There are 226 jobs in the United States that pay a median salary of more than $50,000 and do not typically require a college degree, according to the newest Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, released August 27, 2026.
That is nearly three times the number you will find in most lists online, because this guide uses the full BLS occupation table for 2025 to 2035 instead of a hand-picked sample. Every one of these jobs pays at least as much as the median for all US workers, which was $50,980 in May 2025.
Together these 226 occupations are projected to have about 2,756,600 job openings every year through 2035. Most of those openings come from workers retiring or changing careers, not from new jobs, which is exactly why employers in the trades, energy, logistics and manufacturing keep hiring people without degrees and training them on the job.
Below you will find the highest paying, the fastest growing, the jobs with the most openings, the ones you can train for in under a year, and a searchable table of all 226 with pay, growth, openings, the education you need and how you train for it.
Key takeaways
- 226 occupations pay a median of $50,000 or more and typically need a high school diploma, a short certificate or no formal credential at all (BLS, August 2026).
- The highest paying is commercial pilot at $123,220, followed by nuclear power reactor operator at $122,890 and elevator and escalator installer at $109,910.
- 9 of these jobs pay a median of $100,000 or more, and 44 pay $75,000 or more.
- The fastest growing is solar photovoltaic installer at +36.5% through 2035, then wind turbine service technician at +29.5% and hearing aid specialist at +19.4%.
- Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving has the most openings, about 214,500 a year, followed by bookkeeping clerks (144,100) and office supervisors (127,400).
- 165 of the 226 jobs need only a high school diploma, 34 need a certificate or training program and 25 need no formal credential.
- 14 of the jobs are learned through a formal apprenticeship, where you earn a paycheck while you train, including electricians ($63,190) and elevator installers.
How this list was built
Every number on this page comes from one source: BLS Table 1.2, the occupational projections and worker characteristics table published with the 2025 to 2035 Employment Projections on August 27, 2026. Wages are May 2025 medians from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. A median means half of workers in that job earn more and half earn less, so it is a better guide than an average, which a few very high earners can pull up.
A job made the list if BLS says the typical education needed for entry is a high school diploma or equivalent, a postsecondary nondegree award (a certificate or training program, usually under a year, sometimes up to two), some college with no degree, or no formal educational credential, and the median annual wage is $50,000 or more.
Jobs that typically need an associate degree are listed separately near the bottom of the page. Broad summary rows such as “all other” categories were kept only where BLS lists them as a line item.
“Typical” is the key word. BLS describes the most common path into a job, not a rule. Plenty of people in these roles have degrees, and some employers prefer one. Pay also varies a lot by state and metro. The Apollo Technical salary calculator breaks engineering, technician, CAD and supply chain pay down by city, and the BLS OEWS tables cover every occupation by state.
What is the highest paying job without a degree?
The highest paying job you can get without a degree is commercial pilot, with a median wage of $123,220. Commercial pilots typically need a postsecondary nondegree award plus flight training and an FAA commercial pilot certificate, which is why the entry cost is higher than for most jobs on this list. Close behind are nuclear power reactor operators ($122,890), elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($109,910), ship engineers ($109,530) and transportation, storage and distribution managers ($107,230).
Several of the top earners are jobs where you work your way up. Transportation managers, police supervisors, firefighting supervisors and construction supervisors all typically start in the front-line role and move into supervision after five years or more of experience. Power plant operators, refinery operators and substation repairers are high-paying technical jobs with long on-the-job training, often two to four years, before you are fully qualified.
The full top 25 is below. “Openings per year” is the BLS estimate of average annual openings from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave, which is the number that tells you how hard a job is to get into.
