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.
Still, it’s no secret that college isn’t the only path, and it’s also not the most accessible option for everyone.
As a former teacher, I’ve been able to help several juniors and seniors determine realistic career paths following high school. To my surprise, many of those students were better suited for financial success in trade jobs for which they’d already built experience and a passion.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at 12 high-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree.
12 Jobs That Don’t Require a Four-Year College Degree and Pay at Least $70K 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 $70,000 a year.
| Job Title | Education Required | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | High school diploma or equivalent | $73,060 |
| Line installers and repairers | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,530 |
| Dental hygienists | Associate degree | $77,810 |
| First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | Postsecondary non-degree award | $78,230 |
| Nuclear medical technologists | Associate degree | $78,760 |
| Radiation therapists | Associate degree | $82,790 |
| Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | High school diploma or equivalent | $97,860 |
| Transportation, storage and distribution managers | High school diploma or equivalent | $98,230 |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | High school diploma or equivalent | $99,330 |
| Air traffic controllers | Associate degree | $129,750 |
| Commercial pilots | High-school diploma or equivalent | $134,630 |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | Postsecondary non-degree award | $134,750 |
You’ll find additional information below about each job including the required work experience, on-the-job training and a brief description.
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Median annual wage (2021): $73,060
- Education required: High school diploma equivalent
- Work experience: 5+ years
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: -3% (decline)
- Description: Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers run establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.
Line Installers and Repairers
- Median annual wage (2021): $74,530
- Education required: High school diploma equivalent
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 6% (average)
- Description: Line installers and repairers install or repair electrical power systems and telecommunications cables, including fiber optics.
Dental Hygienists
- Median annual wage (2021): $77,810
- Education required: Associate degree
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 9% (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.
First–Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers
- Median annual wage (2021): $78,230
- 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 2021-2031: 4% (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 3,400 new jobs.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Median annual wage (2021): $78,760
- Education required: Associate degree
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 2% (slower than average)
- Description: In this career, you’ll prepare and administer radioactive drugs to patients for imaging and therapeutic purposes. There’s a 2% projected job growth rate over the next 10 years in this field, which means 300 new jobs are expected.
Radiation Therapists
- Median annual wage (2021): $82,790
- Education required: Associate degree
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 6% (average)
- Description: Radiation therapists work full-time in hospitals, physician offices and outpatient centers treating patients for cancer and other diseases.
Elevator Installers and Repairers
- Median annual wage (2021): $97,860
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 3% (slower than average)
- 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 3%, which means 700 new jobs are expected to open up.
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
- Median annual wage (2021): $98,230
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience: Five years or more
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 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.
First–Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives
- Median annual wage (2021): $99,330
- 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 2021-2031: 3% (slower than 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 3,700 new jobs!
Air Traffic Controllers
- Median annual wage (2021): $129,750
- Education required: Associate degree
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 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 100 new job opportunities expected over the next 10 years, this is a tough annual salary to beat!
Commercial Pilots
- Median annual wage (2021): $134,630
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 6% (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 $147,220 as an airline pilot, copilot or flight engineer!
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance
- Median annual wage (2021): $134,750
- Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
- Work experience: None
- On-the-job training: None
- Projected growth rate 2021-2031: 7% (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.
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, 2021 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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