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The 25 highest-paying jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree
Air traffic controllers typically need at least an associate degree.gorodenkoff/Getty ImagesA high school diploma or an associate degree can sometimes lead to high-paying work.About a dozen jobs that usually don't need a bachelor's degree had six-figure median annual pay in May 2025.Air traffic controllers ranked at the top, with an annual wage of $148,080.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.
Are you making six figures without student loan debt and without a bachelor's degree? Reach out to this reporter to share at mhoff@businessinsider.com.
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 VesselsBouillante/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $92,460Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 36,85024 (tie). Signal and track switch repairersDaniel Hanscom/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $92,460Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 8,72023. Gambling managersGrant Faint/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $93,220Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 5,03022. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersJesse Koering/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $93,530Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 99,14021. Detectives and criminal investigatorsJack Berman/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $93,790Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 114,43020. Electrical power-line installers and repairersCatherine McQueen/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $95,320Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 131,07019. Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsLu ShaoJi/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $95,480Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 43,39018. Diagnostic medical sonographersGerman Adrasti/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $96,590Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 90,16017. Postmasters and mail superintendentsPatrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $96,660Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 13,81016. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugerszorandimzr/Getty Images/iStockphotoMedian annual pay: $96,710Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 33,16015. Makeup artists, theatrical and performanceKosamtu/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $97,150Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 2,34014. Dental hygienistslechatnoir/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $98,100Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 222,74013. Nuclear medicine technologistsSvitlana Hulko/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $101,370Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 17,08012. Power plant operatorsKinwun/Getty Images/iStockphotoMedian annual pay: $102,040Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 29,32011. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayShinyfamily/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $103,020Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 20,72010. Radiation therapistsPovozniuk/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $105,310Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 17,0709. First-line supervisors of police and detectivesOliver Helbig/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $106,040Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 154,6108. Power distributors and dispatchersMonty Rakusen/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $106,730Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 8,5207. Transportation, storage, and distribution managersThomas Barwick/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $107,230Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 221,1806. Ship engineersMonty Rakusen/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $109,530Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 8,4005. Elevator and escalator installers and repairersSvetlana Verbitskaya/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $109,910Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 23,7904. Nuclear techniciansaimintang/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $110,240Typical education needed: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 6,4703. Nuclear power reactor operatorsAndreyPopov/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $122,890Typical education needed: High school diploma or equivalentEmployment estimate: 5,1502. Commercial pilotsAzmanL/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $123,220Typical education needed: Postsecondary nondegree awardEmployment estimate: 47,6301. Air traffic controllersgorodenkoff/Getty ImagesMedian annual pay: $148,080Typical education: Associate degreeEmployment estimate: 22,510Read the original article on Business Insider