| Rank | Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial pilots | $123,220 | +5.2% | 5,200 | Certificate or training program |
| 2 | Nuclear power reactor operators | $122,890 | -5.9% | 400 | High school diploma |
| 3 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | +5.7% | 1,900 | High school diploma |
| 4 | Ship engineers | $109,530 | +2.7% | 900 | Certificate or training program |
| 5 | Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | +6.1% | 18,300 | High school diploma |
| 6 | Power distributors and dispatchers | $106,730 | +1.2% | 700 | High school diploma |
| 7 | First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 | +3.3% | 10,600 | High school diploma |
| 8 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | +9.7% | 1,800 | Certificate or training program |
| 9 | Power plant operators | $102,040 | -5.1% | 2,300 | High school diploma |
| 10 | Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 | +6.1% | 600 | Certificate or training program |
| 11 | Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers | $96,710 | -1.9% | 2,700 | High school diploma |
| 12 | Postmasters and mail superintendents | $96,660 | -0.3% | 900 | High school diploma |
| 13 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | +10.3% | 10,900 | High school diploma |
| 14 | Detectives and criminal investigators | $93,790 | +0.2% | 7,800 | High school diploma |
| 15 | First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | $93,530 | +3.7% | 6,600 | Certificate or training program |
| 16 | Gambling managers | $93,220 | +3.6% | 600 | High school diploma |
| 17 | Signal and track switch repairers | $92,460 | +1.8% | 800 | High school diploma |
| 18 | Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels | $92,460 | +4.0% | 3,800 | Certificate or training program |
| 19 | Transportation inspectors | $92,100 | +2.2% | 2,300 | High school diploma |
| 20 | Transit and railroad police | $90,230 | +3.2% | 300 | High school diploma |
| 21 | Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | $89,900 | -3.4% | 70,800 | High school diploma |
| 22 | Gas plant operators | $87,820 | -6.0% | 1,400 | High school diploma |
| 23 | First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers | $87,520 | +0.5% | 21,700 | High school diploma |
| 24 | Subway and streetcar operators | $86,380 | +3.7% | 900 | High school diploma |
| 25 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment | $84,890 | +5.4% | 500 | Certificate or training program |
Which jobs pay over $100K without a degree?
9 occupations on the list pay a median of $100,000 or more. Four of them are in power generation and transmission, one is in aviation, one in shipping, one is a trade learned through apprenticeship (elevator installer), and two are supervisory roles you reach through experience. Note that two of the power jobs, nuclear reactor operators and power plant operators, are projected to shrink through 2035 as older plants close, even though the pay is strong and openings continue from retirements.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed | How you train |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial pilots | $123,220 | +5.2% | 5,200 | Certificate or training program | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Nuclear power reactor operators | $122,890 | -5.9% | 400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | +5.7% | 1,900 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship |
| Ship engineers | $109,530 | +2.7% | 900 | Certificate or training program | None |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | +6.1% | 18,300 | High school diploma | None |
| Power distributors and dispatchers | $106,730 | +1.2% | 700 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 | +3.3% | 10,600 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | +9.7% | 1,800 | Certificate or training program | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Power plant operators | $102,040 | -5.1% | 2,300 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
Which no-degree jobs are growing fastest through 2035?
The fastest growing job on the list is solar photovoltaic installer, projected to grow +36.5% between 2025 and 2035, more than ten times the +3.5% average for all occupations. Wind turbine service technicians are next at +29.5%. Both are small occupations, so the number of new jobs is modest, but they pay above the national median and the training is short. Hearing aid specialists (+19.4%) and occupational health and safety technicians (+19.4%) follow.
For sheer scale, look at industrial machinery mechanics: +17.8% growth on top of 44,400 openings a year, with a median of $64,520. That combination of fast growth, high volume and good pay is rare, and it reflects the reshoring of manufacturing and the data center and semiconductor build-out covered in our skilled trades shortage statistics. HVAC mechanics, electricians and power-line installers all sit in the same sweet spot.
| Rank | Occupation | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Median wage | Education needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar photovoltaic installers | +36.5% | 4,200 | $53,140 | High school diploma |
| 2 | Wind turbine service technicians | +29.5% | 1,500 | $64,120 | Certificate or training program |
| 3 | Hearing aid specialists | +19.4% | 900 | $65,160 | High school diploma |
| 4 | Occupational health and safety technicians | +19.4% | 3,800 | $61,560 | High school diploma |
| 5 | Industrial machinery mechanics | +17.8% | 44,400 | $64,520 | High school diploma |
| 6 | Massage therapists | +15.3% | 20,400 | $58,450 | Certificate or training program |
| 7 | Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists | +13.1% | 400 | $56,870 | High school diploma |
| 8 | Community health workers | +12.7% | 7,000 | $51,850 | High school diploma |
| 9 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | +10.9% | 40,600 | $61,010 | Certificate or training program |
| 10 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians | +10.7% | 3,700 | $56,550 | High school diploma |
| 11 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers | +10.3% | 10,900 | $95,320 | High school diploma |
| 12 | Tile and stone setters | +9.8% | 3,300 | $55,690 | No formal credential |
| 13 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | +9.7% | 1,800 | $103,020 | Certificate or training program |
| 14 | Recreational vehicle service technicians | +9.7% | 2,200 | $52,000 | High school diploma |
| 15 | Avionics technicians | +9.4% | 1,700 | $82,280 | Certificate or training program |
| 16 | Electricians | +9.2% | 72,700 | $63,190 | High school diploma |
| 17 | Aircraft cargo handling supervisors | +9.2% | 900 | $58,170 | High school diploma |
| 18 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles | +9.0% | 2,200 | $56,460 | No formal credential |
| 19 | Flight attendants | +8.8% | 18,500 | $63,580 | High school diploma |
| 20 | Semiconductor processing technicians | +8.2% | 3,400 | $51,430 | High school diploma |
Which jobs without a degree have the most openings?
