High Paying Jobs: Make $100k Without A Bachelor’s Degree

Want to know how you can make $100k with less than 2 years of schooling?  Well you've come to the right place.  There are plenty of high paying jobs that require very little education.  And today we are going to go through them all.

I'm a millennial.  And I graduated from a 4 year college thinking that I would be making good money when I got out.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  If I knew then what I know now, I would've done things very differently.

In this day and age, you don't need a 4-year college degree to make good money.  And in many cases, you don't need a degree at all.

Some of these high paying jobs require 2 years of education, while others less than a year.  Check out these jobs below.

High Paying Jobs With Less Than 1 Year of Education

Web Developer

We all know that the internet is here to stay.  So the web development field is always in demand.  If you put in the time and effort to become a great web developer, you'll be making good money in no time.

Salaries vary depending on what kind of developer you decide to become.  However, as a backend developer, according to Indeed, the average base salary is $95k with some top tier companies paying almost $250k for services.

Some web developers do get a Bachelor's degree but if you want to skip the 4 year degree track,  you can!  After all, many of the highest paid developers are self taught.  

To become a web developer, you could teach yourself from Youtube videos, textbooks, and various other sources.  If you want something a little more structured, try taking a few programming courses on Coursera.  The catch is you'll need to focus on developing a well-rounded portfolio of your work for prospective employers.

Additional Skills Needed: Analytical skills, project management skills, communication skills, and adaptability.

Computer Programmer

Like the internet, computers and technology are definitely here to stay.  So becoming a computer programmer may be a good look, as you know your skills will always be in demand.

While there are some companies who prefer to hire programmers with Bachelor's degrees, there are plenty who hire self-taught programmers or those with just an associate's degree.

As with web development, you could take courses from Coursera or sign up for programming bootcamps to get your start in this field.  Even big universities such as Columbia are starting to offer coding bootcamps that can get you certified in as little as 3 months.

And according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), computer programmers had a median salary of $93,000 in 2021.  That means 50% of all computer programmers are making more than that.  And the good news is their salary is only going up.

Air Traffic Controller

Now we are getting into the big leagues.  Got a love of planes?  or money?  Will this may be the job for you?

According to the BLS, the median salary for air traffic controllers is $129,750.  With the highest of them earning more than $185,000 a year.

For such good pay, you may be wondering what are the requirements to become an air traffic controller.  Well, to join their training program you must pass medical examinations, background test, be under 30 years of age, and speak English clear enough to be understood over their systems.

The FAA training program takes just 2 to 5 months to complete.  And after that, most of your training will be on-the-job training.  The trick is getting in and staying in the Academy.  Word on the street is that 50% drop out.

For those who do not have any prior work experience, you will need to complete 2 years of training at an aviation-related program. 

Additional skills needed: Ability to concentrate, problem solving, excellent communication skills, attention to detail, ability to work under pressure

Commercial Pilot

If you haven't already heard, becoming a pilot is one of the most lucrative careers around.  The median salary for commercial pilots is $99,640.  That amount more than doubles if you become a pilot for a major airline (median salary: $202,180).

All in all there is good money to be had in becoming a pilot and not much schooling required.

How to Become a Pilot

The steps to becoming a commercial pilot (as outlined by Indeed) is: 

1. Getting a private pilot certificate (40 flight hours)
2. Acquiring an instrument rating
3. Obtain a commercial pilot license (250 flight hours)
4. Get a flight instructor certificate (*opt. - not always necessary)
5. Gain experience
6. Start working

And actually, you could even start working as a pilot after you get your commercial pilot license.  You'll need the private license first, which could take you about 3 months.  The instrument rating could take about 2 months to obtain and, finally, the commercial pilot license about a month and a half!

That means, all in all, you could start earning money as a pilot in as little as 6 and a half months!

But pilot school isn't free and it will cost you.  According to the Pilot Institute, it will cost at minimum just over $45,000 just to get the required licensing.  Other flight schools however will charge anywhere from $60,000 to $100,000.

While this can seem like a huge investment of cash.  It will pay off in the end, especially, if you work for a major airline company as their starting salary is $131,000.

Additional Skills Needed: Time management, good eyesight, spatial awareness, effective communication

Construction Supervisor

As a construction site supervisor, you will be expected to manage work activities on a construction site.  This includes organizing and planning the day to day as well as ensuring health and safety protocols are in place.

The median salary for this position is just over $92,000 and if you are a top earner, you'll be making over $112,000.

To become a supervisor, you could just put in the work, working your way up from a tradesman.  But being a supervisor requires extensive knowledge.  

If you want to short cut this a bit, you can choose to go to a technical school, get an Associate degree, or maybe even your Bachelor's.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

I'm not going to lie.  Nuclear power reactors sound a wee bit scary.  But if you are up for it, you have the potential to make some really good money as an operator.  

The median salary is over $104,000 according to the BLS and the top earners in this field make over $130,000.  Plus, to become an operator, you only need a high school diploma.  

Then you can begin working as an unlicensed operator.  But, to become licensed, you will need to pass a medical exam, meet training requirements, and pass the NRC licensing exam.  

Keep in mind though, to keep your license, you'll have to continue passing yearly exams and reapply for your license every 6 years.

