20 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree in 2024 (2024)

In certain industries, relevant work experience, internships, training and certifications are just as important, if not more important, than graduating with a four-year degree.

Job applications usually have a minimum educational requirement — some college, an associate degree or a bachelor’s or master’s degree. But with student loan debt topping $1.77 trillion (an increase of 66% over the past ten years), according to the Federal Reserve, you may ask if a four-year college degree is worth it.

The answer will likely depend on your career choice. Some professions — medical and healthcare providers, lawyers, teachers, nuclear engineers — all require a degree (or degrees). However, some underrepresented career fields welcome applicants who never attended college or didn’t graduate with a four-year degree, and some of these careers pay very well.

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There are plenty of in-demand careers with a salary higher than $56,420 (the median US annual salary), according to 20 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree, a report from the leading career resource platform, Resume Genius. The list spotlights well-paying jobs and their accompanying educational requirements, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are the top 10 highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree.

1. Airline and commercial pilot

  • Median annual salary: $148,900
  • Number of jobs: 142,600
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
  • Educational requirements: Vocational training or Associate’s degree
  • Work experience: None, but FAA certifications and flight hours are required

2. Information security analyst

  • Median annual salary: $112,000
  • Number of jobs: 168,900
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 32%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
  • Work experience: None, but relevant certifications are beneficial

3. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer

  • Median annual salary: $99,999
  • Number of jobs: 25,100
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 1%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma or GED
  • Work experience: Apprenticeship

4. Special effects artist and animator

  • Median annual salary: $98,950
  • Number of jobs: 89,300
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
  • Work experience: Portfolio of work. Certifications can be beneficial

5. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager

  • Median annual salary: $98,560
  • Number of jobs: 14,600
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; certification programs beneficial
  • Work experience: Five years in a related field

6. First-line supervisors of police and detective

  • Median annual salary: $96,290
  • Number of jobs: 4,300
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma, police academy training
  • Work experience: Several years in the police force

7. Radiation therapist

  • Median annual salary: $89,530
  • Number of jobs: 15,900
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 2%
  • Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
  • Work experience: Clinical experience/certification

8. Subway and streetcar operator

  • Median annual salary: $88,260
  • Number of jobs: 300
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma
  • Work experience: On-the-job training

9. Electrical power-line installer and repairer

  • Median annual salary: $82,340 per year
  • Number of jobs: 122,400
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
  • Educational requirements: High school diploma. Technical training preferred
  • Work experience: Apprenticeship

10. Dental hygienist

  • Median annual salary: $81,400
  • Number of jobs: 219,400
  • Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
  • Educational requirements: Associate’s degree in dental hygiene
  • Work experience: Licensing (varies by state)

Along with these ten career fields that offer high wages but do not require a four-year degree, the Resume Genius report also highlighted these ten jobs.

  • Web developer
  • Medical sonographer
  • Police and/or detective
  • Flight attendant
  • Lodging manager
  • Property, real estate, and community association manager
  • Electrician
  • Telecommunications technician
  • Industrial machinery mechanic
  • Computer support specialist

Skills-based hiring

Given the soaring cost of college and an explosion in online learning and certificate courses, it's no wonder that students and employers are both looking for non-traditional ways to join the labor force. “A college degree doesn’t mean quite what it used to, and we're witnessing a significant shift towards skills-based hiring," explains Eva Chan, Career Expert at Resume Genius. "This change is creating more accessible opportunities, including a range of lesser-known yet well-paying roles."

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20 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree in 2024 (2024)

FAQs

Which field will be in demand in 2024? ›

These are the Best Jobs of 2024, According to Indeed
RankJob title% Change in Job Share, 2020 vs. 2023
1mental health technician1
2loan officer3
3mental health therapist132
4electrical engineer34
21 more rows
Apr 18, 2024

What is the top paying job in 2024? ›

Here are the highest paying jobs of 2024:

Anesthesiologist: $239,200. Obstetrician and Gynecologist: $239,200. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: $239,200. Psychiatrist: $226,880.

How can I make $100 000 a year without a college degree? ›

9 jobs that pay $100K per year without a degree
  1. Information systems manager. National average salary: $96,173 per year Primary duties: An information systems manager oversees and implements information technology (IT) within a company. ...
  2. Fire chief. ...
  3. Product manager. ...
  4. Senior engagement manager. ...
  5. Radiation therapist.
Apr 18, 2024

What is the best career change in 2024? ›

Popular career changes in 2024 include roles like UX designer, data analyst, digital marketer, product manager, and web developer.

