25 High-Paying Jobs That Don't Require a 4-Year Degree

Despite what you may have been told your whole life, going to college is not a requirement for earning good money in a career you enjoy. I hear from highly successful people all the time on The Ramsey Show who never earned a four-year degree. And believe it or not, yours truly never finished college.

To prove that college isn’t the only or even the best path for everyone, here’s a list of 25 of the highest paying jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. (By the way, that doesn’t mean they don’t require education—just not a four-year degree.)

The salary data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is based on 2024 median pay, meaning half of workers earn more and half earn less. I’ve ranked the jobs below from lowest to highest pay so you can easily see which careers offer the strongest earning potential.

25 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree

If you want a quick snapshot, here are some of the highest-paying jobs without a degree and what they typically pay. More details on each role are below.

25. Solar Photovoltaic Installer

• Median pay: $51,860
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 42%²

These guys and gals install and maintain solar panel systems that convert sunlight into energy. This job involves traveling to various homes and businesses. If you like being active and outdoors, this could be a great fit for you. And as solar becomes a more popular energy source, we’ll see the demand for this job increase. Folks, 42% is an astronomical growth rate!  

24. Real Estate Agent

• Median pay: $56,320
• Education needed: high school diploma, licensing requirements vary by state
• Job growth rate: 3%³

Real estate agents work with clients to buy and sell homes. The neat thing about real estate is that it’s commission-based, so your income depends on how much you sell. You can put in a lot of hours and effort to grow your business, or you can work on a more flexible, part-time schedule. To really succeed as a real estate agent, you need to enjoy sales and working with people. 

23. Carpenter

• Median pay: $59,310
• Education needed: high school diploma, apprenticeship
• Job growth rate: 4%⁴

This age-old profession isn’t going away anytime soon. Skilled trades like carpentry are often among the highest-paying trade jobs you can get without a degree, especially as you gain experience or move into management roles. Plus, it’s a solid choice for people who like to create beautiful and functional things with their hands. Carpenters learn by working with a master of the trade through a formal or informal apprenticeship.

Many people in the Ramsey community speak highly of the trades. As Jen from our Ramsey Baby Steps Community Facebook group put it: “Carpenter, electrician, plumber, HVAC—I’m such an advocate for the trades. You can start on the labor side and move into management, and there’s great money to be made with lots of work available.”

22. Firefighter

• Median pay: $59,530
• Education needed: postsecondary nondegree award, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 3%⁵

Lots of kids dream of becoming a firefighter when they’re wondering what they want to do with their lives when they grow up. Because honestly, firefighters are heroes! They respond to all kinds of emergencies, including fires, medical calls and rescue situations. Becoming a firefighter is a competitive process and will also likely require becoming an emergency medical technician (EMT).  

21. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Refrigeration Mechanic or Installer

• Median pay: $59,810
• Education needed: postsecondary nondegree award, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 8%⁶

These are the superheroes who swoop in to save the day when your heat or air conditioning unit goes out. And if you’ve ever lost AC in the middle of summer—or heat in the dead of winter—you understand exactly how big of a deal that is.

20. Insurance Sales Agent

• Median pay: $60,370
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 4%⁷

Insurance agents help people protect the things that matter most—like their homes, cars and families. The job is all about building relationships, explaining coverage options, and helping clients choose policies that fit their needs. If you’re comfortable with sales and enjoy working with people, this can be a great way to build a strong income over time.

19. Licensed Practical Nurse

• Median pay: $62,340
• Education needed: postsecondary nondegree award
• Job growth rate: 3%⁸

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) work with doctors and registered nurses (RNs) to assist with patient care. They take vital signs, administer medication, and complete paperwork. Unlike RNs, LPNs don’t need a college degree. You can attend an accredited program at a vocational school to get the necessary training. 

