Jobs that pay $100k without a college degree
As college gets more expensive and white-collar jobs become harder to land, more young Americans are choosing to skip college and are able to earn just as much as those with a degree.
Ironically, the shift is being driven by too many people going to college as there are now too many graduates and not enough workers trained for essential careers that don’t require a college degree.
As a result, companies are boosting salaries for roles that require hands-on training instead of academic credentials. These include traditional trades like plumbing and electrical work, as well as specialized professions like lift mechanics and commercial pilots.
In demand: Air traffic controllers make an average of $179,000 a year and a college degree is not needed to land a role
One example of career lacking newcomers is commercial pilots. There’s a nationwide shortage of them, and the demand for pilots keeps growing, especially for things like charter flights, firefighting, and rescue missions.
That’s why the average salary is $113,000 with some earning up to $239,000.
Another example is air traffic controllers. The stressful and important job takes special training and since so few people are qualified the average salary is $179,000.
Even in tech, a degree isn’t always required. Web developers and digital designers are in demand across several industries. If you are able to code or design, you can earn a strong salary - without having to worry about college debt.
The median pay for these roles is just under $100,000 but top pay can far exceed $176,000, according to the careers site.
Another option: Technically skilled jobs can pay upwards of $100k
As these jobs don't require formal education the best way to land the best-paying gigs is to have a strong portfolio of past work and good references.
Becoming a special effects animator can also pay six figures and does not require a college degree.
Although many animators and digital artists choose to complete a short specialized diploma in the field, it is not a strict criteria.
Some of the best-paying animator jobs can earn workers around $170,000, according to Trade Schools.
Other six-figure jobs include roles that many high schoolers may not have even considered such as elevator and escalator installers who earn just over $100,000 on average.
The niche job is the highest-paid trade job in the U.S., according to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Highest paid: Elevator and escalator installers are the highest paid trade job in the U.S.
However, the trade can be tough work with long hours often at great heights and in confined spaces.
There are also relatively few roles, with around only 2,100 job openings each year, according to the Bureau.
Mike Rowe, the CEO of MikeRoweWorks Foundation, has dedicated his organization to changing the perception of skilled labor jobs and to help encourage young people to take up a trade.
Rowe's Foundation offers scholarships to help train people in skilled jobs that are facing employment shortages.
His website reads: 'We're redefining a good education and a good job, because we don't think a four-year degree is the best path for the most people.'
Speaking to Fortune Magazine he said: 'Blue-collar jobs are a straight path to a six-figure job.'
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