15+ Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

If you are looking for the highest-paying jobs without a degree, we can tell you that today’s situation on the labor market is in your favor.

There are many alternative ways to acquire useful knowledge without spending four or more years in college. But, while you might not need a degree, you most definitely do need knowledge, skills, and adequate personality traits, no matter what job we’re talking about.

We have prepared a list of the 15 highest-paying jobs without a degree or experience for you, so let’s dive right in.

Key Takeaways

• Do not expect that you will get to be in the driver’s seat from the start or that you will earn as much as some very experienced professionals. Everything takes time, so you will have to invest it in order to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the job.
• Many of the jobs on the list require a high school diploma, a certain number of years of relevant work experience, training to become familiar with the job, and a specific type of education whose goal is to prepare you for work in a short period of time and allow you to develop through practical experience.
• When you add to the previous two points the fact that employers in many industries are more interested in the right skills than the right degree, it should be clear to you that there are many opportunities out there to find a job that matches your dreams, needs, and qualifications.

15 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

A college degree is not a must for every good job.

To succeed, you should place a high value on personal growth, knowledge, and expertise, as well as a positive attitude and a willingness to put in the effort. Jobs that pay well and treat you well require such qualities.

Here is a list of the 15 highest-paying jobs without a degree, along with a brief description of the education and skills required for each job.

Using official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website, we also made a table with information about the level of education needed, licensing requirements, average annual salary, and projected growth or decline in demand for each job on the list over the next ten years.

#1. Commercial Pilot

If commercial aircraft management sounds like an interesting and exciting career to you, this profession is a typical “6-figure job without a college degree” example. With the proper training and license, you can operate aircraft for charter flights, provide emergency transportation, plan flights and routes, help the flight proceed in tough conditions, and more.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or equivalent	License by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)	$134,630	6% projected growth

#2. Air Traffic Controller

An air traffic controller is a good job option for people who are patient, speak fluently and articulately, and are able to maintain their composure under pressure. The air traffic controller is responsible for regulating the speed and height at which airplanes travel.

Build your career as an air traffic controller as one of the highest-paying jobs without a degree with three years of impeccable work experience or with a combination of postsecondary education and work experience totaling three years.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or GED diploma	License by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)	$129,750	Little or no change

#3. Construction Manager

The role of construction manager requires good organizational skills and the ability to successfully manage both people and projects. If you choose this highest-paying job without a degree, you’ll be held responsible for overseeing the operation, making sure the workers do their assigned tasks, checking the quality of the work, and ensuring its safety.

You can learn the skills required for the position of construction manager by enrolling in classes like blueprint reading, fundamentals, construction drafting, or industrial arts electricity, through an internship with a company (apprenticeships accept people over the age of 16), or from professionals with several years of experience in this field.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or equivalent	Not required	$98,890	8% projected growth

#4. Elevator Installer

If you are seeking employment in the field of electronics, you should consider becoming an elevator installer.

This position is one of the highest-paying jobs without a degree and involves evaluating if a given location is suitable for the installation of elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and other lifts. But it basically boils down to installing these elevators and enabling their correct functioning.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or equivalent (preferably a 4-year apprenticeship program)	35 states require a license	$97,860	3% projected growth

#5. Power Plant Operator

Knowing the ins and outs of the devices that generate and transport electrical energy is a necessity for operating a bioelectric plant. By this, we mean the use of control panels for energy distribution, regular maintenance, and control. This is done by closely following diagrams and sensors, collecting and analyzing data, and controlling the machine.

A Power plant operator needs to have around three years of training through hands-on work, such as running machines and keeping an eye on their work, before they are allowed to operate or oversee the maintenance of any machines.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or GED diploma	License required for nuclear power plants	$94,790	15% projected decline

#6. Web Developer

The IT sector offers many of the highest-paying jobs without a degree, and it is quickly expanding. This profession is opening up a wide variety of career paths with lucrative pay that values your abilities, creativity, and computer literacy. Therefore, if you are both tech-savvy and artistic, consider a career as a web developer—creating websites, making the pages attractive to users, and enabling a high volume of legitimate traffic to the site.

The web developer is in charge of the design and functionality of a website, as well as its maintenance and regular updates to keep up with users’ preferences and expectations as they evolve.

Web developers use many different computer languages to create, maintain, and update pages. You can learn these languages in a variety of courses, which will give you the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this field.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma or equivalent	Not required	$ 77,030	8% projected growth

#7. Real Estate Agent

Almost every individual will have to buy or sell a piece of real estate at some point in their life. To be a real estate agent, you need to know everything about the real estate market and what your clients want to give them the best advice about what property to buy or sell, how much it should cost, and when it would be best to close the deal.