Growth rates get the headlines, but openings are what get you hired. BLS projects about 214,500 openings a year for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, by far the most of any job on this list, because so many drivers retire or leave each year. Bookkeeping clerks (144,100), office supervisors (127,400), sales representatives of services (115,700) and wholesale sales representatives (99,800) round out the top five.
Among hands-on technical jobs, electricians lead with about 72,700 openings a year, followed by construction supervisors (67,000), auto service technicians (66,200), carpenters (62,800) and production supervisors (61,000). These are the jobs where a strong work history and a certificate get interviews quickly, because employers cannot fill them fast enough.
| Rank | Occupation | Openings per year | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Education needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 214,500 | $58,640 | +3.8% | Certificate or training program |
| 2 | Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 144,100 | $50,670 | -5.6% | Some college, no degree |
| 3 | First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | 127,400 | $69,500 | +0.1% | High school diploma |
| 4 | Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel | 115,700 | $69,990 | +2.7% | High school diploma |
| 5 | Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products | 99,800 | $72,080 | -0.9% | High school diploma |
| 6 | Electricians | 72,700 | $63,190 | +9.2% | High school diploma |
| 7 | Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | 70,800 | $89,900 | -3.4% | High school diploma |
| 8 | First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | 67,000 | $79,920 | +5.0% | High school diploma |
| 9 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics | 66,200 | $50,620 | +5.0% | Certificate or training program |
| 10 | Carpenters | 62,800 | $60,580 | +3.9% | High school diploma |
| 11 | First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | 61,000 | $74,450 | +1.8% | High school diploma |
| 12 | First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors | 54,900 | $62,890 | +3.0% | High school diploma |
| 13 | Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 51,800 | $64,400 | +3.0% | Certificate or training program |
| 14 | Police and sheriff’s patrol officers | 51,500 | $76,210 | +3.5% | High school diploma |
| 15 | First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | 48,900 | $79,860 | +4.1% | High school diploma |
| 16 | Industrial machinery mechanics | 44,400 | $64,520 | +17.8% | High school diploma |
| 17 | Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants | 43,300 | $76,590 | 0.0% | High school diploma |
| 18 | Insurance sales agents | 43,100 | $62,280 | +3.3% | High school diploma |
| 19 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 42,000 | $63,800 | +6.8% | High school diploma |
| 20 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | 40,600 | $61,010 | +10.9% | Certificate or training program |
| 21 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 40,300 | $53,750 | +2.4% | High school diploma |
| 22 | Computer user support specialists | 39,700 | $61,860 | -3.5% | Some college, no degree |
| 23 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | 39,200 | $59,850 | +4.6% | High school diploma |
| 24 | Food service managers | 38,800 | $69,390 | +5.8% | High school diploma |
| 25 | Property, real estate, and community association managers | 36,900 | $69,990 | +3.7% | High school diploma |
Which $50K jobs can you train for in under a year?
BLS lists 34 of the 226 jobs as needing a postsecondary nondegree award, which means a certificate or training program rather than a degree. Many of these take six to twelve months at a community college or technical school, and some, like truck driving and massage therapy, take a few weeks to a few months. Commercial pilots and aircraft mechanics are the exceptions and need FAA-approved programs that run one to two years. Paramedic, surgical technologist and LPN programs are usually one to two years as well.
The column on the right shows how much on-the-job training BLS expects after you are hired. “None” means you are expected to be productive from day one with your certificate. Long-term on-the-job training means more than a year of learning on the job before you are fully competent.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | On-the-job training after hire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial pilots | $123,220 | +5.2% | 5,200 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Ship engineers | $109,530 | +2.7% | 900 | None |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | +9.7% | 1,800 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 | +6.1% | 600 | None |
| First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | $93,530 | +3.7% | 6,600 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels | $92,460 | +4.0% | 3,800 | None |
| Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment | $84,890 | +5.4% | 500 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Avionics technicians | $82,280 | +9.4% | 1,700 | None |
| Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | +5.4% | 11,400 | None |
| Insurance appraisers, auto damage | $78,240 | -8.7% | 700 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Fire inspectors and investigators | $75,920 | +4.2% | 1,600 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment | $74,090 | +0.3% | 4,700 | Long-term on-the-job |
| Sound engineering technicians | $73,130 | -3.1% | 1,000 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Commercial divers | $72,990 | +4.8% | 400 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Court reporters and simultaneous captioners | $72,420 | -0.1% | 1,800 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Computer numerically controlled tool programmers | $68,120 | +5.9% | 2,700 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Lighting technicians | $68,060 | -4.8% | 600 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Surgical assistants | $66,800 | +6.1% | 1,400 | None |
| Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other | $65,790 | +5.1% | 2,200 | None |
| Surgical technologists | $64,650 | +5.0% | 7,100 | None |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,400 | +3.0% | 51,800 | None |
| Wind turbine service technicians | $64,120 | +29.5% | 1,500 | Long-term on-the-job |
| Tool and die makers | $64,050 | -9.2% | 4,300 | Long-term on-the-job |
| Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers | $63,890 | -3.3% | 11,300 | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 | +10.9% | 40,600 | Long-term on-the-job |
| Paramedics | $60,600 | +5.7% | 4,300 | None |
| Firefighters | $59,280 | +3.7% | 26,800 | Long-term on-the-job |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $58,640 | +3.8% | 214,500 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Massage therapists | $58,450 | +15.3% | 20,400 | None |
| Audio and video technicians | $58,100 | +3.9% | 6,600 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers | $52,600 | +4.8% | 2,200 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Medical records specialists | $51,140 | +7.8% | 14,000 | None |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $50,620 | +5.0% | 66,200 | Short-term on-the-job |
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | $50,290 | +5.9% | 12,400 | None |
Which high paying jobs can you learn through an apprenticeship?
14 jobs on the list are typically learned through a registered apprenticeship, which means you are paid from the first day and your wage rises as you progress. Apprenticeships usually run three to five years and combine paid work with classroom hours. Elevator and escalator installers earn the most at $109,910. Electricians have the most openings at about 72,700 a year. You can search registered programs by trade and state on Apprenticeship.gov. Free employer-run training is another route in; we looked at whether Home Depot’s free trade training actually gets people hired.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | +5.7% | 1,900 | High school diploma |
| Boilermakers | $76,410 | -1.8% | 700 | High school diploma |
| Terrazzo workers and finishers | $76,170 | -13.0% | 100 | High school diploma |
| Millwrights | $65,700 | +0.9% | 3,200 | High school diploma |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | +6.8% | 42,000 | High school diploma |
| Electricians | $63,190 | +9.2% | 72,700 | High school diploma |
| Structural iron and steel workers | $62,780 | +3.1% | 5,900 | High school diploma |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons | $62,120 | +1.1% | 4,100 | High school diploma |
| Sheet metal workers | $61,800 | +2.5% | 9,800 | High school diploma |
| Carpenters | $60,580 | +3.9% | 62,800 | High school diploma |
| Reinforcing iron and rebar workers | $58,970 | -5.3% | 1,000 | High school diploma |
| Insulation workers, mechanical | $58,340 | +5.1% | 1,800 | High school diploma |
| Stonemasons | $57,390 | -5.4% | 500 | High school diploma |
| Glaziers | $57,080 | +1.9% | 3,900 | High school diploma |
Engineering, technician and manufacturing jobs without a degree
These are the roles Apollo Technical recruits for most often alongside degreed engineers: the technicians, maintenance mechanics, CNC programmers, machinists, welders and electrical specialists who keep plants, data centers and fabs running. Elevator installers, substation repairers and power-line installers all pay over $95,000. CNC programmers, industrial machinery mechanics and millwrights sit in the mid $60,000s with strong demand, and semiconductor processing technicians are growing faster than average as new fabs come online. For the degreed side of the same industries, see our guide to the highest paid engineering jobs.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed | How you train |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | +5.7% | 1,900 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | +9.7% | 1,800 | Certificate or training program | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | +10.3% | 10,900 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | $79,860 | +4.1% | 48,900 | High school diploma | None |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | $74,450 | +1.8% | 61,000 | High school diploma | None |
| Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door | $74,340 | +4.3% | 3,600 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment | $74,090 | +0.3% | 4,700 | Certificate or training program | Long-term on-the-job |
| Computer numerically controlled tool programmers | $68,120 | +5.9% | 2,700 | Certificate or training program | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Millwrights | $65,700 | +0.9% | 3,200 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship |
| Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines | $65,510 | +6.7% | 15,000 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers | $65,380 | -5.6% | 3,100 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | $64,520 | +17.8% | 44,400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Tool and die makers | $64,050 | -9.2% | 4,300 | Certificate or training program | Long-term on-the-job |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | +6.8% | 42,000 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship |
| Electricians | $63,190 | +9.2% | 72,700 | High school diploma | Apprenticeship |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $61,770 | +3.6% | 24,400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers | $61,010 | +10.9% | 40,600 | Certificate or training program | Long-term on-the-job |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | $60,850 | -1.9% | 4,400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Machinists | $58,750 | +1.0% | 26,100 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Surveying and mapping technicians | $54,240 | +5.8% | 6,900 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | $53,750 | +2.4% | 40,300 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Semiconductor processing technicians | $51,430 | +8.2% | 3,400 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
Energy, utilities and refinery jobs without a degree
Power generation, transmission and oil and gas have some of the highest pay for workers without degrees because the equipment is dangerous and the training is long. Nuclear reactor operators, power distributors, power plant operators and refinery operators all pay over $95,000 with a high school diploma plus years of on-the-job training and licensing. Several of these are projected to shrink as older plants close, so look at the openings column: the jobs still exist, but growth is on the renewable side, where solar and wind technicians are the two fastest growing occupations in the country.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed | How you train |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear power reactor operators | $122,890 | -5.9% | 400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Power distributors and dispatchers | $106,730 | +1.2% | 700 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | +9.7% | 1,800 | Certificate or training program | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Power plant operators | $102,040 | -5.1% | 2,300 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers | $96,710 | -1.9% | 2,700 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Gas plant operators | $87,820 | -6.0% | 1,400 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Stationary engineers and boiler operators | $78,620 | +3.1% | 3,200 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Chemical plant and system operators | $78,120 | -5.2% | 1,300 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators | $77,320 | +2.1% | 300 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Rotary drill operators, oil and gas | $67,890 | +0.8% | 1,100 | No formal credential | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Wind turbine service technicians | $64,120 | +29.5% | 1,500 | Certificate or training program | Long-term on-the-job |
| Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers | $61,770 | +4.3% | 1,000 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators | $60,020 | -5.7% | 10,000 | High school diploma | Long-term on-the-job |
| Derrick operators, oil and gas | $58,620 | +1.6% | 900 | No formal credential | Short-term on-the-job |
| Service unit operators, oil and gas | $58,160 | +1.1% | 3,800 | No formal credential | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining | $57,430 | +1.0% | 2,400 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Solar photovoltaic installers | $53,140 | +36.5% | 4,200 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
Transportation, logistics and supply chain jobs without a degree
Supply chain is the third discipline Apollo Technical recruits for, and it has more $50,000 jobs without a degree than most people expect. Transportation, storage and distribution managers earn a median of $107,230, and the role typically needs a high school diploma plus five or more years of experience in logistics. Transportation supervisors, production planners, cargo agents and dispatchers are the usual stepping stones, and truck driving remains the single biggest source of openings on the whole list.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Education needed | How you train |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | +6.1% | 18,300 | High school diploma | None |
| Transportation inspectors | $92,100 | +2.2% | 2,300 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Locomotive engineers | $81,410 | +0.5% | 2,000 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters | $78,000 | +0.9% | 3,000 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | $74,450 | +1.8% | 61,000 | High school diploma | None |
| Crane and tower operators | $68,080 | +3.8% | 3,500 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors | $62,890 | +3.0% | 54,900 | High school diploma | None |
| Production, planning, and expediting clerks | $59,650 | -1.3% | 32,600 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Tank car, truck, and ship loaders | $58,870 | +2.8% | 1,300 | No formal credential | Short-term on-the-job |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $58,640 | +3.8% | 214,500 | Certificate or training program | Short-term on-the-job |
| Aircraft cargo handling supervisors | $58,170 | +9.2% | 900 | High school diploma | None |
| Cargo and freight agents | $52,260 | +6.2% | 9,000 | High school diploma | Short-term on-the-job |
| Procurement clerks | $50,580 | -8.1% | 3,700 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance | $50,340 | -0.7% | 16,000 | High school diploma | Moderate-term on-the-job |
Full list: all 226 jobs that pay over $50K without a degree
Search by job title, pick a field or education level, and click a column heading to sort. Wages are May 2025 medians, growth is projected 2025 to 2035 and openings are average annual openings in the same period, all from BLS. Fields follow the BLS major occupational groups.
| Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year | Field | Education needed | On-the-job training |
|---|
Which high paying jobs are shrinking?
A good wage today is not the whole story. 20 of the 226 jobs are projected to lose 8% or more of their employment by 2035, mostly in traditional power generation, metal production, mining and clerical work that software is absorbing. Shrinking jobs still have openings from retirements, and some pay very well, but you will compete with experienced workers displaced from closing sites, and the long-term career path is narrower. If one of these is your target, pair it with a related growing skill. A power plant operator who also holds substation or relay qualifications, for example, is far more marketable than one who does not.
| Occupation | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Median wage | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patternmakers, metal and plastic | -22.8% | $58,000 | 100 |
| Roof bolters, mining | -18.9% | $78,540 | 100 |
| Model makers, metal and plastic | -17.3% | $63,340 | 200 |
| Engine and other machine assemblers | -17.0% | $53,710 | 2,100 |
| Carpet installers | -16.4% | $50,340 | 700 |
| Payroll and timekeeping clerks | -15.9% | $58,260 | 11,400 |
| Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining | -15.8% | $74,500 | 400 |
| Camera and photographic equipment repairers | -15.5% | $52,720 | 100 |
| Fabric and apparel patternmakers | -15.0% | $62,750 | 200 |
| Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons | -13.7% | $61,290 | 100 |
| Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | -13.2% | $52,800 | 1,000 |
| Terrazzo workers and finishers | -13.0% | $76,170 | 100 |
| Locksmiths and safe repairers | -11.7% | $51,320 | 1,200 |
| Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | -11.3% | $50,620 | 1,400 |
| Fallers | -9.9% | $52,100 | 500 |
| Computer numerically controlled tool operators | -9.4% | $50,690 | 12,500 |
| Tool and die makers | -9.2% | $64,050 | 4,300 |
| Insurance appraisers, auto damage | -8.7% | $78,240 | 700 |
| Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic | -8.3% | $50,140 | 1,900 |
| Procurement clerks | -8.1% | $50,580 | 3,700 |
Bonus: jobs over $50K with a two-year associate degree
A two-year associate degree opens another 44 occupations over $50,000, and the top of that list pays as well as many bachelor-degree jobs. Air traffic controllers lead at $148,080, followed by radiation therapists, nuclear technicians and dental hygienists. Engineering technician roles such as electrical and electronics technicians, mechanical drafters and engineering technologists are in this group too, and they are a common route into the engineering firms Apollo Technical works with. The 20 highest paying are below.
| Rank | Occupation | Median wage | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air traffic controllers | $148,080 | +1.7% | 2,100 |
| 2 | Nuclear technicians | $110,240 | +1.1% | 900 |
| 3 | Radiation therapists | $105,310 | +2.8% | 700 |
| 4 | Nuclear medicine technologists | $101,370 | +4.4% | 800 |
| 5 | Dental hygienists | $98,100 | +8.0% | 15,000 |
| 6 | Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | +13.9% | 6,000 |
| 7 | Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | $95,480 | +7.7% | 2,300 |
| 8 | Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians | $82,890 | +11.9% | 1,100 |
| 9 | Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | +8.5% | 8,600 |
| 10 | Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | +5.0% | 13,000 |
| 11 | Funeral home managers | $78,790 | +4.1% | 2,600 |
| 12 | Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other | $78,350 | +2.8% | 5,400 |
| 13 | Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians | $78,190 | +2.4% | 8,100 |
| 14 | Electrical and electronics drafters | $76,870 | -3.4% | 1,400 |
| 15 | Computer network support specialists | $76,220 | +1.2% | 9,000 |
| 16 | Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | $74,510 | +1.3% | 3,100 |
| 17 | Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | $74,310 | +3.7% | 3,400 |
| 18 | Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians | $73,900 | +2.6% | 1,400 |
| 19 | Occupational therapy assistants | $72,300 | +21.5% | 8,100 |
| 20 | Legal support workers, all other | $72,110 | -0.3% | 4,700 |
How do you pick the right job from this list?
Three numbers matter more than the rest. The median wage tells you what the job is worth once you are established. Openings per year tells you how likely you are to get hired, and it is the number most lists leave out. Projected growth tells you whether the job will still be there in ten years. A job that scores well on all three, like electrician, industrial machinery mechanic, HVAC mechanic or transportation manager, is a safer bet than one that only pays well.
- Check pay where you live. State and metro medians can differ from the national figure by 30% or more. Use the salary calculator for technical and supply chain roles, or the BLS state tables for anything else. Engineers can use our engineering salary by state table.
- Look at the training column before you commit. “Long-term on-the-job training” means a year or more before you are fully productive, and pay usually starts well below the median.
- Prefer apprenticeships where they exist. You are paid while you learn, there is no tuition debt, and completion rates into full-wage jobs are high.
- Weigh openings over growth percentages for small occupations. A 20% growth rate on a job with 900 openings a year is far fewer real chances than 4% growth on a job with 60,000.
- Think about where the job leads. Many of the $90,000 plus roles are supervisory, and the front-line job that gets you there is on this list too.
If you are a technician, maintenance mechanic, CNC programmer, drafter or supply chain professional looking for your next role, Apollo Technical recruits for engineering, IT and supply chain positions across the Southeast and Texas, and our guide to the best job search websites covers where to look on your own. If you are thinking about switching fields entirely, our career change statistics show how common that has become, our job search statistics show what employers are screening for, and our guide to skilled trades careers in powersports and marine covers one corner of the trades most lists miss.
Frequently asked questions
How many jobs pay over $50K without a degree?
226, based on the BLS occupational projections released in August 2026. That counts every detailed occupation with a May 2025 median wage of $50,000 or more where the typical entry education is a high school diploma, a certificate or training program, some college, or no formal credential. Adding jobs that typically need an associate degree brings the total to 270.
What is the highest paying job you can get without a degree?
Commercial pilot, at a median of $123,220 a year. It needs a postsecondary nondegree award plus flight training and an FAA commercial certificate. Nuclear power reactor operators ($122,890) and elevator and escalator installers ($109,910) are next, and both typically start with a high school diploma.
What is the fastest growing job without a degree?
Solar photovoltaic installer, projected to grow +36.5% from 2025 to 2035 with a median wage of $53,140. Wind turbine service technician is second at +29.5% and $64,120. Both typically need a high school diploma or a short training program.
What is the easiest $50K job to get without a degree?
By openings, heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving, with about 214,500 openings a year, a median of $58,640, and a training program that can take as little as a few weeks plus a commercial driver license. Among jobs with no formal credential at all, postal service mail carriers ($60,550) and cement masons ($57,020) have the most openings.
Can you make $100K without a degree?
Yes. 9 occupations have a median above $100,000, including commercial pilots, nuclear reactor operators, elevator installers, ship engineers, transportation managers, power distributors, police supervisors, substation repairers and power plant operators. Many more on the list pass $100,000 at the top of the pay range or with overtime, which is common in utilities, refineries and the trades.
Do these salaries include overtime?
No. BLS median wages are based on straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and bonuses. In many trades, utility and transportation jobs, actual take-home pay is well above the figures shown here.
Does “no degree” mean no training at all?
No. It means no college degree is typically required to start. Most of these jobs need a certificate, a license, an apprenticeship or months to years of on-the-job training. The tables above show the BLS training requirement for every job so you can see what is involved before you commit.
Where does the data come from and how current is it?
All figures are from BLS Table 1.2 in the 2025 to 2035 Employment Projections, released August 27, 2026, with May 2025 median wages. BLS updates projections every year, usually in late summer, and this page will be refreshed when the next set is published.
Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, occupational projections 2025 to 2035 and worker characteristics (August 27, 2026)
- BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 news release (August 27, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 median wages
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for job descriptions, training and licensing by occupation
- Apprenticeship.gov, registered apprenticeship finder
