16 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree (US) + Training Cost

Part 3 of 3: Jobs 13–16, side-by-side comparison, how to choose and what training costs

13. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers: median $93,530

These are fire captains, lieutenants and similar supervisors. Pay runs from $53,430 (10th percentile) to $140,010 (90th). There are 99,140 jobs.

Route: BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award plus less than 5 years of related experience. In practice, that means working as a firefighter first. BLS notes that entry-level firefighters receive a few months of training at a fire academy, and that other credentials, such as emergency medical technician (EMT) certification, vary by state or locality. Promotion usually depends on experience, exams and further training.

Outlook: projected growth of 3.7%, with about 6,600 openings a year.

14. Gambling managers: median $93,220

They plan and direct gaming operations in casinos. Pay runs from $55,960 (10th percentile) to $164,350 (90th). With 5,030 jobs, this is the smallest occupation on our list.

Route: BLS lists a high school diploma plus less than 5 years of experience in a related occupation, so most gaming managers have worked in other casino roles first. BLS notes that gambling services workers must be licensed by a state regulatory agency, such as a casino control board or gambling commission, and that requirements for managers may differ from those for dealers. Licensing typically involves a background check.

Outlook: projected growth of 3.6%, but only about 600 openings a year. Opportunities are concentrated in states with large casino industries.

15. Captains, mates and pilots of water vessels: median $92,460

They command or supervise operations on ships and boats, from tugboats and ferries to large cargo vessels. Pay runs from $47,420 (10th percentile) to $170,640 (90th). There are 36,850 jobs.

Route: BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award plus less than 5 years of related experience. That experience can come from work on vessels, an apprenticeship or a maritime academy degree. BLS notes that some employers prefer maritime academy graduates. Mariners complete US Coast Guard-approved training and need a Merchant Mariner Credential. Those on US-flagged ships usually also need a TSA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Moving up the ranks requires documented experience; BLS gives the example that a marine engineer needs at least 3 years of experience to become a third engineer.

Outlook: projected growth of 4.0%, with about 3,800 openings a year. Many roles involve long periods away from home.

16. Railroad signal and track switch repairers: median $92,460

They install, inspect and maintain the signals and switches that keep trains running safely. Pay runs from $62,610 (10th percentile) to $119,550 (90th). There are 8,720 jobs.

Route: a high school diploma plus moderate-term on-the-job training (1 to 12 months, by BLS’s definition), which is typically provided after hiring.

Outlook: projected growth of 1.8%, with about 800 openings a year.

Near misses worth knowing

Just below our cut-off were transportation inspectors ($92,100 median) and farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers ($89,900). Transit and railroad police ($90,230) and theatrical and performance makeup artists ($97,150) fell below our 5,000-job minimum. Postmasters ($96,660) were excluded because the role is filled internally by the Postal Service.

Want a regulated healthcare route instead?

If you’d rather train for a credential, medical billing and coding is a common certificate-level path. Its median pay is lower but its training is shorter. See our guide in Keep reading below.

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Medical Billing and Coding Certification Cost 2026: CPC vs CCA, Salary and the Remote Reality

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In short: jobs 13–16 mostly mean working your way up or earning mariner and gaming licenses. They pay well, but entry routes are specific.

High-paying jobs without a degree, side by side

Occupation	Median	Growth 2025–35	Openings per year	Typical route
Commercial pilots	$123,220	5.2%	5,200	Flight training + FAA certificates
Nuclear power reactor operators	$122,890	−5.9%	400	Long-term training + NRC license
Elevator and escalator installers	$109,910	5.7%	1,900	Apprenticeship
Ship engineers	$109,530	2.7%	900	Maritime training + USCG credential
Transportation and distribution managers	$107,230	6.1%	18,300	5+ years’ experience
Power distributors and dispatchers	$106,730	1.2%	700	Long-term training
Police and detective supervisors	$106,040	3.3%	10,600	Police officer first
Powerhouse and substation repairers	$103,020	9.7%	1,800	Certificate + experience
Power plant operators	$102,040	−5.1%	2,300	Long-term training
Refinery operators and gaugers	$96,710	−1.9%	2,700	Moderate-term training
Power-line installers and repairers	$95,320	10.3%	10,900	Apprenticeship, CDL often
Detectives and criminal investigators	$93,790	0.2%	7,800	Police officer first
Firefighting supervisors	$93,530	3.7%	6,600	Firefighter first
Gambling managers	$93,220	3.6%	600	Gaming experience + license
Water vessel captains, mates and pilots	$92,460	4.0%	3,800	Sea time + USCG credential
Railroad signal and switch repairers	$92,460	1.8%	800	Employer training

Figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 medians; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.

