High Pay Jobs Without a Degree
Studies show that if you have a degree, you’ll make three to four times as much money as you’d make if you just have a high school diploma. It depends on your industry, but typically, the higher level of education you’ve completed, the more money you’ll make annually. That may sound like bad news if you don’t want to or can’t go to college for some reason.
Did you know, however, that there are a number of high-paying jobs out there that don’t require you to have a bachelor’s degree or even, in most cases, an associate’s degree?
Here are some career fields that could earn you $50,000 to $100,000 or even more:
- Real Estate Broker: The average salary for a real estate broker was over $80,000 in 2016. You don’t need a degree for this job, but you do need 60+ hours of classroom training and one to three years of experience selling real estate to get your broker’s license.
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator: If you enjoy science and mechanics, this might be a god job for you. You don’t need a degree, but you do need to pass a test every year to stay licensed, and you’ll need extensive on-the-job training before you start working. Nuclear power operators make, on average, almost $67,000 a year.
- Police Supervisors/Managers: The average salary for someone in a leadership position in the police field was $74,800 in 2015. Only about 33% of people working in this position have a bachelor’s degree. Of course, to get this job, you need to put in your time as a low-level police officer first, but as you gain experience, your salary will definitely rise. In the same industry, detectives and criminal investigators can also make a fairly high salary without a degree. The average detective makes almost $60,000 a year.
- Gaming Managers: Running a casino can be a lot of work, but you’ll be paid well for your time. Without a degree, you can work your way up through the ranks at a casino, starting as a floor worker. On average, gaming managers make over $65,000 a year.
- Transportation Manager: Less than 25% of all transportation managers have a bachelor’s degree. This is a career path that many people don’t realize exists, but someone has to map out the best routes for flights, buses, trucks, trains, ships, and other forms of transportation. Transportation managers make over $75,000 annually.
Don’t forget to check out health care employment opportunities, which are numerous. Many jobs in the industry pay more than your typical jobs.