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Careers · November 12, 2026 · 4 min read

8 Good-Paying Jobs You Can Get Without a College Degree

A four-year degree isn't the only path to a solid paycheck. This list covers eight jobs where the typical worker earned more than the median for all U.S. workers, along with how fast each field is expected to grow and how people usually get started.

How this list was built

All figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. For each job, the typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, often followed by an apprenticeship or on-the-job training.

Pay figures are the median wage in May 2025, meaning half of workers earned more and half earned less. For comparison, the median for all workers was $50,980. Growth figures are BLS projections for 2025 to 2035, so treat them as estimates, not promises.

Jobs you learn through an apprenticeship

Apprentices are paid while they learn. In these trades, they typically combine paid on-the-job training with technical instruction over several years.

• Elevator and escalator installers and repairers: Median pay of $109,910 a year ($52.84 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average. Workers typically start with a 4-year apprenticeship sponsored by a union, industry association or employer, and most states require a license. It's a small field, with about 1,900 openings a year.
• Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters: Median pay of $63,800 a year ($30.67 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 42,000 openings a year. Most learn through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, and most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed.
• Electricians: Median pay of $63,190 a year ($30.38 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 72,700 openings a year. Most learn in a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship that typically includes 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year, and most states require electricians to pass a test and be licensed.

Jobs you learn mostly on the job

These jobs usually start with a high school diploma. Most of the training then happens at work, often over a year or more.

• Electrical power-line installers and repairers: Median pay of $95,320 a year ($45.83 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 10,900 openings a year. Apprenticeships lasting up to 3 years are common, and qualified apprentices reach journey level after 3 or 4 years of work.
• Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers and millwrights: Median pay of $64,100 a year ($30.82 an hour) in May 2025. The group is projected to grow 14% from 2025 to 2035, with about 51,900 openings a year, but growth varies: 18% for industrial machinery mechanics, 1% for millwrights and a 2% decline for machinery maintenance workers. Mechanics and maintenance workers typically get more than a year of on-the-job training, and most millwrights learn through an apprenticeship.

Jobs that start with a training program

These jobs typically start with a certificate or similar award from a training program. Depending on the field, that can take from about 3 months to 2 years.

• Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPNs and LVNs): Median pay of $64,400 a year ($30.96 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, as fast as average, with about 51,800 openings a year. You'll need to finish a state-approved program, which typically takes about a year, and pass an exam to get licensed.
• Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC) mechanics and installers: Median pay of $61,010 a year ($29.33 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 11% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 40,600 openings a year. Training programs generally last 6 months to 2 years, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires nearly all HVAC technicians to be certified in proper refrigerant handling.
• Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers: Median pay of $58,640 a year ($28.19 an hour) in May 2025. Jobs are projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, as fast as average, with about 214,500 openings a year. Truck-driving school programs last 3 to 6 months, long-haul drivers need a commercial driver's license (CDL), and new hires normally get several weeks of on-the-job training with an experienced mentor driver.

How to get started

1. Pick two or three jobs that interest you, and check the training, license and physical requirements in your state.
2. For apprenticeships, search Apprenticeship.gov or contact your state apprenticeship agency, local unions and contractors.
3. For training programs, compare cost, length and job placement results at schools near you before you enroll.
4. Ask employers whether they offer paid training or help with school costs.

Tip: A median is a midpoint, not a starting wage. Pay varies by state, employer and experience, so compare local job listings before you commit to a training program.

Each path takes time, from a few months of school to several years as an apprentice. Choose one that fits your schedule and budget, and take it one step at a time.

When you're ready, search trainee and entry-level openings near you on JobMatchUSA.

Sources

1. Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
2. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Electricians, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
7. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, Occupational Outlook Handbook — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics