12 Jobs That Don’t Require a Four-Year College Degree and Pay Over $80,000 a Year

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Having a college degree has traditionally been one of the best ways to get into a high-paying career — or at least set yourself up with the potential to make the most money. However, college isn’t the only path to a successful career.

As a former teacher, I’ve been able to help several juniors and seniors determine realistic career paths following high school. Some of those paths involved college while others found financial success in trade jobs for which they’d already built experience and a passion. 

More recently, I’ve researched the latest data on annual wages for jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree. If you’re hoping to land a high-paying job without waiting for a bachelor’s degree, consider one of the jobs highlighted below.

This article was updated in December 2023 and I review it every 12 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

12 Jobs That Don’t Require a Four-Year College Degree and Pay at Least $80K a Year

The cost of college is rising, along with average student loan debts, which means a formal education can get pricey depending on where you go and how much you can get from scholarships and grants. And whether it’s due to financial resources or lifestyle choices, the time and money college costs just may not be worth it for some people.

There are plenty of high-paying jobs out there that require only a two-year degree or high school diploma. Some may require additional on-the-job training, depending on the specific position and company.

Based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here’s a list of the top-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree — all with median salaries of at least $80,000 a year.

Job TitleEducation RequiredMedian Annual Salary
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersPostsecondary non-degree award$80,150
Dental hygienistsAssociate degree$81,400
Line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent$82,340
Nuclear medical technologistsAssociate degree$85,300
Subway and Streetcar OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent$88,260
Radiation therapistsAssociate degree$89,530
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent$96,290
Makeup artists, theatrical and performancePostsecondary non-degree award$96,370
Transportation, storage and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent$98,560
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent$99,000
Commercial pilotsHigh-school diploma or equivalent$103,910
Air traffic controllersAssociate degree$132,250

You’ll find additional information below about each job including the required work experience, on-the-job training and a brief description.


FirstLine Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers

  • Median annual wage (2022): $80,150
  • Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
  • Work experience: Less than 5 years
  • On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 4% (as fast as average)
  • Description: In this job, you’ll directly supervise and coordinate the activities of workers engaged in fire fighting and fire prevention and control. Over the next decade, there are projected to be 3,100 new jobs.

Dental Hygienists

  • Median annual wage (2022): $81,400
  • Education required: Associate degree
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: None
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 7% (faster than average)
  • Description: Dental hygienists assist dentists by cleaning teeth, examining patients and providing preventative dental care. Dental hygienists typically need an associate degree in dental hygiene. All states require dental hygienists to be licensed, but requirements vary by state.

Line Installers and Repairers

  • Median annual wage (2022): $82,340
  • Education required: High school diploma equivalent
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 3% (as fast as average)
  • Description: Line installers and repairers install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

  • Median annual wage (2022): $85,300
  • Education required: Associate degree
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: None
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 0% (little or no change)
  • Description: In this career, you’ll prepare and administer radioactive drugs to patients for imaging and therapeutic purposes. There’s a 0% projected job growth rate over the next 10 years in this field, which means about 100 new jobs are expected.

Subway and Streetcar Operators

  • Median annual wage (2022): $88,260
  • Education required: High school diploma equivalent
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 4% (as fast as average)
  • Description: People in this profession operate subways, elevated suburban trains or electric-powered streetcars to transport passengers. Operators may also handle fares.

Radiation Therapists

  • Median annual wage (2022): $89,530
  • Education required: Associate degree
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: None
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 2% (as fast as average)
  • Description: Radiation therapists work full-time in hospitals, physician offices and outpatient centers treating patients for cancer and other diseases.

FirstLine Supervisors of Police and Detectives

  • Median annual wage (2022): $96,290
  • Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Work experience: Less than five years
  • On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 3% (as fast as average)
  • Description: People in this career directly supervise and coordinate members of the police force. There’s also a 3% projected employment growth rate over the next 10 years, which means 4,300 new jobs!

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

  • Median annual wage (2022): $96,370
  • Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: None
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 9% (much faster than average)
  • Description: Makeup artists apply makeup to performers to reflect the period, setting and situation of their roles. As a makeup artist, you may also work with prosthetics, paint, wigs and other accessories.

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

  • Median annual wage (2022): $98,560
  • Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Work experience: Five years or more
  • On-the-job training: None
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 8% (faster than average)
  • Description: In this job, you’ll follow organization policies and government regulations to plan, direct or coordinate transportation, storage or distribution activities. Logistics managers fall into this field.

Elevator Installers and Repairers

  • Median annual wage (2022): $99,000
  • Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 1% (little or no change)
  • Description: In this job, you’ll install, fix and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways and other lifts. Over the next 10 years, the job outlook is expected to grow by 1%, which means 400 new jobs are expected to open up.

Commercial Pilots

  • Median annual wage (2022): $103,910
  • Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 4% (as fast as average)
  • Description: In addition to a high school diploma or equivalent, commercial pilots also need a pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration. If you do go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, you can earn around $211,790 as an airline pilot, copilot or flight engineer!

Air Traffic Controllers

  • Median annual wage (2022): $132,250
  • Education required: Associate degree
  • Work experience: None
  • On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
  • Projected growth rate 2022-2032: 1% (little or no change)
  • Description: Air traffic controllers monitor and coordinate aircraft movements to keep a safe distance between them. While this field is a little more competitive with only 300 new job opportunities expected over the next 10 years, this is a tough annual salary to beat!

How To Find a High-Paying Job With Any Level of Education

The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers an occupation finder tool that allows you to search for jobs based on entry-level education requirements, projected growth rate, 2022 median pay and more.

This is an excellent way to browse potential careers and find the most accurate, up-to-date information. Simply select your current level of education and the salary range you’re looking for. From there, click on each career for a brief description and more links that can help you get started!

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Article Updates
  • December 28, 2023: Updated criteria from jobs that pay over $70,000 per year to jobs that pay over $80,000 per year
  • December 28, 2023: Updated all median annual wages from 2021 to 2022 and updated projected growth rates from 2022-2032
  • December 28, 2023: Replaced “Farmers, Ranchers and Other Agricultural Managers” with “Subway and Streetcar Operators” due to the difference in 2022 median annual wage and projected growth rate over the next decade
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