What are the three fastest growing jobs in 2024? ›

Given this situation, what are the jobs on the rise and what can companies look at while recruiting? In India, closing manager, influencer marketing specialist, and design specialist are the top three fastest growing jobs in 2024. The growth rates are above 79%.

What jobs will be in-demand in 5 years? ›

Roles in fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and renewable energy are in high demand. However, it is worth noting that motion picture projectionists, wind turbine service technicians, and nurse practitioners are 3 jobs projected to be the fastest growing over the next decade.

What is the highest paying no degree job? ›

Here are the top 10 highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree.
  • Airline and commercial pilot. ...
  • Information security analyst. ...
  • Elevator and escalator installer and repairer. ...
  • Special effects artist and animator. ...
  • Transportation, storage, and distribution manager. ...
  • First-line supervisors of police and detective.
Jan 28, 2024

What is the #1 best paying job? ›

Highest-Paying Careers
RankOccupation2022 Median Wages
Employment column one Hourly
1Obstetricians and Gynecologists$115.00+
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$115.00+
1Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$115.00+
7 more rows

What job will pay the most in the future? ›

Here is a list of the highest paying jobs in the world in the future:
  • Electrotechnology Engineers.
  • Project Managers.
  • Process Automation Specialists.
  • Big Data Specialists.
  • Database and Network Professionals.
  • Blockchain Developers.
  • Information Security Analysts.
  • Robotics Engineers.
Feb 24, 2024

How much is 100K a year hourly? ›

$100,000 a year is how much an hour? If you make $100,000 a year, your hourly salary would be $48.08.

How to make $80,000 a year without a degree? ›

work from home no degree 80k jobs
  1. Veterinarian ($80K Sign-On Bonus) Southern Veterinary Partners3.7. ...
  2. HVAC SERVICE TECHNICIANS. Swan Home Comfort. ...
  3. SDR Manager (Mountain View) Athelas. ...
  4. Sous Chef. Enso Village. ...
  5. HVAC Service Technician. ...
  6. What are your desired job types? ...
  7. Dental Hygienist. ...
  8. Sales Account Executive.

How to make 150k a year without a degree? ›

150k no degree jobs in remote
  1. Senior Quantitative Analyst. ...
  2. AD Sales Operations. ...
  3. Senior Product Manager-Database Migration. ...
  4. Account Executive. ...
  5. Lead Engineer / Manager – Information Security. ...
  6. What are your desired job types? ...
  7. Sales Account Executive- West Coast - Remote. ...
  8. Enterprise Account Executive, Outbound - E-Commerce SaaS.

What will be the highest paying job in 2024? ›

Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA (Inc Salaries)
  1. Chief Executive Officer. The company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for guiding the company towards success and growth. ...
  2. Physician/ Doctor. ...
  3. Psychiatrist. ...
  4. Airline Pilot. ...
  5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. ...
  6. Orthodontist. ...
  7. Lawyer. ...
  8. Architectural and Engineering Manager.

What are the top 5 careers for the future? ›

The best jobs for 2024 include positions such as Data Scientist, AI and ML Engineer, Healthcare Professional, Digital Marketer, Cyber Security Analyst, Human Resources Manager, Full-Stack Developer, Cloud Developer, Project Manager, and Digital Content Creator.

What career will be in demand in 10 years? ›

Nurse Practitioner. Nurse practitioners' job growth outlook is great, with a 31% increase in job demand anticipated over the next 10 years. Median pay is $110,930 annually, but you do need a master's degree to get this sought-after job.

What career will be in demand in 2025? ›

Data scientists and analysts will continue to be in high demand as organizations seek to harness the power of data for making informed business decisions. Healthcare Professionals: Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and healthcare technicians, will always be in demand.

Which field has most demand in future? ›

  • Product Manager. A product manager is a professional who manages the product development process for the organization. ...
  • Project Manager. ...
  • Digital Marketing Specialist. ...
  • DevOps Engineers. ...
  • Cloud Developer. ...
  • Cyber Security Engineer. ...
  • UX Designer.
Jan 18, 2024

What is the job market prediction for 2024? ›

Summary: Nonfarm payrolls increased 303,000 jobs in March, but we expect the slowdown in job growth to renew. The unemployment rate averaged 3.8%; it's expected to rise mildly to 3.9% on average in 2024.

Which field is best for future 2026? ›

  • MS in Data Science. Bestseller. Post Graduate Programme in Data Science & AI (Executive) ...
  • New. Graduate Certificate Programme in Data Science & AI. Post Graduate Certificate in Data Science & AI (Executive)
  • Data Science & Analytics Bootcamp. Data Engineer Bootcamp. Job-ready Program in Business Analytics.
Apr 14, 2024

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