Highest Paying Jobs Without a Degree, Ranked by BLS Pay (2026)
Radiation therapists had the highest median annual wage, $105,310 in May 2025, among the 15 jobs on this list that are typically entered with a certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree rather than a bachelor’s degree. Dental hygienists ($98,100), diagnostic medical sonographers ($96,590), MRI technologists ($95,480), and electrical power-line installers ($95,320) round out the five highest. The list is ranked by BLS median annual wage (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) among occupations College-Reporter covers with program or career guides; growth and openings are from BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. Healthcare imaging and therapy roles dominate the upper half, while the skilled trades and driving fill the lower half with far larger numbers of openings.
At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ranking criterion | BLS median annual wage, May 2025 |
| Pool definition | Typically entered with a certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree |
| Occupations ranked | 15 |
| Highest median on the list | Radiation therapists, $105,310 |
| Most openings per year | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, about 237,600 |
| Strongest projected growth | Physical therapist assistants, 22.0 percent |
The Ranking
| Rank | Occupation | BLS median (May 2025) | Growth 2024-34 | Openings/yr | Typical entry route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radiation therapists | $105,310 | 1.9 percent | about 900 | Associate degree |
| 2 | Dental hygienists | $98,100 | 7.0 percent | about 15,300 | Associate degree |
| 3 | Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | 13.0 percent | about 5,800 | Associate degree or certificate |
| 4 | MRI technologists | $95,480 | 7.1 percent | about 2,600 | Associate degree |
| 5 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | 6.6 percent | about 10,700 | Apprenticeship |
| 6 | Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | 12.1 percent | about 8,800 | Associate degree |
| 7 | Radiologic technologists and technicians | $80,110 | 4.3 percent | about 12,900 | Associate degree |
| 8 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | 4.0 percent | about 11,300 | Certificate (FAA-approved program) |
| 9 | Police and sheriff’s patrol officers | $76,210 | 3.1 percent | about 53,700 | Academy training; some agencies prefer college credit |
| 10 | Physical therapist assistants | $68,380 | 22.0 percent | about 19,800 | Associate degree |
| 11 | Licensed practical and vocational nurses | $64,400 | 2.6 percent | about 54,400 | Certificate or diploma |
| 12 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | $63,800 | 4.5 percent | about 44,000 | Apprenticeship |
| 13 | Electricians | $63,190 | 9.5 percent | about 81,000 | Apprenticeship |
| 14 | HVAC mechanics and installers | $61,010 | 8.1 percent | about 40,100 | Certificate or apprenticeship |
| 15 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $58,640 | 4.0 percent | about 237,600 | Certificate (CDL training) |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (wages); BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 (growth and openings). Entry routes are the common paths; some employers prefer or require more education, and licensing requirements vary by state.
Each Job in Brief
1. Radiation therapists
Radiation therapists deliver prescribed radiation treatments to cancer patients using linear accelerators, and monitor patients through their treatment course. An associate degree is the common entry credential, though bachelor’s programs exist, and most states license the role; check your state board. The occupation is small, with only about 900 openings per year. See radiation therapy programs.
2. Dental hygienists
Hygienists clean teeth, take x-rays, screen for oral disease, and educate patients. An associate degree in dental hygiene is the standard route, and licensing requirements vary by state; check your state board. See dental hygiene programs and the dental hygienist career guide.
3. Diagnostic medical sonographers
Sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to image organs, blood vessels, and pregnancies. Associate programs are typical, and certificate programs exist for people who already hold a health credential. Growth of 13.0 percent is strong. See sonography programs.
4. MRI technologists
MRI techs run magnetic resonance scanners and position patients for imaging. Many enter as radiologic technologists first and then add MRI credentials; direct-entry associate programs also exist. See MRI technologist programs.
5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Line workers install and repair the power lines that carry electricity across the grid. The route in is a utility or contractor apprenticeship, and the work is outdoors, at height, and often on emergency callout. See the lineworker career guide.
6. Respiratory therapists
Respiratory therapists treat patients with breathing disorders, manage ventilators, and respond to codes. An associate degree is the minimum common entry; some employers prefer a bachelor’s. Licensing requirements vary by state. See respiratory therapy programs.
7. Radiologic technologists and technicians
Rad techs take x-rays and CT images. An associate degree is the usual credential, followed by ARRT certification, which many states use for licensing. See radiology technician programs.
8. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Aircraft mechanics maintain and certify aircraft airframes and engines. Entry is through an FAA-approved maintenance program, commonly 18 to 24 months, and FAA certification exams. See the aircraft mechanic career guide.
9. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers
Patrol officers enforce laws, respond to calls, and write reports. Entry is through an agency academy; a high school diploma is the minimum for many agencies, though some prefer or require college credit. About 53,700 openings per year. See the police officer career guide.
10. Physical therapist assistants
PTAs carry out treatment plans under a physical therapist’s direction, guiding patients through exercises and modalities. An associate degree from a PTA program is the standard entry credential, and licensing requirements vary by state. Growth of 22.0 percent is the highest on this list. See the physical therapist assistant career guide.
11. Licensed practical and vocational nurses
LPNs and LVNs provide basic nursing care under RN or physician supervision. Practical nursing programs are commonly 12 to 18 months, varying by program, and end with the NCLEX-PN. See practical nursing programs and the LPN career guide.
12. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Plumbers install and repair piping systems in buildings and industrial plants. A four- to five-year apprenticeship is the standard entry, and most states license plumbers; check your state board. See plumbing programs.
13. Electricians
Electricians wire and maintain electrical systems. With about 81,000 openings per year, this is the largest hiring pool on the list after truck driving. Apprenticeship is the usual route. See electrician programs.
14. HVAC mechanics and installers
HVAC technicians install and service climate-control and refrigeration equipment. Certificate programs, often 6 to 12 months, are the common start, followed by on-the-job training. See HVAC programs.
15. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Truck drivers move freight over the road and hold a commercial driver’s license. CDL training programs commonly run a few weeks to a few months, varying by program. About 237,600 openings per year is by far the largest figure here. See CDL trucking programs and the truck driver career guide.
Pay and Job Outlook
The ranked table above carries the full figures. The pattern is clear: the five highest medians belong to healthcare roles that require an associate degree and a license or certification, plus line work. Below them, the trades and driving pay less at the median but hire in much larger numbers. If openings matter more to you than the median, truck driving, electricians, LPNs, and police officers are the largest pools.
| Occupation | BLS median (May 2025) | Projected growth 2024-34 | Openings per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist assistants | $68,380 | 22.0 percent | about 19,800 |
| Diagnostic medical sonographers | $96,590 | 13.0 percent | about 5,800 |
| Respiratory therapists | $82,280 | 12.1 percent | about 8,800 |
| Electricians | $63,190 | 9.5 percent | about 81,000 |
Pay varies by employer, location, experience, and credentials; individual outcomes may vary. Medians describe the middle of an occupation’s whole workforce, not starting pay.
How We Ranked This
We began with occupations that College-Reporter covers with a program hub or career guide and that BLS lists as typically entered with a postsecondary certificate, an apprenticeship, or an associate degree, plus police officers, whose entry is academy training. We matched each to its Standard Occupational Classification code and sorted by the May 2025 median annual wage from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Growth and openings are from BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34. Pay is the only sort key; growth, openings, and working conditions are displayed but not weighted.
Related Guides
- 2-year degrees that pay well
- Highest-paying trade jobs
- Highest-paying healthcare jobs without a bachelor’s degree
- Radiology technician vs MRI technologist
- All program rankings
FAQs
What is the highest-paying job without a bachelor’s degree?
On this list, radiation therapists had the highest BLS median annual wage in May 2025 at $105,310. The role is typically entered with an associate degree plus state licensure, and it is a small occupation with about 900 openings per year.
Are these jobs really open to people without a degree?
They are typically entered with a certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree, which is how BLS classifies their usual education. An associate degree is still a college credential, and some employers prefer candidates with more education, so read each entry’s route before assuming a high school diploma alone is enough.
Which of these jobs has the most openings?
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, at about 237,600 openings per year for 2024-34, followed by electricians at about 81,000, LPNs and LVNs at about 54,400, and police officers at about 53,700.
Do these jobs need a license?
Most of the healthcare roles, plumbers, electricians, and truck drivers do in most states, though licensing requirements vary by state; check your state board. Aircraft mechanics need FAA certification, and HVAC technicians need EPA Section 608 certification to handle refrigerants.
Is the median what a new worker earns?
No. The median is the midpoint of all workers in the occupation. Entry-level pay is usually below it, and the lowest tenth of earners in each occupation is well below the figures shown here.
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