12 Six-Figure Jobs With Under 2 Years of Training

Part 2 of 2: Jobs 9–12, six-figure routes that take longer, comparison and training cost

These occupations reach $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but each comes with a condition that makes “six figures” less typical.

9. Transportation inspectors: median $92,100; 75th percentile $108,890

They inspect equipment, cargo and infrastructure in transport, from aircraft and rail to freight. Pay runs from $40,330 (10th percentile) to $138,670 (90th). BLS lists a high school diploma plus moderate-term on-the-job training. The catch is that many inspector roles, especially in government, require years of prior experience in the industry being inspected, such as aircraft maintenance or rail operations. There are 24,500 jobs, with 2.2% projected growth.

United States

16 Highest-Paying Jobs Without a Degree in the US (and What the Training Costs)

Check to apply

10. Commercial divers: median $72,990; 75th percentile $101,550

They work below the surface of the water to inspect, repair, install and remove equipment and structures. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award plus moderate-term on-the-job training. According to the US Department of Energy, divers train at a school accredited by the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) or through a military program, and start as tenders. ADCI’s consensus standards set at least 625 hours of formal instruction for an entry-level tender/diver, and moving up depends on documented working dives. The condition is a very small field: 3,450 jobs, 4.8% projected growth and about 400 openings a year. Pay is also wide, from $43,330 at the 10th percentile to $157,790 at the 90th.

11. Sales representatives of services: median $69,990; 75th percentile $100,480

This is a very large occupation, with 1,256,010 jobs, covering business services sales outside advertising, insurance, finance and travel. BLS lists a high school diploma plus moderate-term on-the-job training. The condition is that pay often includes commissions, which BLS counts as wages. Earnings can swing widely, from $37,980 at the 10th percentile to $148,840 at the 90th. A high top end doesn’t mean high typical earnings.

12. Sound engineering technicians: median $73,130; 75th percentile $100,280

They operate equipment to record, mix and reproduce sound for music, film, broadcasting and live events. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award plus short-term on-the-job training. The condition is a small field, 13,080 jobs, with a projected decline of 3.1%, and much work is freelance or project-based. The self-employed aren’t included in OEWS wage figures.

Why we didn’t stretch the list

Some lists of “six-figure jobs” include occupations because of what top earners make, or because of job-ad pay. We haven’t. Job ads show what an employer offers for a specific role, often at the top of its range. They don’t show what workers typically earn. BLS OEWS data come from a large survey of employer payrolls, which is why we use them.

MRI technologists clear the pay bar (median $95,480; 75th percentile $106,340), but BLS lists related work experience as part of the entry route, so they’re in the “takes longer” section below rather than in the 12. Two other technician roles that are often promoted as near six figures didn’t meet our cut. Radiologic technologists had a May 2025 median of $80,110 and a 75th percentile of $98,750. Respiratory therapists had $82,280 and $98,730.

In short: these four can reach six figures, but usually through experience, commissions or a small niche market. Plan around the median, not the top quarter.

These five appear on many six-figure lists, and their pay is strong. We left them out of the 12 because typical training takes longer than two years or needs prior work experience.

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers: median $109,910

Pay is genuinely high: the 75th percentile is $135,720. But OOH says a career typically begins with a 4-year apprenticeship sponsored by a union, an industry association or an employer, and most states require a license. The upside is that apprentices are paid while they train. It just isn’t a two-year route.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers: median $95,320

The 75th percentile is $109,740. OOH says apprenticeships or employer-sponsored training may last up to 3 years. Some community colleges offer 1-year certificates or 2-year associate degrees that can help with entry. Projected growth is 10.3% (2025–35), and the work is physically demanding and hazardous.

Registered nurses: median $97,550

The median is below $100,000 nationally, but the 75th percentile is $112,350, and state medians range from $77,080 (Alabama) to $140,270 (California). RNs can qualify through a diploma, an associate degree or a bachelor’s, then must pass the NCLEX-RN. Program lengths vary, and prerequisites often add time, so most people need more than two years from a standing start. See our RN guides in Keep reading.

Dental hygienists: median $98,100

The 75th percentile is $108,480. BLS says hygienists typically need an associate degree in dental hygiene, but that programs usually take 3 years to complete, and every state requires a license. That puts the realistic route above our two-year line.

United States

Is Dental Hygiene School Worth It? Dental Hygienist Salary by State vs Program Cost

Check to apply

MRI technologists: median $95,480

The 75th percentile is $106,340. They operate magnetic resonance imaging scanners. BLS lists an associate degree plus less than 5 years of related work experience, and many MRI technologists start as radiologic technologists and then specialise. The full route is therefore longer than two years. There are 43,390 jobs, with 7.7% projected growth.

The pattern

Higher pay usually comes with one of three things: longer training, licensing, or risk and unsocial hours. Very few occupations offer high pay, short training and easy entry together. When a list or ad suggests otherwise, check the official data.

