High-paying careers and jobs available for workers without Bachelor's Degrees
While a college education increases a worker's chances of earning more money, less than half of high-paying careers require a four-year degree, according to a U-M study update on jobs and wages.
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Highest Paying Careers Requiring Two Year Associates Degrees |
Highest Paying Careers Requiring Four Year Bachelors Degrees |
Highest Paying Careers Requiring Masters Degrees or a Doctorate Degree |
| $46,000 Dental
Hygienists* $43,000 Registered Nurse* $41,000 Nuclear Medicine Technician $38,000 Cardiology Technician $38,000 Electrical Technician $38,000 Paralegal* $36,000 Respiratory Therapist $35,000 Healthcare Support Specialist $35,000 Radiological Technician
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$72,000 Petroleum Engineers $70,000 Actuaries $63,000 Aerospace Engineers $60,000 Chemical Engineers $59,000 Computer Engineers* $58,000 Production Engineers $57,000 Electrical Engineers $56,000 Geologists $56,000 Physical Therapists* $55,000 Economists $54,000 Civil Engineers $53,000 Systems Analysts* $53,000 Computer Scientists* $51,000 Mechanical Engineers $51,000 Architects |
$102,000 Physicians $89,000 Dentists $75,000 Attorneys $67,000 Optometrists $67,000 Chiropractors $66,000 Physicists $59,000 Pharmacists* $57,000 Veterinarians $53,000 Psychologists
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*Professions marked with an asterisk are expected to be high demand careers for the foreseeable future.
High-paying careers and jobs available for workers without Bachelor's Degrees
These are some of the best jobs out there where you can start making money now, regardless of your education.
1) Brick Masons - Average Hourly Pay Rate: $20.11+ While you will need some skills and a propensity toward being good with your hands, you won’t need a college degree to start a job as a brick mason. Most construction or masonry firms will offer apprenticeships where you can get all the training you need and still get paid.
2) Air Traffic Controller – Average Yearly Salary: $100,000+ While this isn’t exactly a stress-free occupation, you won’t need to go through college to begin right away. It’s a good idea to have basic stress management skills and the ability to manage several different tasks at once for this line of work.
3) Nuclear Power Plant Operator – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $31+ While you wouldn’t think that nuclear power plant operators could get by without a degree, they can and usually do. A few plants may require some basic college courses for consideration, but most will offer on-the-job training and even provide refresher courses at no cost to you.
4) Telecommunications Equipment Installers – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $22+ Who thought that working for the phone company could be so lucrative? If you’re into electronics or if you’re good with your hands, this is a great field that pays very well. Most phone companies will offer training, but you may need to take a basic electronics course if you have no familiarity with job requirements.
5) Police Officer – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $22+ While some small town police departments may not pay very well, larger cities typically offer attractive salaries for police officers. Training and equipment usually is provided, but you may want to take a few criminal justice courses in your spare time to increase your chances of getting promoted and earning even more money.
6) Postal Service Employees – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $21+ The postal service offers a wide variety of employment opportunities, from sorting, to customer management to actual delivery. Rural routes usually are accepted by bid and are a great fit if you really like to drive. Sure, you’ll have to deal with dogs and all sorts of other issues, but you won’t have to go to school.
7) Computer Software Engineer – Average Yearly Salary: $52,000+ If you’re technically minded and talented, you easily can find work as a computer software engineer, without having to go through any schooling. While basic courses and tech courses may help, most companies are willing to provide at least some training. If you’re already designing software in your spare time, this would be a great fit.
8) Electricians – Average Yearly Salary: $32,000+ This is another trade position that offers on-the-job training and a varied work environment. It’s probably a good idea to have some idea of how electricity works before jumping in with both feet, but if you’re looking for a shocking opportunity, this is certainly worth a try.
9) Computer Programmer – Average Yearly Salary: $55,000+ Whether you decide to freelance or work for a company, computer programmers usually are hired based on ability and not education. If you’ve got what it takes, you easily can start earning close to $60,000 a year doing what you love.
10) Gaming Managers – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $36+ If you’ve got a casino in your area, chances are you’ll be able to find a position as a gaming manager. While it helps to have an understanding of gaming operations, if you’ve got organizational skills, and you can coordinate several projects at once, this is a great opportunity.
11) Immigrations and Customs – Average Yearly Salary: $59,000+ Once again, this is in the criminal justice field, but on-the-job training is provided and there is a pretty good chance for advancement, regardless of how much schooling you’ve had. It does help to have a background in this field, but as the United States cracks down on immigration, there’s going to be a high demand for people interested in this field.
