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.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

3 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

FLOURISHING AFTER 50: My son, his partner and their kids have moved in with us to save - but now they want our money as well

Dear Vanessa, Our son is 32 with two young children. He and his partner have been renting for years, but with the cost of everything going up, they can't seem to get ahead. They've been slowly saving for a house deposit but it could take years. Recently, they asked if they could move in with us for a while to save more money. We agreed - it makes sense and we want to support them where we can. But now our son has taken it a step further and asked if we would consider contributing to their deposit so they can buy sooner. My husband and I are both 61 and still working. We've got retirement savings and some extra put aside, but we're not retired yet - and we don't have unlimited resources. My husband is very cautious and thinks helping financially is a bad idea. He's worried that once the money is gone, we won't get it back - and we might end up needing it down the track. I can see both sides, and I'm torn. We want to help, but not at the expense of our own future. What's the right thing to do? Christine. Dear Christine, You've described a dilemma so many families are facing right now. With housing unaffordability, high living costs, and interest rates biting, adult children are under enormous financial pressure- and often, their first thought is to turn to mum and dad. It's understandable. You're the generation who built up savings, paid down debt, and likely bought property at a more achievable price. To your children, you may look financially secure. But what they often don't realise is that retirement is getting more expensive, we're all living longer, and your money has to stretch much further than it used to. Opening your home to help them save is already a generous act - and likely to be a huge help. But giving away money, especially before you've even retired, is a completely different decision. Once you gift a lump sum, it's usually gone for good. And if something changes - your health, your job, or even their relationship - you can't always get it back. That doesn't mean you can't help. But it does mean being crystal clear about what you can safely afford to give, and what impact it will have on your lifestyle for the next 20 or 30 years. That's where a conversation with a good financial adviser can make all the difference. They can model what a gift or loan would do to your future income and help you structure it properly, so it's protected. For example, if your son and his partner were to split up, would you want your contribution to be part of a legal agreement or loan that's repaid? Or is this money a gift with no expectations? These are emotional decisions, but they have real financial consequences. And just as importantly, you and your husband need to be on the same page. If one of you feels uneasy, that's a sign to slow down and gather more information before making any commitments. Money given under pressure or guilt often causes long-term resentment - especially if it later affects your ability to live the retirement you planned. If you need help finding an adviser in your area, I offer a free referral service to connect you with someone experienced and independent. Supporting your family is a wonderful thing - but so is securing your own future, so you can enjoy your retirement, your freedom, and the time you've earned with your grandkids.

The Sun

3 hours ago

• The Sun

Huge carmaker ‘may sell iconic luxury motor brand' as sales dive and new CEO takes charge

ONE of the world's largest car manufacturers looks set to sell an iconic sports car brand as sales plummet. Discussions over the future of Maserati remain ongoing as industry giant Stellantis prepares to welcome its new CEO in the coming days. 5 5 The French-Italian company could be forced to sell the luxury car brand on the back of poor sales over the past year. New CEO Antonio Filosa - who starts on Monday after being appointed last month - faces huge financial decisions as a result of President Trump's brutal trade tariffs. Stellantis - which owns 14 brands across the globe - was reported to have hired management consulting firm McKinsey and Co to review the situation. McKinsey was called in April this year to advise on struggling brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo, with both experiencing a dire 2024. Last year, the number of Maserati units sold plunged from 26,600 to just 11,300. Stellanis told Motor1: "McKinsey has been asked to provide its considerations regarding the recently announced U.S. tariffs for Alfa Romeo and Maserati." Trump's new legislation means tariffs of at least 25 percent on anything imported into the US. Maserati has no new model launches scheduled as it waits for a new business plan, with the last one having been put on hold by Stellantis in 2024. The plan is expected to be presented soon after Filosa starts his new role. But as things stand, it is understood that all options remain on the table for the world-renowned Italian brand. It came after the global firm pulled the plug on a £1.3billion investment in Maserati earlier this year. Plans for the hotly anticipated electric MC20 Folgore were also binned due to low demand. WHO ARE STELLANTIS? The EV, which translates to 'lightning' in Italian, was intended to be the brand's electric alternative to the stunning MC20 sports car. It promised a power output and performance characteristics similar to the existing V6-engined MC20. The Folgore was set to be one of six Maserati EVs set for launch over the next year or so. But Stellantis chief financial officer Doug Ostermann said they had pulled the plug on Maserati projects, claiming they wanted to review the pace in which sports car owners move over to EVs. He said: "We have to recognise the dynamics in that business, particularly in the Chinese market, and our expectations in terms of how quickly that luxury market would transition to electrification." What is Stellantis? Stellantis is the company behind iconic motor brands such as Fiat, Vauxhall and Peugot. The conglomerate, which is the second-largest maker of cars in Europe, owns 14 badges, including Chrysler, Citroen, Jeep and Maserati. The company itself is the product of a merger between Fiat-Chrysler and France's PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen, in 2021. But the motoring giant has encountered increasingly stuttering financial success. And an initial manufacturing break at Stellantis has now been extended as bosses report a collapse in demand for electric cars. Other projects, including EV replacements for the Levante and Quattroporte models, are in danger of being cancelled too. The vehicles were set to be released in 2027 and 2028 respectively. It is understood the three models would have been Maserati's electric line-up as the firm looked to adapt to the EV revolution. Before he left the firm last year, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares claimed the low sales at Maserati were due to advertising issues. He told Top Gear: "Maserati is in the red. The reason is marketing. "The Maserati brand is not clearly positioned and the storytelling is not how it should be. "The brand is not just about sports cars, it's about gran turismo, it's about quality of life, dolce vita and technology." 5 5

Reuters

3 hours ago

• Reuters

Russia says ready to supply LNG to Mexico

MEXICO CITY, June 21 (Reuters) - Russia is ready to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Mexico and share energy sector technologies, the Russian embassy in Mexico said on Saturday on X. "We are already working with Mexico. We have excellent LNG technologies, and we are ready to share these technologies and supply LNG as well," Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said. Russia is prepared to offer oil extraction technologies suited for challenging geological conditions, as well as solutions aimed at improving the efficiency of oil processing, the embassy added.