Forget Degrees. These 5 Surprising Jobs Pay $80,000+ In 2025
Skilled trades offer career stability and are recession-proof
Looking for a job that pays lucratively without sinking into student debt into thousands of hours in lecture halls for four years? In 2025, less Gen Z professionals are including college graduation in their future career plans.
Instead, they're opting for a trend that brings financial security, long-term career longevity and future-proofing, and ongoing professionals development and freelancing opportunities: working in the trades.
But what's fueling this relatively new phenomenon?
Several factors include social media influencers and trends, the cost of attending college, and the career stability and security provided in the trades, which are usually jobs less likely to be impacted by layoffs or the threat of AI and automation, due to the nature of their work.
'The annual cost of attending a four-year, in-state public college increased by about 30% between 2011 and 2023, according to Make It calculations based on data from the Education Data Initiative, and went up by 42% at private, non-profit four-year colleges,' a recent CNBC story reported.
Now of course, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to skilled work in the trades, but these five jobs in particular are a good starting point for your consideration, so you can see what's possible. Salary information is extracted from Salary.com where possible, and from other salary benchmark sources such as ZipRecruiter. Training information automatically assumes you already have a GED or high school diploma.
What you'll do: Work in the exploding renewable energy industry and contribute towards a greener economy through installing, maintaining, and repairing wind turbines
Certifications and training: Associate degree in wind energy technology
Job forecast: This is by far the most promising job on this list as far as BLS estimates as concerned, with job growth projections of 60% (much faster than average) from 2023 to 2033.
Average salary range: $77,070 and $95,013, with many salaries hovering at $86,113
What you'll do: Working within renewable energy, your role would entail installing, repairing, and maintaining, rooftop solar panel systems that generate energy
Certifications and training: Solar panel installation technical courses and on-the-job training.
Job forecast: Job growth is projected to be 48% by the BLS, much faster than the usual job growth rate, making this the second most promising job on this list thanks to the green industry boom.
Average salary range: $53,833 to a high of $86,477, with the median being $70,140
What you'll do: Repair, install, and maintain moving walkways, elevators, and similar indoor transportation apparatus
Certifications and training: Elevator mechanic apprenticeship programs
Job forecast: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that this role is growing 6%, which is faster than the average job growth rate.
Average salary range: $52,976 to a high of $115,487 (mostly hovering at $81,000)
What you'll do: Administer radiation treatment to patients in medical settings, particularly within oncology
Certifications and training: The ARRT industry standard certification, associate degree in radiology
Job forecast: Job growth for this role is sustained, according to BLS data
Average salary range: $95,100 to $113,500 (mostly hovering at $104,700)
What you'll do: Manage and direct construction projects from inception to completion, for civil, commercial, and/or private residential contracts
Certifications and training: Associate degree and on-the-job training
Job forecast: Job growth is predicted to be 9% by the BLS, which is much faster than average
Average salary range: $107,228 and $156,994, with $132,475 being the typical median salary
These five roles are in high-demand, are gaining popularity, and offer attractive salaries while being stable and recession-proof. Some technician and trade roles offer you the opportunity to start a business or work as an independent contractor, giving you more freedom over the projects you accept, and when and where you work.
Employers prioritize hands-on skill sets above theory and degrees
Say goodbye to drowning in debt and wasting four years in studying for something that employers don't see as practical or aligned with their skills gaps. Welcome to the new future of work: skilled, hands-on, trade workers. Join them and lead the way in revitalizing America's waning trades industries and being part of the clean energy transformation.
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Employees and their partners or spouses can each earn up to $750 annually for completing wellness activities like getting their annual physical. They can then use that money to go towards fitness classes, an exercise bike, student loan repayment, massages and facials, and healthy meal kits. 'It's like free money because you're getting paid to do things you should be doing anyway,' said Ryan Stafford, an AT&T employee who used his rewards to buy a nicer bike than he would have been able to afford. 'l had no guilt spending a little more,' he said. Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@ and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.
