If you’re trying to make a career change, then keep reading our list of $100k salary jobs that don’t require a college degree. You don’t have to spend a fortune on education to score a high paying job. Work experience is more important than having a degree in many cases.
Below you can find $100k salary jobs that don’t require a college degree. The jobs are listed to help you narrow down which roles might be the right fit for you.
$100k Salary Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree
Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers do not require a college diploma, so it may be surprising to learn they do not need one.
Air traffic controllers make sure flight plans and flight paths follow the rules and regulations imposed by law and provide flight safety.
You don’t need a degree to be an Air Traffic Controller, but you’ll need to go through several tests & screenings which check whether you’re right for the job. They also check if you’re suitable due to your personality & psychology.
Air Traffic Controller is one of the many jobs that that pay $100k that don’t require a degree.
Real Estate Broker
Consider a career as a real estate broker if you like property and sales.
Sell or rent other people’s property to make a good living. If you currently make $30,000 per year, then with some training and experience at this profession, you can expect to earn on average $180,000 annually
Real estate is, of course, a career that requires education. However, with the advent of online courses and an exam-only application process for becoming licensed, anyone with a high school diploma has the opportunity to work in real estate.
Plumber
Choosing to trade school over traditional college education will provide you with better employment opportunities nowadays. Jobs including electricians, machinists, and plumbers are at risk of becoming obsolete in America due to a lack of fresh craftsmen.
Roughly 1 in every 3 American families will need a plumber at some point in their lives. When the toilet clogs up and there’s water spilled everywhere, plumbers are the only call you’ll need to make.
After completing formal training, qualified plumbers can easily make more than $100K annually.
Head Chef
*Do you enjoy preparing meals and work well under pressure? *A certified sous chef, for instance, can earn $100k+ per year at a popular, up-market restaurant.
Those in culinary arts may be required to go to hotel school, where they can study service sector best practices. Topics revolve around food handling standards and so forth.
When new apprentices enter the kitchen, they’ll soon discover that wages are poor and working hours are long, but there’s a lot to gain from this profession.
However, there is a downside to this as many people who enter the profession are passionate about cooking. They often put in long hours and struggle to cope with kitchens that traditionally demand such commitments. Furthermore, they traditionally do not require a degree and can provide you with $100k salary without one!
Commercial Pilot
Airline pilots don’t need a 4-year degree and there are some great training programs that will get you qualified in just a year or 18 months.
Although the market for AI writers is competitive, this can still be a good way to earn six figures and work your way towards certification or becoming a professional copywriter.
It’s a demanding job with odd hours or working and certification process that can take a long time.
Radiologist
Not many people know that radiologists work in the medical field, but it’s important to note that they only need an associate degree to start their career.
Radiotherapists are on the list of $100k salary jobs that don’t require a college degree, but they do require certifications, experience, and expertise.
Construction Site Manager
Lots of students in high school are choosing to do construction for the summer break. They got creative in the way they spend their summer break.
This isn’t an easy job at first glance. You don’t necessarily need to have a degree in civil engineering to take down walls though.
While construction can be hard work, it teaches skills that are key for being a successful contractor. Many students who start in the trade after high school found they owned their own contracting business by the time they’re in their late twenties.
Typically a site manager or foreman are the titles that make the list for $100k salary jobs that don’t require a college degree.
Professional Games Arbitrator
With a salary ranging from $120,000 to $555,000 this position may appear to be unrealistic at first glance. You can’t get this job without acquiring a ref qualification in the game, but becoming a professional arbitrator is another option. The average salary ranges from $101,000 per year up to over $400,000.
Nuclear power reactor operator
Nuclear power reactor operators control nuclear reactors. By adjusting the control rods, they affect how much electricity the reactor generates. They automatically monitor the reactors, turbines, generators, and cooling systems in power plants. When necessary they adjust controls. They also start and stop equipment as required and record any data produced
Conclusion On $100k Salary Jobs That Don’t Require A College Degree
You don’t need university to hit the six figure club. Experience and motivation is all it takes to get there. Every year, education is less and less required for high paying jobs.
In 2023, we expect the list of $100k salary jobs that don’t require a college degree to grow steadily.