The Highest Paying Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

Electrical power-line installers and repairers is one of several electronics-related career fields that pays relatively well, despite not requiring a college degree. Most of these workers earn over $78,000 per year, well above the median wage of $45,760 for all jobs.

Power-line worker is one of the most commonly-held jobs in the country, with over 120,000 people working in the field.

Petroleum pump system operator ranks as one of the 20 top paying jobs for people without college degrees. Monitoring and directing the operations of petroleum pump systems pays an median annual wage of $79,540, and the job typically requires prospective workers to have no more than a high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training.

As renewable energy becomes more commonplace, jobs in the oil and natural gas industry are projected to dip. The number of pump system operators is projected to decline by 14% from 2020 to 2030, according to the BLS.

First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers oversee those who sell goods and services to businesses and individuals. Such supervisors are often responsible for budgeting and personnel work, as well.

These workers earn a median annual wage of nearly $80,000, one of the highest medians among jobs that do not require a college degree. With over 240,000 workers, these supervisors are in one of the most commonly-held jobs in the country.

Locomotive engineers drive all types of trains, including passenger and freight trains, across the country. They must be familiar with all train signals and rules and regulations, so even though the job does not require education more than a high school diploma, engineers do typically go through months of on-the-job training.

Locomotive engineers have a median income of $79,740, well above the median annual income across all occupations of $45,760.

Transportation inspectors are responsible for inspecting vehicles and transported cargo, including on trains and in trucks. These inspectors earn a median annual wage of $79,770 — nearly $25,000 higher than the median annual wage across all jobs in America.

Transportation inspectors are most commonly employed by the government, either at the local or federal level. However, private rail transportation and auto repair businesses also employ thousands of these inspectors.