12) Firefighting Supervisor – Average Yearly Salary: $60,000+ This position will require some on-the job experience, but it is something that you can work up to while you’re getting paid as a firefighter. Starting salaries for firefighters usually are quite high and there is plenty of room for advancement if you’ve got management skills and a will to succeed.
13) Freelancing – Average Hourly Pay Rate: $20 to $50+ Freelancing can be incredibly lucrative for writers, artists and graphic designers. If you’ve already got the skills and a decent portfolio, there’s nothing keeping you from launching a successful freelancing career. It is a good idea to keep a regular job until your business takes off, but freelancers often can make more money than salaried employees.
14) Real Estate Broker – Average Yearly Salary: $76,000+ Working as a real estate broker can be incredibly lucrative. While you won’t need a college degree, you will need to go through some training and certification before you can start. Some real estate firms may offer to train you if you have the right qualifications. As a bonus, once you get your broker’s license, you can start your own real estate firm and earn even more money. Real estate is a great field that appeals to people of many different interests, from interior design to architecture.
15) Ship Engineer – Average Yearly Salary: $57,000+ If you like the nautical life or have an interest in ships, you can make very good money right off the bat as a ship engineer. You will need to have some basic engineering skills, but many firms will provide you with training. Some basic college courses also may be required, depending on the employer.
16) Elevator Repair – Average Yearly Salary: $58,000+ Thanks to the International Union of Elevator Constructors it is very easy to find a job in elevator repair. All most candidates need is a high school diploma, and they’ll be well on their way to finding an apprenticeship. In some cases, you may need to pass an aptitude test before the union will help you find a job. Check with your local union office to see what opportunities may be available.
17) Power Distributor – Average Yearly Salary: $59,000+ Once again, this is a more specialized field, but it is one that is a good fit for those who are technically minded. Training usually is provided to candidates and may include actual classroom time as well as on-the-job training. All you’ll need for consideration is a high school diploma and you can be well on your way.
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These are just a few of the many careers that actually pay well. Keep in mind that a local business or your current place of employment may raise your salary as you acquire more experience and more training. If you can take classes online, you can improve your chances for advancement in most career fields, but you won’t need a college degree to get your foot in the door.
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Overall, the top-paying occupations that do not require a four-year college degree include: millwrights ($60,000); household appliance and other electrical equipment repairers ($52,000); tool and die makers ($50,000); stationary engineers ($48,000); advertising and other business sales people ($45,000); rail and water transportation workers ($45,000); firefighters ($45,000); supervisors of mechanics ($44,500); boilermakers ($44,000); and science technicians ($43,000).
The researchers say that while these kinds of top paying jobs require no Bachelors Degree, nearly all demand some form of special training.
"The common characteristic of the 47 good-paying occupations that do not require a four-year degree is the need for training beyond high school," Grimes says. "These occupations require advanced skills learned on the job, in apprenticeship programs and at community colleges or technical schools.
"Employment earnings are even higher for those with an occupational Associates degree than for those with an academic associate's degree or some college, but no degree. The value of the occupational associate's degree is most pronounced for younger workers," Grimes says.
Finally, the report lists the fastest-growing good-paying occupations that do not require a four-year degree.
Such fast growing jobs include firefighters, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and tile setters, production coordinators, auto sales people, truck drivers, machinists, and science, engineering and lab technicians.
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Further, among 88 job fields in the study with median annual full-time earnings of at least $30,000, 41 occupations require a four-year degree, while 47 do not. Moreover, these patterns of good-paying work hold true as much for younger employees (under age 35) as for all workers.
"Most people mistakenly believe that the only reliable path to high paying careers or good-paying work is by obtaining a four-year college degree or more," says Donald R. Grimes, a senior research associate at the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations. "This belief, however, contradicts reports from employers in almost every industry that they cannot fill high paying jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree."
Although it is UNTRUE, people still strongly believe, adds co-researcher Louis J. Glazer of Michigan Future Inc., that high paying career options are shrinking for younger workers and are largely limited to medicine, law and engineering.
"The belief is that other top paying jobs were available to boomers and their parents, but not their children and grandchildren," he says. "But there are a wide variety of high-paying-careers and job opportunities available to younger workers."
In particular, the researchers say, there are 1.5 million young workers (ages 25-34) in the Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin) earning $30,000 or more, and slightly over half of them do not have a bachelor's degree.
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