Highest-paying jobs in US regardless university degree
A four-year university degree is no longer the only gateway to highest-paying jobs in US like a six-figure income in the U.S. as specialized roles in sectors such as elevator repair and warehouse management are now offering annual salaries exceeding $100,000.
In its “2026 High-Pay, No-Degree Jobs Report,” Resume Genius, a career and job-search platform that provides tools, guides, and labor-market analysis, listed 15 jobs paying above the U.S. median with good projected job growth that do not require a 4-year college degree to apply.
Below are the 15 highest-paying jobs in the U.S. that do not require a college degree:
| No. | Job | Median annual salary | Est. job growth |
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installer and repairer | $106,580 | 5% |
| 2 | Transportation, storage, and distribution manager | $102,010 | 6% |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installer and repairer | $92,560 | 7% |
| 4 | Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanic and technician | $79,140 | 5% |
| 5 | Detective and criminal investigator | $77,270 | 3% |
| 6 | Locomotive engineer | $75,680 | 1% |
| 7 | Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative | $74,100 | 1% |
| 8 | Flight attendant | $67,130 | 9% |
| 9 | Property, real estate, and community association manager | $66,700 | 4% |
| 10 | Water transportation worker | $66,490 | 1% |
| 11 | Food service manager | $65,310 | 6% |
| 12 | Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technician | $62,740 | 6% |
| 13 | Athlete and sports competitor | $62,360 | 5% |
| 14 | Chef and head cook | $60,990 | 7% |
| 15 | Insurance sales agent | $60,370 | 4% |
According to the report, which utilizes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these roles typically require vocational certificates, associate degrees, or short-term technical training, with salary ranges spanning from $60,370 to $106,580.
The median annual wage for full-time U.S. workers was approximately $62,000 in early 2025.
While these paths bypass traditional university settings, Resume Genius emphasizes that “no degree doesn’t mean no education is required.”
The platform notes that “having relevant work experience, training, and necessary certifications shows employers you have what it takes to succeed in your career of choice. A flight attendant assists a passenger before a JetBlue flight to London at JFK International Airport in the Queens borough of New York City, New York, U.S., in 2021. Photo by Reuters
Vocational institutions have become a critical bridge for the modern workforce, offering a blend of hands-on instruction and foundational theory. These programs are often more affordable and allow students to enter the market significantly faster than the traditional four-year route. Once limited to automotive and trade sectors, training schools have expanded to include high-demand fields such as computer network administration and tourism management.
The report also challenges the assumption that only paid roles qualify as professional experience. Personal projects, internships, and vocational training are increasingly viewed as valuable skill-building exercises.
Jonaed Iqbal, founder of NoDegree.com and host of the NoDegree Podcast, suggests that job seekers should take a proactive approach to building their resumes.
He was quoted in the report as saying: “If you want to get into accounting, go find a small business and say, ‘Hey, I can help you with your records and get some bookkeeping experience,'” or “You’re a video editor? – offer someone to edit their videos for free, get portfolio work, put that work out there. Now you have actual work experience, [and] you don’t have to say that you were not paid.”
Credit: Khanh Linh, msn.com