The 15 highest-paying jobs you can land without a 4-year degree, says new report
Getting a bachelor’s degree isn’t the only way to land a lucrative job anymore.
Resume Genius’s latest report identified the jobs that offer the highest pay without requiring a four-year college degree, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The report demonstrates that “there’s no one way to get a high-paying job,” according to Resume Genius career expert Eva Chan.
“All of the jobs do have some degree of training, some have schooling, but they’re all very attainable without a degree,” she says.
Blue-collar jobs like electrical power-line installer and repairer are becoming increasingly popular, according to Chan.
“Maybe 10 to 15 years ago, they weren’t seen as lucrative,” Chan says, but more people are realizing that blue-collar roles and skilled trades can offer “high pay” and plenty of growth opportunities.
Management and sales roles like insurance sales agent are ideal for people who have strong interpersonal skills, according to Chan.
“Your pay can increase pretty quickly if you’re consistent and you’re good with building relationships,” she says.
According to Resume Genius, these are the 15 highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, as well as each job’s median annual salary, median hourly wage and estimated job growth over the next decade.
1. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
Median annual salary: $106,580
Median hourly wage: $51.24
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 5%
2. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager
Median annual salary: $102,010
Median hourly wage: $49.05
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 6%
3. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
Median annual salary: $92,560
Median hourly wage: $44.50
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 7%
4. Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic and technician
Median annual salary: $79,140
Median hourly wage: $38.05
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 5%
5. Detective and criminal investigator
Median annual salary: $77,270
Median hourly wage: $37.15
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 3%
6. Locomotive engineer
Median annual salary: $75,680
Median hourly wage: $36.38
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 1%
7. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative
Median annual salary: $74,100
Median hourly wage: $35.63
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 1%
8. Flight attendant
Median annual salary: $67,130
Median hourly wage: $32.27
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 9%
9. Property, real estate, and community association manager
Median annual salary: $66,700
Median hourly wage: $32.07
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 4%
10. Water transportation worker
Median annual salary: $66,490
Median hourly wage: $31.97
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 1%
11. Food service manager
Median annual salary: $65,310
Median hourly wage: $31.40
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 6%
12. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technician
Median annual salary: $62,740
Median hourly wage: $30.16
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 6%
13. Athlete and sports competitor
Median annual salary: $62,360
Median hourly wage: N/A
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 5%
14. Chef and head cook
Median annual salary: $60,990
Median hourly wage: $29.32
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 7%
15. Insurance sales agent
Median annual salary: $60,370
Median hourly wage: $29.02
Estimated job growth 2024–2034: 4%
These jobs may not require traditional four-year degrees, but they do require “real skills and real training,” Chan says.
She advises job seekers to research the role and “look into the potential schooling that you’ll need.”
“You might need licenses, you might need a certification or you might just need years of experience or a little bit of training,” she says.
Many of these jobs also have clear paths for career progression, Chan says, which is “really compelling” for people who are looking for reliability and steady growth.
“A lot of these jobs aren’t that flashy or widely talked about,” she says, “but they do exist, and they have strong pay and keep essential systems running.”
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