18. Electrician

• Median pay: $62,350
• Education needed: high school diploma, apprenticeship
• Job growth rate: 9%⁹

If working with wires sparks your interest (sorry, dad joke), then you might consider becoming an electrician. These folks bring power to buildings, homes, transmission lines and a variety of equipment. You can attend a technical school or find an apprenticeship for on-the-job training. Electricians are consistently ranked among the highest paying trade jobs without a degree thanks to high demand and specialized skills.

17. Wind Turbine Technician

• Median pay: $62,580
• Education needed: postsecondary nondegree award, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 50%¹⁰

Wind turbines are those huge white windmills that dot the plains of Kansas and other windy parts of the country. As they’ve become a popular source of alternative energy, the demand for technicians is skyrocketing! Technicians install and maintain wind turbines. For this job, you must be willing to spend a lot of time outside, and it’s not recommended for people who are scared of heights.

While the median salary is around $62,000, many techs earn quite a bit more with experience. In fact, one member of our Ramsey Baby Steps Community Facebook group shared, “My husband is a wind turbine tech lead and makes over $100k a year.”

16. Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technician

• Median pay: $62,740
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 6%¹¹

These technicians keep big machines running—everything from construction equipment to farm machinery and other heavy vehicles. When something breaks down, they diagnose the problem and get it back in working order. If you enjoy working with your hands, solving mechanical problems, and keeping important equipment moving, this could be a great fit.

15. Surgical Technologist

• Median pay: $62,830
• Education needed: postsecondary nondegree award
• Job growth rate: 5%¹²

Surgical techs work with surgeons and nurses to perform operations. They make sure the room is ready for the surgery, prepare all the instruments, and provide the physicians with the tools they need throughout the surgery. 

14. Plumber

• Median pay: $62,970
• Education needed: high school diploma, apprenticeship
• Job growth rate: 4%¹³

Plumbers install and repair piping systems in homes, factories and businesses. Because plumbers often respond to urgent calls (nothing is worse than an overflowing toilet!), they’re expected to occasionally work nights and weekends.   

13. Food Service Manager

• Median pay: $65,310
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 6%¹⁴

Food service managers keep restaurants, cafeterias and catering operations running smoothly. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy leading a team, this role can be a natural next step after gaining experience in the food industry.

12. Physical Therapist Assistant

• Median pay: $65,510
• Education needed: associate’s degree, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 16%¹⁵

Physical therapist assistants help people recover from injuries and regain movement after surgery or illness. You’ll work alongside a licensed physical therapist to guide patients through exercises, track their progress, and encourage them along the way. If you enjoy staying active on the job and helping people improve their quality of life, this can be a really rewarding path.

11. Flight Attendant

• Median pay: $67,130
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 9%¹⁶

Flight attendants keep passengers safe and comfortable while traveling the world—or at least across the country. It’s a great fit for people who enjoy meeting new people and don’t want a typical nine-to-five. Plus, travel benefits are a nice perk.

As one member of our Ramsey Baby Steps Community Facebook group put it, “Get a job with an airline. You’ll find tons of different roles and get to see the world. Anyone with customer service skills and a high school diploma can apply.”

10. Occupational Therapy Assistant

• Median pay: $68,340
• Education needed: associate’s degree, state-issued license, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 18%¹⁷

Occupational therapy is all about helping people learn and practice skills they need to live and work. Most occupational therapy takes place after an injury or when elderly people need help performing daily tasks around their homes. Occupational therapy assistants work with therapists and doctors to help patients in hospitals, nursing homes and therapy offices. It’s an active and interactive job that gives you plenty of opportunities to work with people! Plus, the job growth prospects are looking solid.

9. Police Officer or Detective 

• Median pay: $77,270
• Education needed: high school diploma (some departments vary), on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 3%¹⁸

Law enforcement is a demanding, exciting and rewarding career. The mission is pretty straightforward: Protect your community, get the bad guys, and solve the case. Most positions don’t require anything beyond a high school diploma, but certain positions are more likely to go to candidates with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, so going to college might be worth it.

