15 Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree (2025)

A four-year college degree isn't the only path to a high-paying career. Many trades, technical roles, and licensed professions offer six-figure earning potential with just a high school diploma, apprenticeship, or associate's degree.

Here are the highest-paying jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree, ranked by median salary using official Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

#	Job Title	Median Salary	Top 10% Earn
1	Commercial Pilots	$123,220	$266,620+
2	Construction Managers	$114,990	$189,440+
3	Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers	$109,910	$158,890+
4	Dental Hygienists	$98,100	$126,050+
5	Web Developers	$92,650	$162,290+
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$79,870	$128,890+
7	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$76,210	$115,120+
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	$63,800	$108,420+
9	Electricians	$63,190	$108,510+
10	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	$61,010	$95,210+
11	Firefighters	$59,280	$101,040+
12	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$58,640	$79,380+
13	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$53,750	$77,530+
14	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	$50,620	$81,790+

Job Title

Median Salary

Commercial Pilots

$123,220

Construction Managers

$114,990

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

$109,910

Dental Hygienists

$98,100

Web Developers

$92,650

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

$79,870

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

$76,210

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$63,800

Electricians

$63,190

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

$61,010

Firefighters

$59,280

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

$58,640

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

$53,750

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

$50,620

Key Takeaways

Skilled trades like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC consistently pay above the national median — and demand is growing as fewer young people enter these fields.
Commercial pilots can earn well into six figures with only flight training and certifications, no college degree needed.
Tech roles like web development are increasingly accessible through bootcamps and self-study, with strong earning potential.
Many of these careers have excellent job security due to aging workforces and high demand.

How to Break Into These Careers

Most of these jobs require some form of training, certification, or apprenticeship — but not a 4-year degree. Trade schools, community colleges, and on-the-job apprenticeships are the typical paths. The investment is far less than a university education, and the earning potential starts much sooner.