The 25 Highest-Paying Jobs That Don't Require a Bachelor's Degree - Goodfest

If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree but want to earn a lot, you could consider becoming an air traffic controller, a nuclear power reactor operator, or a diagnostic medical sonographer.

To get a sense of good options for those who don’t have or want a four-year degree, Business Insider ranked median annual wages of jobs that usually just need an associate degree, a high school diploma or the equivalent, a postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Based on May 2025 pay data, about a dozen jobs that typically don’t need a bachelor’s degree had a median annual wage in the six figures.

Air traffic controllers had a median annual wage of $148,080. BLS said prospective controllers can qualify with an associate degree through an air traffic collegiate training initiative program. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers were another high-paying job, and interested job seekers may need no more than a high school diploma.

Below are the 25 highest-paying jobs that typically don’t require a bachelor’s or more advanced degree. Employment and pay estimates are for 2025, and the education needed for entry reflects 2024.

24 (tie). Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

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Median annual pay: $92,460

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 36,850

24 (tie). Signal and track switch repairers

Median annual pay: $92,460

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 8,720

23. Gambling managers

A close-up of a roulette wheel with a ball near the number 16

Median annual pay: $93,220

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 5,030

22. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Median annual pay: $93,530

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 99,140

21. Detectives and criminal investigators

Yellow tape that says "Crime scene - do not cross"

Median annual pay: $93,790

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 114,430

20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Median annual pay: $95,320

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 131,070

19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Median annual pay: $95,480

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 43,390

18. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Healthcare worker performing an ultrasound on a patient

Median annual pay: $96,590

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 90,160

17. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Median annual pay: $96,660

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 13,810

16. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Median annual pay: $96,710

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 33,160

15. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

A makeup artist applies makeup to someone who is wearing a blue dress while another person sits nearby

Median annual pay: $97,150

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 2,340

14. Dental hygienists

Median annual pay: $98,100

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 222,740

13. Nuclear medicine technologists

Healthcare worker, technologist, looking at MRI scans

Median annual pay: $101,370

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 17,080

12. Power plant operators

Median annual pay: $102,040

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 29,320

11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

A worker fixing power lines in power substation

Median annual pay: $103,020

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 20,720

10. Radiation therapists

Healthcare worker, patient, and a linear accelerator

Median annual pay: $105,310

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 17,070

9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Median annual pay: $106,040

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 154,610

8. Power distributors and dispatchers

Median annual pay: $106,730

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 8,520

7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Worker at a warehouse looking at a computer

Median annual pay: $107,230

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 221,180

6. Ship engineers

Median annual pay: $109,530

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 8,400

5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Median annual pay: $109,910

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 23,790

4. Nuclear technicians

Median annual pay: $110,240

Typical education needed: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 6,470

3. Nuclear power reactor operators

Median annual pay: $122,890

Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalent

Employment estimate: 5,150

2. Commercial pilots

Median annual pay: $123,220

Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree award

Employment estimate: 47,630

1. Air traffic controllers

Median annual pay: $148,080

Typical education: Associate degree

Employment estimate: 22,510

The 25 Highest-Paying Jobs That Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree

24 (tie). Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

24 (tie). Signal and track switch repairers

23. Gambling managers

22. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

21. Detectives and criminal investigators

20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

19. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

18. Diagnostic medical sonographers

17. Postmasters and mail superintendents

16. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

15. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

14. Dental hygienists

13. Nuclear medicine technologists

12. Power plant operators

11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

10. Radiation therapists

9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

8. Power distributors and dispatchers

7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

6. Ship engineers

5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

4. Nuclear technicians

3. Nuclear power reactor operators

2. Commercial pilots

1. Air traffic controllers

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