As well, by taking a course that gives you a license and lets you work in the real estate industry, you can learn the skills and knowledge you need to negotiate, mediate, buy, or sell real estate effectively.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school or equivalent diploma or GED	Required license	$ 77,030	5% projected growth

#8. Flight Attendants

They are the ones you trust and interact with the most during the flight, and they are always ready to make you feel as comfortable as possible while flying. Their priorities are service and passenger safety, so if you are considering this job, keep that in mind.

Young people are particularly interested in this job because it gives them the opportunity to meet new people, travel, and discover new places.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	A certificate of competency issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) upon successful completion of training is required.	$61,640	17% projected growth

#9. Sound Engineering Technician

This is one of the highest-paying jobs without a degree and can be quite exciting for people who are passionate about music and anything else that is connected to it. Working as a sound engineer is a low-stress job that pays well and requires taking care of the installation of sound equipment at cultural, social, television, radio, and other events.

This job involves connecting microphones, audio systems, musical instruments, and other audio equipment; working with musicians to improve the sound quality; and operating analog and digital mixers in order to produce a sound that is balanced and clean.

Who knows, maybe one day you’ll end up in the music video of one of your favorite artists.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	/	$60,500	7.5% projected growth

#10. Electrician

Every device you use every day requires electricity.

That’s when you realize the importance of an electrician. They are responsible for the maintenance and repair of electrical installations and appliances in your homes, apartments, factories, or plants. They simply work in all areas where electricity is used.

An electrician’s job is risky because they work with electricity, which is why they have to work their way up from apprentice to master electrician and get licenses that vary greatly from state to state in order to make sure they’re ready for the job.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	It varies by state, but in most states, it is mandatory.	$60,000	7.1% projected growth

#11. Plumber

Plumbers are trained to drain sinks or toilets, install and connect pipes to appliances in a new apartment, or solve any other water-related issue.

To become a plumber, you need to have specialist knowledge in the field, which is usually acquired through training and the help of a more experienced plumber, which can take several years. This profession requires physical strength, accuracy, and problem-solving skills.

Most states require you to have a plumber’s license, so make sure to investigate this.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	It varies by state	$59,800	1.9% projected growth

#12. Firefighter

A firefighter’s job is multidimensional because he has to do many things to keep people and property safe. Many people think that a firefighter’s job is only to put out fires, but it also includes things like saving people and property during natural disasters.

So that they can do their jobs well and quickly, firefighters need to be professionally trained and ready to go into the field as soon as possible. This is a very hard job that requires people who are brave and mentally ready because they are often exposed to risk and danger.

Firefighters learn how to do different jobs, use equipment properly, free people who are trapped, and, if needed, give emergency medical care. So that they are ready for any dangerous situation, they must get professional training, keep up with new work methods, and keep their equipment up to date.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	/	$50,700	4.3% projected growth

#13. Chef Cook

Working as a chef is one of the most exciting and dynamic careers. Their goal is to bring joy to millions of people every day.

Kitchen has been serving as a refuge for individuals from many backgrounds, helping their success. You must be creative, have an acute sense of smell and taste, be open-minded, be a team player, and be willing to accept criticism in order to succeed in this job.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	/	$50,160	15% projected growth

#14. Insurance Sales Agent

Insurance agents sell insurance policies to individuals or businesses that provide protection against various types of risks and losses. Many people have their first contact with an insurance company through an insurance agent.

These professionals help individuals, families, and businesses choose the insurance policy that best protects their lives and health, as well as their cars, jewelry, personal valuables, furniture, appliances, businesses, and other forms of property.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	/	$49,840	10% projected growth

#15. Carpenters

Carpentry is another craft that is always in demand, whether it is rough or finished. Rough carpenters work on larger construction projects and use various woodworking machines, while finish carpenters are primarily involved in making cabinets, furniture, models, and instruments.

A carpenter needs to have an eye for detail, be creative, be good with computers, know how to use different tools and machines, and be in good shape to do this kind of work.

Some states require the carpenter to have a license, some to have worked on more than 10 projects or a certain number of hours, so before you decide on this job, be sure you have proper information about it.

Education	Certifications/licenses	Average annual salary	Projected growth rate
High school diploma	It varies by state.	$48.260	2.2% projected growth

Final Thoughts

Now that you have explored the variety of the highest-paying jobs without a degree, you can make a decision about which path to take.

Keep in mind that it’s essential to figure out what makes you happy and what interests you before you can begin to invest yourself in that area. The employer cares about your work ethic, skill set, and ability to learn.

Therefore, use your abilities and give yourself to a new profession that is both fulfilling and lucrative.