8. Radiologic or MRI Technologist

• Median pay: $78,980
• Education needed: associate’s degree, license or certification, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 5%¹⁹

Both X-rays and MRIs are diagnostic tools that help physicians and patients understand what’s going on inside the body. Techs are the workers who actually run the tests and work with physicians to gather the information needed to diagnose and treat patients.

7. Aerospace Technician

• Median pay: $79,830
• Education needed: associate’s degree
• Job growth rate: 8%²⁰

If you’ve always had a fascination with airplanes and enjoy technical work, then you might consider becoming an aerospace technician. You’ll work with aircraft or spacecraft to test and calibrate systems, as well as install and repair various parts. 

6. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

• Median pay: $89,340
• Education needed: associate’s degree
• Job growth rate: 13%²¹

Sonographers use medical equipment to create images of organs, tissues and blood vessels that allow patients and doctors to understand what’s going on inside the body. Cardiovascular techs work with physicians to perform complex procedures related to heart health, such as inserting stents or pacemakers. They also help perform tests to diagnose heart conditions.

5. Utility Line Worker

• Median pay: $92,560
• Education needed: high school diploma, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 7%²²

Line workers are highly paid, but working outdoors with high voltage is dangerous. Line workers keep the lights on—literally. They install and maintain the electrical lines that deliver power to homes and businesses, and they’re often the first ones out restoring electricity after a storm. It’s demanding work that requires strength, focus and a commitment to safety, but it also comes with strong pay and steady demand.

4. Dental Hygienist

• Median pay: $94,260
• Education needed: associate’s degree
• Job growth rate: 7%²³

While cleaning teeth may not be for everyone, dental hygienists get a chance to impact their patients’ lives by taking care of their oral health. They screen patients, take X-rays, remove plaque from teeth, and counsel patients on good hygiene and nutrition habits. Most programs take three years to complete, and you must pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination in order to practice.

3. Transportation, Storage and Distribution Manager

• Median pay: $102,010
• Education needed: high school diploma, 5+ years of experience in lower-level roles
• Job growth rate: 6%²⁴

These managers keep products moving from one place to another, whether that’s from a warehouse to a store or across the country to a customer. They coordinate shipments, manage teams, and make sure deliveries arrive on time and within budget. Most people start in entry-level logistics roles and work their way up into management. And with e-commerce growing like crazy, there’s a big need for people who can keep products moving from point A to point B.

2. Elevator Installer and Repairer

• Median pay: $106,580
• Education needed: high school diploma, apprenticeship
• Job growth rate: 5%²⁵

This is one of those overlooked jobs that most people take for granted. As it turns out, elevator installers and repairers make good money working with their hands. They’re often required to be on call 24 hours a day for repairs. And it’s no surprise that they often work in cramped spaces around heavy machinery. (If you’re afraid of heights, this probably isn’t the job for you!)

1. Air Traffic Controller

• Median pay: $144,580
• Education needed: associate’s degree, on-the-job training
• Job growth rate: 1%²⁶

Air traffic controllers have the exciting, high-stakes job of directing air traffic from the ground. They sit in those towers with lots of windows that you see at airports. Air traffic controllers often work nights and weekends to keep up with travel schedules. It’s a demanding job with a rewarding result: making sure people take off, travel and land safely.  

What Career Is Right for You?

Don’t get me wrong—going to college may very well be the best path for you to pursue a career that lets you use your talents, perform your passions, and create results you care deeply about.

But it also may not be, and I want you to be open to that possibility.

College degrees have become a status symbol, and we’ve been told that we’re set up to fail in our careers if we don’t have one, or that we’re “less than” if we take a different route after high school. Don’t listen to that garbage, folks! The 25 jobs we just looked at—and plenty of others—are proof that you can excel and be fulfilled without a degree.

You are the secret sauce to your success in life, not a fancy (and expensive) sheet of paper.