15 Surprising Jobs That Offer A High Salary Without A Degree

Whether or not to get a college degree can be a difficult decision. It’s important to weigh how much you’re going to spend on the degree to how much additional salary you’ll gain from it. That being said, there are several different jobs that pay well without a degree. If you’re unsure if getting a degree is right for you, then see if you can see yourself doing these jobs.

It isn’t necessary to get a college degree to be successful. These careers may not pay as highly as ones that require a lot of education, but they have the plus of not having to go into debt first.

Key Takeaways:

There are jobs that don’t require a degree besides the ones that come immediately to mind, such as the trades.
Many of these jobs are expected to have growth, or at least stay steady in the near future. As several of them require training, they also have job security once you get the hang of them.
To help improve your chances of landing a high-paying job without a degree, make sure you have relevant professional experience, necessary certifications, a great resume and cover letter, and an extensive professional network.

15 Surprising Jobs That Offer A High Salary Without A Degree

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15 jobs that offer a high salary without a degree
Tips for getting a high paying job without a degree
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15 jobs that offer a high salary without a degree

If you aren’t interested in going into a trade or just want to do something a bit unusual, then this list has some options for you to consider. Few of these jobs are going to pay as well as ones that require higher education, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a good living without a postsecondary education.

Postal service clerk
Average Annual Salary: $39,000
Estimated job growth: -21%
Education requirements: High school diploma or GED

The job of a postal service clerk involves the tasks that take place in the post office itself, as opposed to out on the streets as a mail carrier. They work within normal 9-5 hours to attend to customer questions, sell postal-related products like stamps, and processing outgoing mail sent directly through the post office.

A big positive about a career as a postal service clerk is that a degree isn’t necessary for the position, and it’s still financially lucrative. Plus, there are post offices scattered across the country. This means that once you’ve acquired the administrative skills to get hired as a postal service clerk, the position supplies job availability anywhere you go.

Skills needed for a postal service clerk: Patience with customers is key, as well as excellent communication skills and a service-oriented mindset.

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Wind turbine technician
Average Annual Salary: $41,456
Estimated job growth: 56%
Education requirements: A high school diploma and technical school

It’s no secret that the world’s current modes of deriving energy are harming the environment, which has lead to an increase in wind turbine technology. The rise in wind-based energy solutions has created a lot of job growth in the field, including availability for careers as wind turbine technicians.

Wind turbine technicians are responsible for the installation and maintenance of wind turbine towers. While the position requires a deep knowledge of wind turbines to identify and remedy any potential issues, it does not require any formal education beyond a high school diploma.

Experienced wind turbine technicians can make a median salary over the national average, and it’s an industry that’s only expected to grow more over the next ten years.

Skills needed for a wind turbine technician: The skillset for this job includes interpersonal, technical, attention to detail, teamwork, technical, and communication skills. Wind turbine technicians also must be familiar with LOTO, which stands for “Lockout Tagout”. It is a procedure that controls harmful energy and protects workers from getting hurt.

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Retail Sales Manager
Average Annual Salary: $51,000
Estimated job growth: 6%
Education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

The smooth operations of every retail location are largely left to the devices of prepared and organized retail managers. These individuals are well-versed in the company’s code of ethics, policies, and procedures, and make it their business to uphold these standards.

Being a manager means acting as a shining example of the ideal employee, which isn’t a job that should be taken lightly. The pressure that comes with being a retail manager is accompanied by a decent salary with a large margin for growth. Additionally, it’s a position that can be landed without the need for a college degree.

Skills needed for a retail sales manager: Retail managers must have strong leadership skills, organizational skills, customer care skills, management skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills, and comfort with retail management software.

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Copy writer
Average Yearly Salary: $50,000
Estimated job growth: 8%
Education requirements: Varies by the employer, but usually a high school diploma or GED

There are many facets of the advertising industry, and one of them that’s potentially accessible to high school graduates is working as a copywriter. Companies often have particular goals that they want their advertisements to accomplish, but they’re not sure of how to turn that into a marketable strategy.

