Gen Z has been taking a harder look at the American Dream of pursuing a four-year degree as tuition costs have skyrocketed and AI takes over white-collar jobs. Luckily, they have an out—there are many careers that don’t require a bachelor’s and still pay six-figure salaries.
The top high-wage job that doesn’t require a four-year degree and shows strong job growth may be unexpected: elevator and escalator installers and repairers. The role has a median annual salary of $106,580, only requiring a high school diploma, apprenticeship completion, and a state certification, according to a new report from Resume Genius analyzing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The study placed transportation, storage, and distribution managers in second; by pursuing an entry-level role in logistics, new hires can put themselves on track to earn $102,010 per year. Flight attendants, chefs, athletes, and criminal investigators also made the list.
Young people have been told that going to college is necessary for success, but Gen Zers wanting to skip costly degrees don’t have to sacrifice their careers. The report shows they have a litany of choices, from six-figure blue collar jobs to cushy office roles.
Resume Genius career expert Eva Chan told CNBC that “there’s no one way to get a high-paying job,” adding that all the ranked roles “have some degree of training, some have schooling, but they’re all very attainable without a degree.”
The top 15 high-paying jobs that don’t require four-year degrees
The top 15 highest-paying jobs that earn above the U.S. median, have positive projected job growth, and don’t require a four-year degree to apply, according to Resume Genius.
- Elevator and escalator installer and repairer (Median annual salary: $106,580)
- Transportation, storage, and distribution manager (Median annual salary: $102,010)
- Electrical power-line installer and repairer (Median annual salary: $92,560)
- Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic and technician (Median annual salary: $79,140)
- Detective and criminal investigator (Median annual salary: $77,270)
- Locomotive engineer (Median annual salary: $75,680)
- Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative (Median annual salary: $74,100)
- Flight attendant (Median annual salary: $67,130)
- Property, real estate, and community association manager (Median annual salary: $66,700)
- Water transportation worker (Median annual salary: $66,490)
- Food service manager (Median annual salary: $65,310)
- Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technician (Median annual salary: $62,740)
- Athlete and sports competitor (Median annual salary: $62,360)
- Chef and head cook (Median annual salary: $60,990)
- Insurance sales agent (Median annual salary: $60,370)
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