If you think landing a career with an above-average salary requires four or more years of college, you are in for a treat.
There are a lot of high-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.
One reason is the new class of jobs known as “New Collar” jobs. New Collar jobs are basically jobs that require skills but not a 4-year college degree or a lot of work history and experience.
Of course, the soaring college tuition rates means more people look for jobs that don’t require a degree (although there are ways to get a free college degree!)
Many people are having to rethink their career strategy because of those high tuition fees.
After all, if you can get a job that doesn’t require any kind of degree and pays better than a job that does require one, wouldn’t you prefer the first option!
Yes, for some people education is more than a degree and making more money. But let’s face it, for many of us, a degree is simply a way to improve our chances of having a better career.
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30 Lucrative Jobs that Don’t Require a College Degree
If you belong to that group and are tired of not making enough money, here are some of the top high paying jobs you don’t need a degree for, be it Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (though, they all do require high school diploma):
1. Personal Trainer
You will be helping your clients to get fit and stay in shape.
- Average Salary: $51,400
2. Handyman
As a handyman, your job covers anything from carpentry and plumbing to roofing, painting and anything that a handyman can do!
- Average Salary: $53,300
3. Massage Therapist
Pretty self-explanatory – you’re going to massage people!
- Average Salary: $67,600
4. First-line Supervisors of Correctional Officer
You will be coordinating the investigation of criminal cases, training new staff, as well as doing any other police operations related tasks.
- Average Salary: $55,910
5. Loan Officer
Basically, you will be evaluating loan applications for people and businesses.
- Average Salary: $56,490
6. Purchasing Agent
A straight forward job where you will be basically buying different products for organizations to use or resell.
- Average Salary: $56,580
7. Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator
Your job is to examine insurance claims and figure out if the claim is legit.
- Average Salary: $58,620
8. Business Operations Specialist
You will be coordinating training and planning operations for companies.
- Average Salary: $62,450
9. Subway and Streetcar Operator
Pretty self-explanatory job. You will work as a train or streetcar operator transporting passengers.
- Average Salary: $57,200
10. Power Plant Operator
As a Power plant operator, you have the job of controlling the systems generating and distributing electric power.
- Average Salary: $63,080
11. Administrative Services Manager
Your duties will include planning and coordinating your organization’s supportive services.
- Average Salary: $77,890
12. Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer
As an Electrical power-line installers and repair man, you will be in charge of installing and repairing telecommunications cables and electrical power systems.
- Average Salary: $58,030
13. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager
You will be overseeing operations of railroads and shipping facilities.
- Average Salary: $80,210
14. Gas Plant Operator
Your job is to make sure the system works properly.
- Average Salary: $57,200
15. First-line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers
You will be coordinating projects and tasks for sales workers .
- Average Salary: $68,880
16. First-line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
Your will be required to coordinate the activities of the police officers.
- Average Salary: $78,260
17. Media and Communication Equipment Worker
Your job is to set up, operate and monitor video, audio and digital equipment for sports events, presentations, concerts, meetings and conventions, as well as news conferences.
- Average Salary: $61,680
18. First-line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Worker
You work as a supervisor coordinating and overseeing workers activities.
- Average Salary: $58,680
19. Detectives and Criminal Investigator
As a detective and an investigator, your jobs will be to solve crime cases, and in some cases to prevent them from happening.
- Average Salary: $68,820
20. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
Your job will be to move control rods, start and stop equipment and monitor and adjust controls. You will also have to record data in logs.
- Average Salary: $103,000
21. Elevator Installer and Repairer
Your duties will include fixing and maintaining elevators and escalators.
- Average Salary: $70,910
22. Power Distributor and Dispatcher
You get to coordinate, regulate, or distribute steam or electricity.
- Average Salary: $68,900
23. Artist and Related Workers
Artists and related workers cover a very broad range of jobs from graphic designers and painters to fire performers and other artistic occupations.
- Average Salary: $58,840
24. Fashion Designer
As a fashion designer, you will be creating clothing, shoes and accessories.
- Average Salary: $64,530
25. First-Line Supervisor of Mechanics, Installers, & Repairers
Your job is to coordinate mechanic’s activities.
- Average Salary: $59,150
26. Petroleum Pump System Operator, Refinery Operator, and Gauger
You will be in charge of controlling the operation of petroleum refining or processing units.
- Average Salary: $60,040
27. Postmasters and Mail Superintendent
As a Postmaster and mail superintendent, you will be directing and coordinating operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a U.S. post office.
- Average Salary: $60,300
28. Farmer, Rancher, and Other Agricultural Managers
You are basically the one that plans, directs, or coordinates the management or operation of farms, greenhouses, ranches, nurseries, aquacultural operations, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments.
- Average Salary: $60,750
29. Executive Pastry Chef
As an executive pastry chef, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire production of pastries, ice cream, bread, sweets and anything that is one the menu for the event.
- Average Salary: $45,100
30. Casino Manager
In charge of managing casino workers from floor managers to dealers and everyone else.
- Average Salary: $66,960
Final words
There you have it, a list of jobs that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics are some of the most high-paying jobs that don’t require any degree.
Feel free to leave us a comment if you work any of these jobs, or have another high paying job that doesn’t require a degree.
Nice helping to man
I am glad you find it helpful, Sandeep.