Highest paying jobs without a degree
The 50 best-paid occupations where BLS says the typical entry education is less than an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, some college, or no formal credential. Ranked by median yearly pay, BLS May 2025.
The top-paying jobs at a glance
- Commercial pilots earn the most (median $123,220), followed by nuclear power reactor operators ($122,890) and elevator mechanics ($109,910).
- At number 50, electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment still earn a median of $74,090, 1.5 times the median for all US jobs ($50,980).
- Most of the top 50 are in installation, maintenance and repair (10), transportation and material moving (8), production (8).
- The most common entry requirement among them is a high school diploma or equivalent (37 of the 50).
official BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections. Methodology.
The 20 best-paid
Commercial pilots top the list at $123,220 a year
US median yearly pay, the 20 highest in this list, May 2025. The median for all US jobs is $50,980.
Commercial pilots Median a year: $123,220
Nuclear power reactor operators Median a year: $122,890
Ship engineers Median a year: $109,530
Power distributors and dispatchers Median a year: $106,730
First-line supervisors of police and detectives Median a year: $106,040
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay Median a year: $103,020
Power plant operators Median a year: $102,040
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance Median a year: $97,150
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers Median a year: $96,710
Postmasters and mail superintendents Median a year: $96,660
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers Median a year: $93,530
Gambling managers Median a year: $93,220
Signal and track switch repairers Median a year: $92,460
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels Median a year: $92,460
Transportation inspectors Median a year: $92,100
Transit and railroad police Median a year: $90,230
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025; typical education from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Show the numbers
| Median a year | |
|---|---|
| Commercial pilots | $123,220 |
| Nuclear power reactor operators | $122,890 |
| Elevator mechanic | $109,910 |
| Ship engineers | $109,530 |
| Logistics manager | $107,230 |
| Power distributors and dispatchers | $106,730 |
| First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 |
| Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 |
| Power plant operators | $102,040 |
| Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 |
| Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers | $96,710 |
| Postmasters and mail superintendents | $96,660 |
| Lineman | $95,320 |
| Detective | $93,790 |
| First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | $93,530 |
| Gambling managers | $93,220 |
| Signal and track switch repairers | $92,460 |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels | $92,460 |
| Transportation inspectors | $92,100 |
| Transit and railroad police | $90,230 |
All 50, ranked
| # | Job | Median a year | Hourly | Employed | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial pilots | $123,220 | Paid yearly | 47,630 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 2 | Nuclear power reactor operators | $122,890 | $59.08 | 5,150 | High school diploma |
| 3 | Elevator mechanic · Elevator and escalator installers and repairers | $109,910 | $52.84 | 23,790 | High school diploma |
| 4 | Ship engineers | $109,530 | $52.66 | 8,400 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 5 | Logistics manager · Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | $51.55 | 221,180 | High school diploma |
| 6 | Power distributors and dispatchers | $106,730 | $51.31 | 8,520 | High school diploma |
| 7 | First-line supervisors of police and detectives | $106,040 | $50.98 | 154,610 | High school diploma |
| 8 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay | $103,020 | $49.53 | 20,720 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 9 | Power plant operators | $102,040 | $49.06 | 29,320 | High school diploma |
| 10 | Makeup artists, theatrical and performance | $97,150 | $46.71 | 2,340 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 11 | Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers | $96,710 | $46.50 | 33,160 | High school diploma |
| 12 | Postmasters and mail superintendents | $96,660 | $46.47 | 13,810 | High school diploma |
| 13 | Lineman · Electrical power-line installers and repairers | $95,320 | $45.83 | 131,070 | High school diploma |
| 14 | Detective · Detectives and criminal investigators | $93,790 | $45.09 | 114,430 | High school diploma |
| 15 | First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers | $93,530 | $44.96 | 99,140 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 16 | Gambling managers | $93,220 | $44.82 | 5,030 | High school diploma |
| 17 | Signal and track switch repairers | $92,460 | $44.45 | 8,720 | High school diploma |
| 18 | Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels | $92,460 | $44.45 | 36,850 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 19 | Transportation inspectors | $92,100 | $44.28 | 24,500 | High school diploma |
| 20 | Transit and railroad police | $90,230 | $43.38 | 4,390 | High school diploma |
| 21 | Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers | $89,900 | $43.22 | 6,500 | High school diploma |
| 22 | Gas plant operators | $87,820 | $42.22 | 18,030 | High school diploma |
| 23 | First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers | $87,520 | $42.08 | 214,390 | High school diploma |
| 24 | Subway and streetcar operators | $86,380 | $41.53 | 10,200 | High school diploma |
| 25 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment | $84,890 | $40.81 | 6,940 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 26 | Avionics technicians | $82,280 | $39.56 | 18,830 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 27 | Locomotive engineers | $81,410 | $39.14 | 33,470 | High school diploma |
| 28 | First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | $79,920 | $38.42 | 812,210 | High school diploma |
| 29 | Aircraft mechanic · Aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $79,870 | $38.40 | 138,090 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 30 | First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | $79,860 | $38.39 | 617,500 | High school diploma |
| 31 | Stationary engineer · Stationary engineers and boiler operators | $78,620 | $37.80 | 28,250 | High school diploma |
| 32 | Roof bolters, mining | $78,540 | $37.76 | 2,160 | High school diploma |
| 33 | Insurance appraisers, auto damage | $78,240 | $37.61 | 11,560 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 34 | Chemical plant and system operators | $78,120 | $37.56 | 16,610 | High school diploma |
| 35 | Claims adjuster · Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 | 324,230 | High school diploma |
| 36 | Train conductor · Railroad conductors and yardmasters | $78,000 | $37.50 | 46,440 | High school diploma |
| 37 | First-line supervisors of correctional officers | $77,970 | $37.49 | 53,380 | High school diploma |
| 38 | Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators | $77,320 | $37.17 | 3,510 | High school diploma |
| 39 | Executive assistant · Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants | $76,590 | $36.82 | 459,910 | High school diploma |
| 40 | Boilermakers | $76,410 | $36.74 | 10,190 | High school diploma |
| 41 | First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other | $76,400 | $36.73 | 20,690 | High school diploma |
| 42 | Police officer · Police and sheriff's patrol officers | $76,210 | $36.64 | 670,520 | High school diploma |
| 43 | Terrazzo workers and finishers | $76,170 | $36.62 | 1,180 | High school diploma |
| 44 | Fire inspectors and investigators | $75,920 | $36.50 | 13,800 | Postsecondary certificate |
| 45 | Construction and building inspectors | $74,690 | $35.91 | 146,720 | High school diploma |
| 46 | Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining | $74,500 | $35.82 | 5,930 | No formal education |
| 47 | First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | $74,450 | $35.79 | 673,430 | High school diploma |
| 48 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door | $74,340 | $35.74 | 48,240 | High school diploma |
| 49 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers | $74,330 | $35.73 | 97,720 | High school diploma |
| 50 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment | $74,090 | $35.62 | 65,010 | Postsecondary certificate |
10 of the 50 have their own page with pay in every state and city. Others show BLS's occupation title.
More salary rankings
Sources and limits
- Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all 830 detailed occupations. Pay of employees only; the self-employed are not included.
- Typical entry education: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35. It is what most workers need to enter the job, not a legal requirement.
- Medians hide wide ranges: in many top-paying jobs the lowest-paid 10% earn far less. Each job page shows the full range.