12-05-2025
The jobs that pay $100k without a college degree... including one in serious demand
As college gets more expensive and white-collar jobs become harder to land, more young Americans are skipping the six-figure student debt — and earning just as much without a degree.
Ironically, the shift is being driven by too many people going to college.
That flood of degrees has created a growing imbalance: too many graduates, and not enough workers trained for essential skilled careers that don't require a four-year degree.
As a result, companies are boosting salaries for roles that require hands-on training instead of academic credentials. These include traditional trades like plumbing and electrical work, as well as specialized professions like lift mechanics and commercial pilots.
One example is commercial pilots. There's a nationwide shortage of them, and the demand for pilots keeps growing — for things like charter flights, firefighting, and rescue missions.
That's why the average salary is $113,000, and some earn up to $239,000.
Another example is air traffic controllers. It's a stressful and important job that takes special training. Since few people are qualified, the average salary is $179,000.
Even in tech, a degree isn't always required. Web developers and digital designers are in demand across industries. If you can code or design, you can earn a strong salary — without spending four years in college.
The median pay for these roles is just under $100,000 but top pay can far exceed that at around $176,000, according to the careers site.
As these jobs don't require formal education achievements the best way to land the best-paying gigs is to have a strong portfolio of past work and good references.
Becoming a special effects animator can also pay six figures and does not require a college degree.
Although many animators and digital artists do choose to complete a short specialized diploma in the field, it is not a strict criteria.
Some of the best-paying animator jobs can earn workers around $170,000, according to Trade Schools.
Other six-figure jobs include roles that many high schoolers may not have even considered.
Elevator and escalator installers earn just over $100,000 on average, Fortune reported.
This niche job is the highest-paid trade job in the country, according to 2023 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, the conditions of such a trade can be tough with long hours often at great heights and in confined spaces.
There are also relatively few roles, with around 2,100 job openings each year, according to the Bureau.
Mike Rowe, the CEO of MikeRoweWorks Foundation, has dedicated his organization to changing the perception of skilled labor jobs and help encourage young people to take up a trade.
Rowe's Foundation offers scholarships to help train people in skilled jobs that are facing employment shortages.
'We're redefining a good education and a good job, because we don't think a four-year degree is the best path for the most people,' Rowe wrote on his website.
'Blue-collar jobs are a straight path to a six-figure job,' Rowe told Fortune magazine.
Meanwhile, a CEO recently revealed the one crucial question he asks every candidate during job interviews.
Gary Shapiro, head of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), asks applicants how soon they could start their new role.
If they say they can start in less than two weeks 'they don't get the job, because they'll treat us the way they treat that former employer,' the 68-year-old explained.
