Best Careers Without a College Degree 2017

You don't need a bachelor's or even an associate's to land one of these jobs.

We analyzed pay, projected job growth and educational requirements for 785 occupations to identify the best jobs you can land without a college degree. Take a look at our list of 10 promising careers, starting with the highest-paying jobs, that don’t call for a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree to get hired.

Elevator Installer

Median annual salary: $80,870 (All jobs: $43,233)

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 16.7% (All jobs: 8.6%)

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Commercial Pilot

Median annual salary: $75,744

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 14.8%

Electrical Power-Line Installer

Median annual salary: $66,213

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 16.1%

Office Support Supervisor

Median annual salary: $52,602

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 11.7%

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

Median annual salary: $49,537

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 19.2%

Computer User Support Specialist

Median annual salary: $48,685

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 16.4%

Surgical Technologist

Median annual salary: $45,064

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 16.2%

Licensed Practical Nurse

Median annual salary: $43,201

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 17.6%

Self-Enrichment Education Teachers

Median annual salary: $36,872

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 18.4%

Dental Assistant

Median annual salary: $36,788

Projected job growth, 2016-2026: 19.6%

Stacy Rapacon
Online Editor, Kiplinger.com

Rapacon joined Kiplinger in October 2007 as a reporter with Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and became an online editor for Kiplinger.com in June 2010. She previously served as editor of the "Starting Out" column, focusing on personal finance advice for people in their twenties and thirties.

Before joining Kiplinger, Rapacon worked as a senior research associate at b2b publishing house Judy Diamond Associates. She holds a B.A. degree in English from the George Washington University.