimes you need a certification, sometimes you need years of experience or a little bit of training,” she says.
Many of these jobs also offer a clear path to career advancement, which Chan says is “very attractive” to people looking for reliability and steady growth.
“Many of these jobs aren’t very glamorous or widely talked about, but they exist, they pay well, and they keep critical systems running,” she says.
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