Ranked list · 9 careers
9 Six-Figure Jobs Without a Degree, Ranked by Annual Openings (2026)
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager tops this list at $107,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +6.1% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 9 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 9From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $107,230BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 7 of 9BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 42,100Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Occupations whose national median annual wage is $100,000 or more and whose typical entry requirement, per BLS Employment Projections, is a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, some college or no formal credential. Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list leads with the six-figure work that actually hires.
- Occupations whose national median annual wage is $100,000 or more and whose typical entry requirement, per BLS Employment Projections, is a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, some college or no formal credential. Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list leads with the six-figure work that actually hires.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 9 six-figure jobs without a degree
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
- Median pay
- $107,230median a year
- Growth
- +6.1%
- Openings / yr
- 18,300
- Education
- High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.
- 2
2. First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $106,040median a year
- Growth
- +3.3%
- Openings / yr
- 10,600
- Education
- High school
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
- 3
3. Commercial Pilot
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $123,220median a year
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters.
- 4
4. Power Plant Operator
Production
- Median pay
- $102,040median a year
- Growth
- −5.1%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- High school
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power.
- 5
5. Elevator Installer
Construction and Extraction
- Median pay
- $109,910median a year
- Growth
- +5.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,900
- Education
- High school
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
- 6
6. Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $103,020median a year
- Growth
- +9.7%
- Openings / yr
- 1,800
- Education
- Certificate
Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
- 7
7. Ship Engineer
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $109,530median a year
- Growth
- +2.7%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- Certificate
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
- 8
8. Power Distributor and Dispatcher
Production
- Median pay
- $106,730median a year
- Growth
- +1.2%
- Openings / yr
- 700
- Education
- High school
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
- 9
9. Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
Production
- Median pay
- $122,890median a year
- Growth
- −5.9%
- Openings / yr
- 400
- Education
- High school
Operate or control nuclear reactors.
Questions
Six-Figure Jobs Without a Degree: FAQ
What is the top career on the six-figure jobs without a degree list?
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager leads the list with a median wage of $107,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +6.1% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is high school.
How was this list put together?
Occupations whose national median annual wage is $100,000 or more and whose typical entry requirement, per BLS Employment Projections, is a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, some college or no formal credential. Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list leads with the six-figure work that actually hires. Occupations whose national median annual wage is $100,000 or more and whose typical entry requirement, per BLS Employment Projections, is a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, some college or no formal credential. Ranked by projected annual openings, so the list leads with the six-figure work that actually hires. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do six-figure jobs without a degree pay?
Across the 9 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $107,230 a year, from $102,040 at the bottom to $123,220 at the top (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
9 of the 9 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).