What are fast-growing, high-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree? WASHINGTON — A college degree isn’t always required to get a well-paying job. Some of the highest-paying and fastest-growing occupations over the next decade only require a high school diploma and training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information on more than 800 occupations in the U.S., including job duties, education and training requirements, salaries, projected growth rates, and more through its Occupational Outlook Handbook. The Get the Facts Data team analyzed the data to identify the fastest-growing, highest-paying jobs over the next 10 years that don’t require a college degree. The fastest-growing occupations are those that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will have at least 5% or more job growth between 2025 and 2035. Among the fastest-growing jobs that require little or no training, transportation warehouse and distribution managers had the highest median salary. Last year, the median salary for these managers was $100,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that transportation warehouse and distribution managers will have a 5% to 6% increase in jobs from 2025 to 2035. The second highest-paying job was first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers. Last year, the average salary for these workers ranged from $75,000 to nearly $100,000. Sectors such as construction, manufacturing and skilled trades are growing in part because of an aging workforce, said Jerry Rubin, senior adviser at the Harvard Workforce Project. He recently published a book about changes in the workforce and the challenges employers face in a tight labor market. “There are definitely more opportunities in sectors that don’t require a college degree, but that doesn’t mean people should just reject going to college,” he said. People with college degrees generally earn higher wages and have lower unemployment rates than those without college degrees. The unemployment rate among people without college degrees is currently at its lowest level, but that is partly because the number of college graduates has increased over the decades. Despite growing opportunities in skilled trades, Rubin said social attitudes still favor college. “We’ve reached a point in this country where college is part of the expectation of economic success,” he said. “College is not for all students and my advice to parents is to let their children follow their passion within reason.” The strong demand for skilled tradespeople comes as employers try to fill positions that have historically relied on immigrant workers, Rubin said. It becomes a challenge as fewer people enter the workforce, the population ages, and birth rates decline. Some high-paying professions require more extensive training or apprenticeships, such as elevator and escalator installers and repairers. The average salary for these workers was $100,000 or more. Employment for escalator installers and repairers is expected to grow between 5% and 6% over the next decade, but not all high-paying careers are expected to create jobs in the next 10 years. Nuclear power reactor and power plant operators earned a median salary of $100,000 or more last year. But employment in those industries is estimated to decline by 1% or more over the next decade. Power line installers and repairers are expected to see employment growth of more than 7% between 2025 and 2035. The average salary for these workers ranges from $75,000 to nearly $100,000. Search the table below to see the highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, along with projected job growth.