Where these jobs are concentrated

Openings depend heavily on where you live. This table shows the state with the most jobs in each occupation, with that state’s median (BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025):

Occupation	State with the most jobs	Jobs there	Median there
Commercial pilots	Florida	6,340	$121,890
Nuclear power reactor operators	Illinois	410	$123,980
Elevator and escalator installers	New York	3,470	$135,720
Ship engineers	Virginia	1,450	$82,370
Transportation and distribution managers	California	30,540	$123,780
Power distributors and dispatchers	Texas	970	$102,890
Police and detective supervisors	California	13,200	$163,960
Powerhouse and substation repairers	New York	3,160	$98,310
Power plant operators	California	2,610	$105,210
Refinery operators and gaugers	Texas	10,510	$84,100
Power-line installers and repairers	Texas	17,280	$78,940
Detectives and criminal investigators	Texas	18,870	$90,510
Firefighting supervisors	Florida	9,540	$98,560
Gambling managers	Nevada	790	$91,250
Water vessel captains, mates and pilots	Louisiana	6,830	$117,160
Railroad signal and track switch repairers	New York	1,910	$94,530

The state with the most jobs isn’t always the best-paid. Texas has the most power-line workers, but its median ($78,940) is below the national figure. Refinery work is concentrated on the Gulf Coast, gaming management in Nevada, and vessel officers in Louisiana. If an occupation has only a few hundred jobs in your state, you may need to relocate to train or get hired.

How to choose between high-paying jobs without a degree

Look at openings, not just pay. Power-line work, transportation management and police supervision have thousands of openings a year. Reactor operation and gaming management have hundreds.
Be honest about the entry route. Six of the 16 are usually reached by promotion. If you’re starting out, the real question is what the entry job pays and how long the climb takes.
Check your state. Pay varies widely by state. BLS publishes state and metro wages for every occupation on the OEWS site.
Weigh the trade-offs. Shift work, travel, time away from home and physical risk are common on this list.

What does training cost?

Costs vary so much by route that there’s no single official figure:

Apprenticeships (elevator, power line) are typically paid: you earn while you learn. Search registered programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Employer-trained roles (rail, refinery, plant operations) are often trained on the job after hiring.
Flight training for commercial pilots can be expensive, but we found no official government source for a typical total cost. Get written quotes from FAA-certificated schools, and be wary of financing pressure.
Academies (police, fire) are often run or sponsored by agencies.

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General information, not legal, financial or immigration advice. Rules vary by state/province; check the official source or a licensed professional.

How to apply: where to find openings and training for these jobs

Most jobs on this list are entered through an employer, a union apprenticeship or a licensing body rather than a college application. These official tools cover the main routes:

Apprenticeships: the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Job Finder lists registered apprenticeships, including elevator, line worker, power plant and electrical repair programs.
Job openings: the CareerOneStop job finder searches openings by job title and location. Federal roles, including some police, firefighting and transportation jobs, are posted on USAJOBS.
Licensed routes: pilots start with the FAA’s Become a pilot guidance. Ship engineers and vessel officers need a Merchant Mariner Credential from the US Coast Guard National Maritime Center (see Sources).
State licenses: some roles, such as elevator installers in many states, need a state license. The CareerOneStop License Finder shows what your state requires.

Police, firefighting and dispatcher roles are filled through local and state agencies, which post openings on their own government websites, often with written tests and set hiring windows.

FAQs

Which job on this list pays the most without a degree?

Commercial pilots, with a BLS median of $123,220 in May 2025. It’s also the route where you usually pay for training yourself, through flight school and FAA certificates.

Which of these jobs pay you while you train?

Registered apprenticeships, such as elevator and escalator installers and power-line installers, pay wages during training (Apprenticeship.gov). Reactor, plant, refinery, dispatch and rail roles are usually learned on the job after an employer hires you.

What do newer workers earn?

BLS doesn’t publish pay by experience, but the 25th percentile is a fair guide. For all 16 jobs it was above $63,000 in May 2025, and above the $50,980 median for all US occupations.

Which are growing fastest?

BLS projects 10.3% growth for power-line installers and 9.7% for powerhouse, substation and relay repairers from 2025 to 2035. Nuclear reactor operators (−5.9%) and power plant operators (−5.1%) are projected to shrink.

How did you decide what counts as “without a degree”?

We included occupations where BLS lists less than an associate degree as the typical entry education, then ranked them by May 2025 median pay.

In short: high pay without a degree is real, but it’s usually earned through apprenticeships, licenses or years of experience. Choose by openings and entry route, not just the median.