Occupation	Median	Typical training length (per BLS/OOH)
Elevator and escalator installers	$109,910	About 4 years (paid apprenticeship)
Power-line installers	$95,320	Up to 3 years (apprenticeship or employer training)
Registered nurses	$97,550	Varies by program; often more than 2 years with prerequisites
Dental hygienists	$98,100	Programs usually take 3 years
MRI technologists	$95,480	Associate degree plus related work experience (less than 5 years)

United States

How Much Do Travel Nurses Make in 2026? Pay by State, Stipends and Tax-Home Rules

Check to apply

Longer isn’t always worse

A longer route can still be affordable. Elevator and power-line apprenticeships are typically paid, so you earn during training rather than paying tuition. BLS’s on-the-job training categories, and the Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship.gov finder, are useful for comparing paid routes with tuition-based ones. The right question is often “how much will I earn while I train?”, not just “how long does it take?”

In short: these well-paid jobs are worth considering, but their real route takes three years or more, or starts with experience in another job.

Side-by-side comparison

Occupation	Median	Growth 2025–35	Openings per year	Typical entry education (BLS)
Air traffic controllers	$148,080	1.7%	2,100	Associate degree + long-term OJT
Commercial pilots	$123,220	5.2%	5,200	Postsecondary nondegree + moderate OJT
Nuclear technicians	$110,240	1.1%	900	Associate degree + moderate OJT
Radiation therapists	$105,310	2.8%	700	Associate degree
Nuclear medicine technologists	$101,370	4.4%	800	Associate degree
Diagnostic medical sonographers	$96,590	13.9%	6,000	Associate degree
Refinery operators and gaugers	$96,710	−1.9%	2,700	High school + moderate OJT
Aerospace technicians	$82,890	11.9%	1,100	Associate degree
Transportation inspectors	$92,100	2.2%	2,300	High school + moderate OJT
Commercial divers	$72,990	4.8%	400	Postsecondary nondegree + moderate OJT
Sales representatives of services	$69,990	2.7%	115,700	High school + moderate OJT
Sound engineering technicians	$73,130	−3.1%	1,000	Postsecondary nondegree + short OJT

OJT means on-the-job training. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.

How to choose

Openings matter. Sonography has about 6,000 openings a year. Radiation therapy has about 700. More openings usually mean more chances to get started locally.
Check accreditation and licensing first. For healthcare imaging and therapy roles, confirm the program is accredited and that it meets your state’s licensing or certification rules before you enrol.
Check your state’s pay. BLS publishes state and metro wages for each occupation. Medians can differ by tens of thousands of dollars.
Plan on entry pay. Use the 10th–25th percentile, not the median, for your first-year budget.

What training costs

We didn’t find an official, national average cost for any of these specific programs. Costs depend on the school and whether it’s public or private. For context, the College Board reports average published in-district tuition and fees of $4,150 a year at public two-year colleges in 2025–26, before aid. Clinical programs often add costs for uniforms, equipment, exams and certification.

Flight training is the clearest example of a cost we couldn’t verify officially. There’s no government source for typical total cost, so get written quotes from FAA-certificated schools and compare carefully.

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

How to apply: official starting points for each route

These jobs are entered through quite different doors, so use the official route for the one you choose:

Air traffic controllers: the FAA hires through announcements on USAJOBS, and its aviation careers page explains eligibility, the age limit and training at the FAA Academy.
Commercial pilots: start with the FAA’s Become a pilot page for certificates, medical requirements and finding flight training.
Radiation therapists and nuclear medicine technologists: look for an accredited program and check credentialing with ARRT, which many states use for licensure.
Sonographers: credentialing is usually through ARDMS; check that your program is accredited before you enrol.
Commercial divers: the Department of Energy’s commercial diver profile describes training and certification routes.
Apprenticeship routes (elevator, line worker and some technician roles): search the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

For current openings in any of these fields, the CareerOneStop job finder searches by job title and location, and the CareerOneStop License Finder shows which state licenses apply.

FAQs

Which jobs pay six figures at the median with under two years of training?

Four on our list: air traffic controllers ($148,080), commercial pilots ($123,220), nuclear technicians ($110,240) and radiation therapists ($105,310), per BLS May 2025 data.

What does “top-quarter six figures” mean?

The 75th percentile is $100,000 or more, so at least a quarter of workers in that job earn six figures. It doesn’t mean a typical new entrant does.

Why aren’t registered nurses or dental hygienists on the list?

They pay well (medians of $97,550 and $98,100), but their typical routes take longer than two years or need prior experience, so we cover them in the “takes longer” section instead.

How long does it take to become a commercial pilot?

Under FAA rules (14 CFR 61.123 and 61.129), you must be at least 18 and log at least 250 hours of flight time for an airplane commercial pilot certificate. How long that takes depends on how often you fly.

What does training cost?

We found no official national average for these specific programs. For context, the College Board reports average published in-district tuition and fees of $4,150 a year at public two-year colleges in 2025–26, before aid.

In short: short training and six-figure pay overlap in just 12 occupations, and only four at the median. Check openings, accreditation and state pay before you commit.