26 jobs that pay more than $80,000 a year and don't require a bachelor's degree
Ethan Dodd
- College graduates make almost twice as much money as high school graduates.
- Still, student debt and the tight labor market make college less attractive.
College graduates tend to earn more, but you can still make six figures without going to college.
Though on average those with a bachelor's degree earn almost twice as much as those with only a high school diploma, fewer graduating seniors are going to college. For many, college is not worth taking on student debt when the worker shortage raises their pay. And as more state governments, companies, and members of Congress no longer require a college degree to work for them, high school graduates will gain access to even more good jobs.
Using the most recent occupational wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we ranked the 26 highest-paid jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree. They span transportation, energy, healthcare, and more. All of these jobs pay above $80,000 a year.
26. Gambling managers
Median annual wage in 2022: $80,710
Number of people employed in 2022: 4,800
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
25. Signal and track switch repairers
Median annual wage in 2022: $81,300
Number of people employed in 2022: 6,880
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
24. Diagnostic medical sonographers
Median annual wage in 2022: $81,350
Number of people employed in 2022: 81,080
Typical education required: Associate's degree
23. Dental hygienists
Median annual wage in 2022: $81,400
Number of people employed in 2022: 214,700
Typical education required: Associate's degree
22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Median annual wage in 2022: $82,340
Number of people employed in 2022: 119,510
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
21. Chemical plant and system operators
Median annual wage in 2022: $82,670
Number of people employed in 2022: 18,710
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
20. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
Median annual wage in 2022: $82,850
Number of people employed in 2022: 237,520
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
19. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
Median annual wage in 2022: $85,090
Number of people employed in 2022: 31,360
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
18. Nuclear medicine technologists
Median annual wage in 2022: $85,300
Number of people employed in 2022: 16,910
Typical education required: Associate's degree
17. Detectives and criminal investigators
Median annual wage in 2022: $86,280
Number of people employed in 2022: 107,400
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
16. Ship engineers
Median annual wage in 2022: $88,260
Number of people employed in 2022: 9,120
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
15. Subway and streetcar operators
Median annual wage in 2022: $88,260
Number of people employed in 2022: 9,120
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
14. Radiation therapists
Median annual wage in 2022: $89,530
Number of people employed in 2022: 15,510
Typical education required: Associate's degree
13. Power plant operators
Median annual wage in 2022: $93,060
Number of people employed in 2022: 31,590
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
12. Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers
Median annual wage in 2022: $93,720
Number of people employed in 2022: 25,440
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
11. Athletes and sports competitors
Median annual wage in 2022: $94,270
Number of people employed in 2022: 11,930
Typical education required: No formal educational credential
10. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
Median annual wage in 2022: $95,210
Number of people employed in 2022: 34,940
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Median annual wage in 2022: $96,290
Number of people employed in 2022: 131,860
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
8. Theatrical and performance makeup artists
Median annual wage in 2022: $96,370
Number of people employed in 2022: 2,970
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
Median annual wage in 2022: $98,560
Number of people employed in 2022: 169,910
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Median annual wage in 2022: $99,000
Number of people employed in 2022: 24,380
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
5. Nuclear technicians
Median annual wage in 2022: $100,420
Number of people employed in 2022: 5,880
Typical education required: Associate's degree
4. Power distributors and dispatchers
Median annual wage in 2022: $101,650
Number of people employed in 2022: 9,380
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
3. Commercial pilots
Median annual wage in 2022: $103,910
Number of people employed in 2022: 48,750
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
2. Nuclear power reactor operators
Median annual wage in 2022: $115,870
Number of people employed in 2022: 5,450
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
1. Air traffic controllers
Median annual wage in 2022: $132,250
Number of people employed in 2022: 21,250
Typical education required: Associate's degree
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