Copywriters meet with these clients to get to the root of their message and turn out visual and word-based advertising options called copy.

A bulk of a copywriter’s job involves research and accuracy because they need to be producing content that’s up to par. Besides a high starting salary and few strict schooling requirements, copywriters are also often awarded the benefit of working remotely or in a contract position. It’s an ideal job for someone who wants location independence.

Skills needed for a copy writer: Copywriters must display exceptional writing and grammar skills, as well as communication skills, understand negotiation, organizational skills, skills in social media writing, and proficiency in basic office software.

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Power plant operator
Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Estimated job growth: -6%
Education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

The energy that keeps cities and individual homes running with electricity is supplied by power plants, which are in turn controlled by power plant operators.

Power plant operators keep an eye out for any signs of issues and implement solutions when problems do arise. Maintaining the proper functioning of large equipment that’s used for power generation utilizes specific knowledge, but it doesn’t require the pursuit of a four-year degree.

Despite the fuel that a power plant operator’s job revolves around, it’s a position that awards an impressive paycheck, especially after a few years of experience in the industry. While being a power plant operator provides a high salary with little schooling, the industry is expected to experience a growth decline of 16% in the coming years.

Skills needed for a power plant operator: Specific skills vary from employer to employer, but common skills include an ability to take chart readings, monitor gauges, and examine sensors to view voltage and electricity flows, as well as facilitate equipment cleaning and repair.

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Radiation therapist
Average Annual Salary: $81,000
Estimated job growth: 9%
Education requirements: Associate’s degree in radiation therapy

It’s a position that demands an aptitude with medical procedures, standing for long periods, and interacting with people in a vulnerable position.

Receiving radiation treatment for cancer is a process that’s emotionally and psychically taxing on patients. Knowing they can rely on well-trained radiation therapists to properly operate equipment, explain all the procedures that they’ll endure in detail, and provide general support throughout treatment relieves a great deal of the stress associated.

While many jobs in the medical field require upwards of a decade in education, this isn’t the case with becoming a radiation therapist. You’ll usually only need to complete a two-year program that focuses on radiation therapy. After completion and licensing, radiation therapists can expect to earn at least $55,000 annually.

Skills needed for a radiation therapist: Radiation therapists should have a good understanding of the tools and methods at hand is important, and an eye for detail, technical and communication skills is essential as well.

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Computer programmer
Average Annual Salary: $66,000
Estimated job growth: -7%
Education requirements: Associate’s degree at minimum, but many get a Bachelor’s degree

The past year has ushered in an age of computer dependency like never before. The software programs and systems have also become more crucial with so many careers being taken online.

The creation of software is done by computer programmers through careful algorithm analysis and consistent modification. Computer programmers can bring in up to six figures for these services.

Many computer programmers do hold a bachelor’s degree under their belt. However, having the practical knowledge and skills associated with programming is more important to getting hired than going to college.

A candidate who can show evidence of their abilities in the field has a better chance of getting hired for a computer programming position than someone with a degree but no portfolio or hands-on experience.

Skills needed for a computer programmer: Computer programmers must be analytical, detail-oriented, and able to focus for a long time. Additionally they must have problem-solving skills, and experienced with programming and markup languages such as Python, JavaScript, Java, C++, SQL, C#, and HTML.

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Makeup artist
Average Annual Salary: $80,297
Estimated job growth: 11%
Education requirements: High school diploma and cosmetology certification

Doing makeup for clients is a creative art form that can build a well-paid career. It’s an industry that allows its artists to take their skills in many different directions.

Some makeup artists work for salons to create requested looks on clients in a specified amount of time. Others work for theatre, film, or television productions to liven up characters using basic facial makeup and more advanced techniques, like prosthetics and FX.

The path to becoming a successful makeup artist involves boosting your expertise by earning a cosmetology certification. This process takes less than two years on average, depending on the program. After becoming licensed, makeup artists are given free rein to opportunities in the cosmetology industry, which can earn a salary of over $100,000.

Skills needed for a makeup artist: Makeup artists must study how to achieve different looks and develop a strong client base to build a good reputation with studios, models, and even brands.

