30 Well-Paying Jobs that Don’t Require a Bachelor’s Degree

Summary: There are plenty of options that only require an education to the level of an associate’s degree or certificate.

School is not for everyone and there are some of us that want to complete as little as possible and still make a good income. View this list of 30 jobs that require an associate’s degree at the most.

• Boilermakers assemble, install, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquid and gases. The median wage is $56,560.
• Electrical and electronics engineering technicians design, build, repair, modify, and calibrate electrical components, controls, circuitry, and machinery. The median wage is $57,850 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Real Estate brokers oversee the transactions such as selling, renting, and arranging loans for real estate. The median wage is $58,350 and only requires a basic education and taking a real estate licensing test.
• Computer-network support specialists perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly. The Median wage is $59,090 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators review settled claims to determine that everything is made in accordance with company policies. The median wage is $59,960.
• First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers directly supervise and coordinate the activities of installers, repairers, and mechanics. The median wage is $60,250.
• Gas-plant operators distribute and process gas for utility companies and others through controlling compressors to keep a specific pressure on pipelines. The median wage is $61,140.
• Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used for developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft. The median wage is $61,530 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Web developers design, create, and modify websites. The median wage is $62,500 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Subway and streetcar operators operate trains with no separate locomotive, or electric-powered streetcar, to transport passengers. The median wage is $62,730.
• Postmasters and mail superintendents’ plan, direct, and coordinate operational, management, administrative, and supportive services of a US post office. The median wage is $63,050.
• Electrical-power-line installers and repairers repair and install cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. The median wage is $63,250.
• Transportation inspectors inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. The median wage is $63,680.
• Gaming managers plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino. The median wage is $65,220.
• Magnetic-resonance-imaging technologists monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures. The median wage is $65,360 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about health conditions. The median wage is $65,470 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Diagnostic medical sonographers use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions. The median wage is $65,860 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Funeral-service directors plan, direct, and coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes. The median wage is $66,720 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers plan, direct, and coordinate the management or operation of agricultural establishments. The median wage is $69,300.
• Supervisors of nonretail sales workers directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. The median wage is $70,060.
• Nuclear medicine technologists use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans. The median wage is $70,180 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases and provide preventative dental care. The median wage is $70,210 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Power distributors and dispatchers regulate, coordinate, and distribute electricity or stream. The median wage is $71,690.
• Commercial pilots navigate the flight of aircraft on nonscheduled air-carrier routes, or helicopters. The median wage is $73, 280 and requires a commercial-pilot certificate.
• Detectives and criminal investigators conduct investigations related to suspected violations of laws to prevent and solve crimes. The median wage is $74,300.
• Nuclear-reactor operators move control rods, start and stop equipment, record data in logs, and monitor and adjust controls. The median wage is $74,990.
• Elevator installers and repairers assemble, repair, maintain, and install electric or hydraulic freight or passenger escalators, dumbwaiters, or elevators. The median wage is $76,650.
• Radiation therapists check equipment, document the session, and observe patients reactions to treatment. The median wage is $77,560 and requires an associate’s degree.
• Air-traffic controllers monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. The median wage is $122,530 and requires an associate’s degree.

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