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 10 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.
There are plenty of in-demand careers with a salary higher than $56,420 (the median U.S. 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 highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree this year:
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
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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
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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
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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)
11. Web developer
Median annual salary: $80,730
Number of jobs: 216,700
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 16%
Educational requirements: Ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree (education requirements vary by employer)
Work experience: Licensing (varies by state) and clinical experience
13. Police and/or detective
Median annual salary: $69,160
Number of jobs: 808,700
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
Educational requirements: High school diploma, police training academy for an entry-level position. Detective work might require some college coursework or a degree
Work experience: Police academy and on-the-job training
14. Flight attendant
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Median annual salary: $63,760
Number of jobs: 111,100
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 11%
Educational requirements: High school diploma, flight attendant training program. International routes may need fluency in a foreign language
Work experience: Experience in customer service
Medical/physical requirements: Must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline
15. Lodging manager
Median annual salary: $61,910
Number of jobs: 50,800
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Work experience: Experience in various hotel operations, from front desk to housekeeping
16. Property, real estate, and community association manager
Median annual salary: $60,670
Number of jobs: 429,600
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
Educational requirements: High school diploma and licensing (varies by state)
Work experience: Several years of work experience in a related occupation, such as real estate brokers and sales agents
17. Electrician
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Median annual salary: $60,240
Number of jobs: 762,000
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
Educational requirements: High school diploma
Work experience: Apprenticeship program and licensing (varies by state)
18. Telecommunications technician
Median annual salary: $60,190
Number of jobs: 299,300
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
Educational requirements: High school diploma and a certificate or an associate’s degree (varies by employer)
Work experience: None
19. Industrial machinery mechanic
Median annual salary: $59,470
Number of jobs: 507,900
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 13%
Educational requirements: High school diploma, associate’s degree in industrial maintenance for some positions
Work experience: None
20. Computer support specialist
Median annual salary: $59,660
Number of jobs: 914,110
Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
Educational requirements: High school diploma and some IT knowledge
Work experience: Certification and some college coursework (varies by state)
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, a 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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For the past 18+ years, Kathryn has highlighted the humanity in personal finance by shaping stories that identify the opportunities and obstacles in managing a person's finances. All the same, she’ll jump on other equally important topics if needed. Kathryn graduated with a degree in Journalism and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. She joined Kiplinger in 2023 as a contributor.