Criminal Investigator

Want to chase down a few bad guys and earn some good money while you do?  Well, becoming a criminal investigator might be the perfect job for you.

The median salary for an investigator is around $73,000 while some of the top earners in the field make more than $109,000.

To become a criminal investigator you don't need an associate or bachelors degree.  You just need to graduate from the Police Academy, which could take up to 6 months.  Then you can work your way up to investigator.

However, if you do decide to get a degree, you may get that promotion  to investigator much faster.

Additional skills needed: Communication, good judgement, physical fitness, empathy, and leadership skills.

High Paying Jobs That Require Up to 2 years of Education

Radiation Therapist / Radiologist

Being a radiation therapist sounds like a cool job.  And what is great about this career track is that you can get started with just 2 years of education.

So if you're interested in being a radiation therapist, sign up for the nearest program.  Then you'll need to get certified and obtain your license from the state in which you live.  Of course, you will need to undergo continued education to maintain your certification every 2 years.

The median salary for radiation therapists is almost $83,000 (BLS) with the top 25% making over $102,000.

Electrician

Talk about not even needing a degree!  To become an electrician you only need a high school diploma.  Then all you have to do is an apprenticeship and get licensed.

However, the length of your apprenticeship will vary by state with some people taking a few years to complete.  If you decide to go to a trade school, that can be done in less than 2 years.  Of course, even after you become licensed every year and a half or so you may be required to undergo more training as a part of your continued education.

Pay for electricians are on the lower end for this list with the median salary being about $53,000 and the top 10% making over $90k.  So if you want to make $100k, you'll need to be a part of the top 10%.

Plumber

Not the most glorious field you can go into, but hey, you are here for the money honey!  And becoming a plumber just might help you join the six figure club.

Plumbers have a median salary of $60,000 with high earners making over $85,000.  So you'll definitely want to be on the high earners side if you want to make six digits.

To become a plumber you'll need to go to a trade school or become an apprentice.  Then after that, you can take the exam and become a licensed professional.  

The beauty of becoming a plumber or electrician is even during your training period you will be getting paid!  Unlike your other classmates who will mostly likely be getting into tons of debt, you'll be making cash and carving out a profession.  And by the time they graduate from their 4 year university, you will already be making $40 an hour!

Executive Chef

If you love cooking, this might be the profession for you.  Executive chefs oversee kitchen operations and are responsible for developing a restaurant's menu.

Their median salary is a little over $86,000 while the top 10% of earners make over $111,000.

Although you only need a high school diploma, many people choose to get a degree in culinary arts.  You can choose to get a 2-year degree, 4-year degree, or simply gain the experience necessary to become an executive chef.  

There are even 1 year degree programs out there.  You'll then receive on the job training and can earn your certification by passing a written and practical exam.

Court Reporter

Love Judge Judy?  You might want to consider becoming a court reporter.  While the median salary may start off a little low (around $60,000), the top earners in this field are making over $96,000.

To become one, you simply need to complete an Associate's degree or certification program which can take a year and a half to 2 years to complete.  

You'll also need great typing skills with high accuracy to become a court reporter.  And just a heads up, you may be subject to these tests before being hired.

Dental Hygienist 

Now it is not my cup of tea to be digging around in a stranger's mouth but if you can do it, you could be earning a good chunk of change.

The median salary for this career track is almost $80k according to salary.com, with the top 10% of earners making over $99k.  And, best of all, you only need an Associate's degree to start practicing.

A 2 year program to come out making $80k sounds like a pretty good deal to me.  And some educational institutions even claim that you can complete the program in less than two years!

However, to obtain your license you will have to pass the National Dental Examinations.

High Paying Jobs That Can Get You $100k with Hustle

If you are still interested in joining the six digit club but none of the above jobs sounded appealing enough, you may want to consider these jobs below.

They don't require any education necessarily but you can still earn six digits from them.  However, to get that six digits you'll have to do a little hustling.

Here are the jobs that require a little hustling:

• Sales 
• Real Estate Agent
• Bartender
• Freelance Writing
• Virtual Assistant

Honorable Mention (4 years +)

Physician's Assistant (PA)

Ok this career track is not less than 2 years but I have decided to include it because I wish I had known about it in university.

If you've ever dreamt of becoming a doctor but didn't think you could make the cut. Or you just didn't have the money to pay for it. Becoming a physician's assistant may be your answer.

After all, why become a doctor when you can become a physician's assistant with little to no debt and make almost just as much.  And all in half the time!

The median wage for physician assistants is $121,530.  And for those who are in the top 10% you would be making over $164,000.  That is a good chunk of change.  

To be a PA, you'll need to have graduated from university with a 4 year degree and may be required to have a certain amount patient care experience.  Afterwards, you must apply and get accepted into a 2 year training program.  Then once you pass the National certifying exam, you're officially a PA!

All in All

Getting a high paying job, for the most part, is not dependent on how much education you have.  If your goal is to make six digits, there are ways you can get there without having a bachelor's degree.

I hope this list has given you some insight into what you can do to make a career move that could land you in the six figure club.

But before you jump into any prospective career make sure you take a good, hard look at the job market and make sure it's a career that will be around for a while and has serious growth potential.