Highest Paying Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree

Special Report

Published: December 5, 2023 9:35 am

The majority of Americans do not obtain college diplomas. The U.S. Census Bureau found in 2021 that only 38% of the population over the age of 25 had bachelor’s or advanced degrees. Among the rest, nearly 28% ended their education with a high school diploma, 15% were college dropouts, 11% had associate degrees, and 9% did not finish high school.

While earning a college degree isn’t a guarantee that you will find a great job or make a high salary, it does improve your career options and can eventually lead to more money down the road. Data consistently shows that people with college degrees tend to earn more than people without them. The Social Security Administration estimates men with bachelor’s degrees earn $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women earn $630,000 more. The gap grows to more than $1 million for both men and women who earn graduate degrees.

For those without a college degree, there are often few opportunities for economic and occupational advancement, but there are some job categories that pay much more than the average for the level of education. (Also see, the 25 worst jobs in America.)

Data on wage and typical education entry requirements from the Bureau of Labor Statistics was reviewed by 24/7 Wall St. to determine the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree. Occupations that typically do not require a college degree were ranked based on average annual wage as of 2022. Data on average annual wage and total employment are from the BLS May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. Data on typical entry education requirements as of 2021, educational attainment for workers 25 and over for the years 2018 and 2019, and projected employment change from 2021 to 2031 came from the BLS Employment Projections program.

There are specific jobs on the list, such as fashion models and athletes, that require unique skills and attributes the typical American of any educational background may not possess. Other occupations that do not require a college degree but are among the highest paying would require some technical education, apprenticeship, and/or licensing, such as commercial diving, sound engineering, or safety inspecting.

The most common jobs for people without college degrees are the 2.2 million wholesale manufacturing sales representatives and services sales representatives, positions that pay an average annual income of about $77,000 full-time.

There are also nearly 1.3 million jobs as first-line supervisors in construction, energy and mining, and manufacturing, which offer similar average pay to sales reps. The average annual pay for these 40 occupations ranges from $73,380 for claims adjusters to $123,250 for commercial pilots — excluding professional athletes who earn an average of $358,000 annually.

Here are the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.