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Criminal investigator
Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Estimated job growth: 5%
Education requirements: High school diploma, but higher education is a bonus

Average citizens live their daily lives blissfully unaware of the long list of crimes taking place around them because criminal investigators are working on the case.

When a crime occurs without all the pieces laid out for police officers, a detective or criminal investigator steps in to solve the mystery. This involves tasks like evidence collection and analysis, surveillance operations, conducting interviews, and making arrests.

Being a criminal investigator is a well-respected career with a high earning potential, which is enticing enough in itself. In addition to this, there aren’t many education requirements for the job. While possessing a higher degree could better your chances of landing a position, criminal investigators are only required to have a high school diploma.

Skills needed for a criminal investigator: Criminal investigators are usually highly driven, logical, observant, and analytical. They have the technical skills necessary to use their equipment, and they can notice connections between details and events to assemble the disparate and scant pieces of a situation.

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Website developer
Average Annual Salary: $55,000
Estimated job growth: 13%
Education requirements: Associate’s degree in website design or a related field

There’s an enormous amount of backend work that goes into creating a unique website experience for users. Establishing this web presence for clients is the job of a website developer. Developers use coding languages, like HTML and JavaScript, to strategize applications and monitor traffic for websites.

The field of website development employs participants of scattered education levels. Many website developers hold a bachelor’s degree in a study that’s related to computer science, but this is not a requirement to be hired for this type of role.

As long as you have at least an associate’s degree, having a stunning portfolio of professional work gets you a lot further than extra years of education.

Skills needed for a web developer: Web developers need knowledge of both programming and graphic design. This includes a familiarity with web services, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and jQuery.

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Real estate agent
Average Annual Salary: $99,000
Estimated job growth: 7%
Education requirements: High school diploma and real estate licensing

A real estate agent acts as a guiding force in the process of finding, buying, or selling properties. Individuals who are successful in the field understand the property market and rely heavily on their interpersonal skills to woo potential buyers.

There are around two million active real estate agents working in the United States, and there’s a good reason why it’s such an attractive option. Being a real estate agent is an exciting field that allows you to regularly work with new people, tour beautiful properties, and earn a potential paycheck over $100,000 per year.

For all these benefits, real estate agents only need to earn their high school diploma and go through proper licensing before starting work.

Skills needed for a real estate agent: Real estate agents must have a good combination of business skills, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving skills. Real estate agents need the ability to understand contracts, work with other real estate agents and property owners, build an extensive network, and meet the needs of their clients.

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Construction manager
Average Annual Salary: $81,000
Estimated job growth: 10%
Education requirements: A bachelor’s degree is recommended, but no formal education is required

The construction of buildings, roads, and other projects is the direct result of a collaborative effort. The person in charge of all this coordination is a construction manager.

The job involves organizing cost estimates, overseeing project progress, and coordinating with other building professionals in this production. They’re the general supervisor of all other construction staff who is working on the project.

The path to becoming a construction manager usually involves having a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, but it is not an absolute requirement.
Hands-on experience in construction can eventually lead towards a career as a construction manager, even without a degree.

Skills needed for a construction manager: As a construction manager, the ability to plan and execute projects and resolve conflicts is crucial. Construction managers must also demonstrate leadership, have project management skills, manage time well, communicate well, and display advanced knowledge in construction procedures.

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Underwater welder
Average Yearly Salary: $33,102
Estimated job growth: 3%
Education requirements: High school diploma or GED and certification in diving and welding

Being an underwater welder comes with a lot of dangerous working conditions that encourage a high earning potential with minimal Education requirements: As the name suggests, most of an underwater welder’s time is spent in vast bodies of water with heavy equipment to perform welding tasks, like fitting and rigging.

For candidates willing to reach this level of expertise, they can expect to make a potential six-figure salary.
Skills needed for a underwater welder: While the profession only requires a high school diploma or GED, underwater welders must have specialized training for the intense nature of the job. This includes being certified as a commercial diver and having welding skills at a minimum level of AWS D3.6.
Air traffic controller
Average Annual Salary: $64,000
Estimated job growth: 1%
Education requirements: Associates degree and on-the-job training

Air traffic controllers are responsible for ensuring the safety of the flights under their domain, while also taking into consideration airport efficiency to decrease the chance of delays. They monitor all movement in and out of the airport from a control tower and also follow the hourly weather trends to keep the pilots up-to-date.

Being the all-mighty controller of airport space and nearby flying zones can put a lot of pressure on air traffic controllers, but luckily they’re compensated well for the extra stress. Air traffic controllers earn a median salary of $90,000 a year.

Additionally, becoming an air traffic controller involves much less schooling than you might think. An associate’s degree and proper certifications should earn you a spot in an entry-level air traffic controller position.

Skills needed for a air traffic controller: Air traffic controllers must be quick at processing a lot of information. This requires exceptional organization, time management, and concentration skills.

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Commercial pilot
Average Annual Salary: $71,000
Estimated job growth: 6%
Education requirements: High school diploma and licensing

Another high-paying position at the airport that doesn’t require a traditional four-year degree is being a commercial pilot. These professionals work for flight occasions that aren’t handled by airlines, such as charter flights and aerial tours.

They’re responsible for safely operating these types of aircraft from point A to point B, which can include scheduling maintenance, keeping passengers informed, and being prepared for any changes in the environment.

After earning a high school diploma and a commercial pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration, they are cleared to get hired for their first entry-level commercial piloting job earning an average of $81,000 a year. That number jumps closer to $200,000 when a commercial pilot has a few years of experience.

Skills needed for a commercial pilot: Commercial pilots have to be familiar with flying procedures, including safety and emergency protocols. Commercial pilots must have great organization, situational awareness, and problem solving skills.

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Tips for getting a high paying job without a degree

A college degree is only one way to work towards getting a high-paying job. There are other steps that you can take to make yourself a more valuable employee and hone your expertise. Employers are also interested in employees who are ambitious, high-achievers, and willing to step outside their comfort zone.

Get professional experience. If you are not going to have a degree, then you must demonstrate your skills through relevant professional experience. Hiring managers will want to see that you can accomplish similar responsibilities.
Get certified. Many high-paying jobs that don’t require a degree still require some form of professional certification. Take the time to research what certifications may help you in your job hunt. Be aware that many certifications require an investment of time and money, so plan accordingly.
Have a great resume and cover letter. Unfortunately, some hiring managers may notice your lack of education on your resume. To mitigate this, draw their attention to your relevant experience and skills to show them you are a qualified candidate.
Network. If you have an extensive professional network, you can learn about job opportunities and have help connecting with the right people.
Take advantage of career training opportunities. If your employer offers you the chance to go through a training program, take it. This will expand your skillset, show that you’re interested in increasing your value, and broaden your experiences.
Find out what skills are in demand. The jobs that tend to pay the best are the ones where there is a shortage of qualified candidates. Of course, you can’t completely learn something new in a week, but you can tailor your skills towards ones that are in high demand. That’ll inherently make you more valuable.

High salary jobs without a degree FAQ

Are there any jobs that pay 300k a year without a degree?

Yes, there are few jobs that will pay over 300k without a degree, but they are few and far between. Most of these jobs are going to require a lot of luck, such as an actor, writer, blogger, or musician.

Other high-paying jobs with limited education are going to be highly dangerous or require extensive amounts of training.
Do fun jobs pay well?

That depends on the job. Some fun jobs pay well, such as animators, film critics, or disc jockeys. However, these jobs are difficult to get to due to high demand, and some of them pay less because they believe people will be willing to do them for a lower salary.
Is a degree a requirement to pursue a high-paying career?

No, you don’t need a degree in order to pursue a high-paying career. There are both good white-collar jobs that don’t require a degree and blue-collar jobs that you can do without a degree.

In general, getting a degree allows you to start off at a higher salary, as well as reach an overall higher salary. That doesn’t mean that there are exceptions to this rule. Not having a degree may mean that your salary is lower than someone with a high-level degree, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a job that pays well.

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Sky Ariella

Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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