6 High-Paying Jobs that Don’t Require a College Degree

In 2019, it has never been more obvious that high-paying jobs are hard to come by. Even with a four year degree, countless people are struggling to get into the fields that they studied for, making college seem like the wrong route for many.

Thankfully, there are a lot of options for those who decided to skip the college opportunity and head straight to the workforce. Here are six high-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree.

1. Elevator Repairer and Installer

There are countless contracting jobs that require from as little as a high school diploma to the business law exam.

As an elevator repairer and installer, all that you need is a high school diploma and a willingness to learn the trade that will offer up to $76,650 a year with 8,000 projected available jobs through 2022.

All of the training of this trade is learned through apprenticeship, so the process of learning is hands on for those who enjoy learning by doing.

2. Detectives and Criminal Investigators

While this occupation doesn’t need a college degree, it definitely requires a keen eye and above average analytical skills.

As with any occupation, though, much of this is learned on the job, and those who enjoy mystery and thrill in their everyday lives are perfect for this occupation that averages an income of $74,300.

With 27,700 jobs projected throughout 2020, this occupation is definitely one of the better ones to go into. 

3. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator

Nuclear power reactor operators are responsible for moving control rods, starting and stopping the equipment according to schedule, and recording the data that is received.

With an average annual income of $74,990, this occupation is perfect for those who enjoy numbers and data. There are only 2,300 projected jobs in this field through 2022, however, so this is one of the occupations that is a little more difficult to get into.

4. Commercial Pilot

If you have always wanted to travel the world, being a commercial pilot is likely the occupation for you.

You only need a high school diploma to get started, but there is an extensive on-the-job training process that you must undergo before you start flying on your own.

Once this process is finished, though, you will be on your way to making $73,280 a year. You will learn everything that there is to know about flying and navigating planes and helicopters, which is a useful skill and an occupation that a projected 14,400 will hold through 2022.

5. Electrical Power-Line Installer

With an average salary of $63,250, these line-men provide service to our electric power supply and telecommunication cables.

All that you need is a high school diploma to start learning to repair and install electrical power lines.

This occupation is in high demand as the population grows every day, with 49,900 expected jobs available through 2022.

6. Subway and Streetcar Operator

Another popular occupation due to an increase in the amount of people around are subway and streetcar operators. With a projected 3,300 jobs through 2022, most of which are located in densely populated cities, this occupation is great for those with just a high school diploma.

Averaging around $62,730, these operators learn on-the-job about how to operate subways and streetcars.

Overall, it is evident that a college degree is not the only path to a lucrative career for many people that are leaving high school and entering the workforce.

More education is not always the route that people choose, but luckily there are a lot of available occupations that pay a reasonable wage, like these six occupations listed.


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