12 High-Paying, Growing Jobs That Don’t Need a College Degree

Depending on the position, a high school diploma could be the ticket to a growing, high-paying job.

Business Insider looked at wages and growth projections for jobs that usually need a high school diploma, its equivalent, or a postsecondary nondegree award. We then took the geometric mean of the ones that pay at least $75,000, based on 2024 median annual wage data, and are expected to need more workers, based on projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034. We then ranked the jobs, with the larger the geometric mean, the better the rank.

Many of the top 12 fell into one of three job groups: construction and extraction; protective service; or installation, maintenance, and repair.

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers took the top spot. Employment of these supervisors is expected to grow by 49,000 from its 2024 level, and they typically make about $79,000 annually. It’s also one of the roles that typically don’t require a degree, but often require job seekers to have relevant experience.

Employers may be interested in candidates with higher educational attainment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said commercial pilots usually need a postsecondary nondegree award, but some employers may prefer a degree or even require it.

Below are the top 12, along with information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.