In certain industries, relevant work experience, internships, training and certifications are just as important, if not more important, than graduating with a four-year degree.
Job applications usually have a minimum educational requirement — some college, an associate degree or a bachelor’s or master’s degree. But with student loan debt topping $1.77 trillion in the third quarter of 2024 (an increase of 66% over the past 10 years), according to the Federal Reserve, you may ask if a four-year college degree is worth it.
The answer will likely depend on your career choice. Some professions — medical and healthcare providers, lawyers, teachers, nuclear engineers — all require a degree or degrees. (Here's our look at the best college majors for a lucrative career). However, some underrepresented career fields welcome applicants who never attended college or didn’t graduate with a four-year degree, and some of these careers pay very well.
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There are plenty of in-demand careers with a salary higher than $56,420 (the median U.S. annual salary), according to 20 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree, a report from career resource platform Resume Genius. The list spotlights well-paying jobs and their accompanying educational requirements, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here are the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree this year:
1. Airline and commercial pilot
- Median annual salary: $148,900
- Number of jobs: 142,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
- Educational requirements: Vocational training or Associate’s degree
- Work experience: None, but FAA certifications and flight hours are required
2. Information security analyst
- Median annual salary: $112,000
- Number of jobs: 168,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 32%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
- Work experience: None, but relevant certifications are beneficial
3. Elevator and escalator installer and repairer
- Median annual salary: $99,999
- Number of jobs: 25,100
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 1%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or GED
- Work experience: Apprenticeship
4. Special effects artist and animator
- Median annual salary: $98,950
- Number of jobs: 89,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or vocational training
- Work experience: Portfolio of work. Certifications can be beneficial
5. Transportation, storage, and distribution manager
- Median annual salary: $98,560
- Number of jobs: 14,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 8%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma or equivalent; certification programs beneficial
- Work experience: Five years in a related field
6. First-line supervisors of police and detective
- Median annual salary: $96,290
- Number of jobs: 4,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, police academy training
- Work experience: Several years in the police force
7. Radiation therapist
- Median annual salary: $89,530
- Number of jobs: 15,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 2%
- Educational requirements: Associate’s degree
- Work experience: Clinical experience/certification
8. Subway and streetcar operator
- Median annual salary: $88,260
- Number of jobs: 300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 4%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: On-the-job training
9. Electrical power-line installer and repairer
- Median annual salary: $82,340 per year
- Number of jobs: 122,400
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma. Technical training preferred
- Work experience: Apprenticeship
10. Dental hygienist
- Median annual salary: $81,400
- Number of jobs: 219,400
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
- Educational requirements: Associate’s degree in dental hygiene
- Work experience: Licensing (varies by state)
11. Web developer
- Median annual salary: $80,730
- Number of jobs: 216,700
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 16%
- Educational requirements: Ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree (education requirements vary by employer)
- Work experience: None.
12. Medical sonographer
- Median annual salary: $78,210
- Number of jobs: 142,800
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 10%
- Educational requirements: Vocational school, associate's degree
- Work experience: Licensing (varies by state) and clinical experience
13. Police and/or detective
- Median annual salary: $69,160
- Number of jobs: 808,700
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 3%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, police training academy for an entry-level position. Detective work might require some college coursework or a degree
- Work experience: Police academy and on-the-job training
14. Flight attendant
- Median annual salary: $63,760
- Number of jobs: 111,100
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 11%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, flight attendant training program. International routes may need fluency in a foreign language
- Work experience: Experience in customer service
- Medical/physical requirements: Must have vision that is correctable to at least 20/40 and often need to conform to height requirements set by the airline
15. Lodging manager
- Median annual salary: $61,910
- Number of jobs: 50,800
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 7%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: Experience in various hotel operations, from front desk to housekeeping
16. Property, real estate, and community association manager
- Median annual salary: $60,670
- Number of jobs: 429,600
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and licensing (varies by state)
- Work experience: Several years of work experience in a related occupation, such as real estate brokers and sales agents
17. Electrician
- Median annual salary: $60,240
- Number of jobs: 762,000
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma
- Work experience: Apprenticeship program and licensing (varies by state)
18. Telecommunications technician
- Median annual salary: $60,190
- Number of jobs: 299,300
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 6%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and a certificate or an associate’s degree (varies by employer)
- Work experience: None
19. Industrial machinery mechanic
- Median annual salary: $59,470
- Number of jobs: 507,900
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 13%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma, associate’s degree in industrial maintenance for some positions
- Work experience: None
20. Computer support specialist
- Median annual salary: $59,660
- Number of jobs: 914,110
- Estimated job growth (2022–2032): 5%
- Educational requirements: High school diploma and some IT knowledge
- Work experience: Certification and some college coursework (varies by state)
Skills-based hiring
Given the soaring cost of college and an explosion in online learning and certificate courses, it's no wonder that students and employers are both looking for non-traditional ways to join the labor force.
“A college degree doesn’t mean quite what it used to, and we're witnessing a significant shift towards skills-based hiring," explains Eva Chan, a career expert at Resume Genius. "This change is creating more accessible opportunities, including a range of lesser-known yet well-paying roles."
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