Updated August, 2009
Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
While the importance of earning a college degree to secure a good job has been ingrained in our brains for as long we can remember, a four-year degree is not the only path to a successful career.
Though schooling is a great way to develop skills and will no doubt enhance your credibility, a college education is no longer a requirement to securing a well-paying salary. Despite the fact that college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is possible to land a lucrative position otherwise.
Additionally, workers with a high school education or less have an abundance of positions open to them. In 2006, 66 million jobs -- about 44 percent of the total -- were available to workers with less than a high school education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2016, there are expected to be 71 million jobs available to these workers.
Just because these jobs don't require a college degree, however, doesn't mean that they don't require hard work or extensive training. Here are 20 of the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree, according to CBSalary.com.
Updated August, 2009
Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
While the importance of earning a college degree to secure a good job has been ingrained in our brains for as long we can remember, a four-year degree is not the only path to a successful career.
Though schooling is a great way to develop skills and will no doubt enhance your credibility, a college education is no longer a requirement to securing a well-paying salary. Despite the fact that college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is possible to land a lucrative position otherwise.
Additionally, workers with a high school education or less have an abundance of positions open to them. In 2006, 66 million jobs -- about 44 percent of the total -- were available to workers with less than a high school education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2016, there are expected to be 71 million jobs available to these workers.
Just because these jobs don't require a college degree, however, doesn't mean that they don't require hard work or extensive training. Here are 20 of the highest-paying jobs that don't require a degree, according to CBSalary.com.
1. Margin department supervisor
Salary: $83,579/year
Primary duties: Overseeing a company's credit department, which manages customer credit accounts and approves or denies credit to customers.
2. Air traffic controller
Salary: $74,922/year
Primary duties: Controlling air traffic around airports according to established procedures and policies to ensure flight safety.
3. Automobile service station manager
Salary: $72,246/year
Primary duties: Supervising gas stations and planning and implementing policy and procedure like hours of operation, workers' duties and prices for products and services.
4. Real-estate broker
Salary: $71,994/year
Primary duties: Securing real-estate transactions, selling real estate, renting properties and arranging loans.
5. Web surfer
Salary: $70,604/year
Primary duties: Scouring through multiple Web sites to analyze and compare information and user experiences to collect information to help companies understand online users' behaviors.
6. Lead carpenter
Salary: $63,345/year
Primary duties: Leading the on-site completion of construction projects and performing all types of carpentry work and finishing.
7. Cable supervisor
Salary: $60,887/year
Primary duties: Supervising the activities of workers engaged in installation, maintenance and cable repair.
8. Chemical supervisor
Salary: $57,472/year
Primary duties: Overseeing workers who make chemical products, verifying that chemical processes are followed.
9. Home-care aide supervisor
Salary: $56,157/year
Primary duties: Directing aides who care for elderly or disabled people in a home environment, and monitoring the quality and quantity of services provided.
10. Medical facility housekeeping manager
Salary: $55,368/year
Primary duties: Managing the workers and housekeeping program in medical facilities to uphold sanitary and orderly conditions.
11. Flight service manager
Salary: $54,350/year
Primary duties: Ensuring that flight attendants conform to personal appearance and preflight requirements; compiling flight reports.
12. Locomotive engineer
Salary: $54,084/year
Primary duties: Driving electric, diesel-electric or gas-turbine-electric trains to transport passengers or freight.
13. Interior aircraft assembly supervisor
Salary: $53,606/year
Primary duties: Supervising the assembly of everything for the inside of an aircraft from mechanics to furniture.
14. Painting supervisor
Salary: $51,977/year
Primary duties: Overseeing all painting activities such as mixing paint, preparing surfaces before painting and applying decorative or protective finishes to various structures.
15. Gas plant operator
Salary: $51,676/year
Primary duties: Maintaining certain pressures in pipelines to produce and/or transport natural gas.
16. Payroll supervisor
Salary: $51,410/year
Primary duties: Managing employees working on company payroll, ensuring that pay calculation is in accordance with company policy, government regulations and tax codes.
17. Assembly supervisor
Salary: $50,462/year
Primary duties: Overseeing workers who use power tools and other equipment to assemble products.
18. Credit and collection supervisor
Salary: $50,330/year
Primary duties: Supervising employees engaged in the review of credit risks and collections; may also review client credit history to grant or deny extensions of credit.
19. Data control supervisor
Salary: $50,310/year
Primary duties: Managing data entry workers and assuming responsibility for those workers' tasks to be complete and accurate; may sometimes assist with assignments.
20. Reimbursement recovery specialist
Salary: $49,246/year
Primary duties: Negotiating cases where third-party liability reimbursement exists by investigating and identifying responsible third parties, then paying out those parties.
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Search by Company | Search by IndustryRachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
When it comes to Air Traffic Controllers, you also get fringe benefits: Such as only working for half the shift, the other half you get paid to relax. (Really).
ReplyAnd then the other benefit: developing an oversize ego.
Keep in mind it's the second most stressful job out there. Second to brain surgeon! And, no, I'm not an aircraft controller.
Are there positions available in the Columbus, Ohio area?
what are the job prospects, really?
Your comment about working half shift couldn't be further from the truth. I work in a control tower in administration. The controllers, by law, are only allowed to be in the tower for certain lengths of time so that they are always alert and able to manage all of things going on at one time. When they are off shift (short periods) they are studying to keep their certifications, taking online exams, briefing other controllers and reading the constant output of information required to keep them up to date on everything in the air traffic environment. It can be a very, very stressful job when you have the lives of so many people in your own hands.
Have you tried it(Air Traffic Control)?
Indeed, I've heard some stories about air traffic controllers. The stress in the big money areas is mind-boggling. For air travellers, most have no idea the thin line between life and death is the controller.
Don't know where you're talking about that Controllers only work half their shift. I did this for 35 years. Do I have an ego? Damn straight! I was very good at the job and I loved it. Spent 9 years at LAX. Stressful? Certainly. But when you're good at something and have fun at it, the stress is positive. Not good at something, the stress will kill you. Great career. Intense, rewarding, exciting ... not something I recommend for introverts or habitually lazy-type person. Serious business!!
Don't forget "cat grillin"
How about a Petroluem Inspector for the refineirs. Inspecting the ship's and barges ( 60-80,000 a year ) pending what part of the country you are in
ReplyHow to become a Petroluem Inspector My husband needs a jop. We are willing to relocate!
work as a boilermaker earned over 100,000 4 year apprenticeship. why be a controller?
ReplyHow would you find out about some of these jobs, say Web Surfer?
ReplyIf you are serious about finding a job you can go to your local electricals union office. Apply as an electircal Lineman. No college degree needed they have a 4 yr aprenticeship which starts out at around $21 an hr. and usually you get 10-20 hrs overtime if you want or you can just work for a place that only does 40hrs. There is always a company looking for someone if you dont mind traveling around your surrounding states or even farther. Once you complete your aprenticeship you will make around $38 plus an hr. depending again on where you live or where you choose to work. We live in the Northeast and My husband works in the surrounding states, depending on how far of a drive it is he will stay during the week and come on the weekends. He has been in for about 6 yrs now and hasnt made less then $145 in the last 4 yrs and has made up to over $200k a yr. Its definitly the job to do if you like to work.
How come there is never a mention for truck drivers. Average salary $50,000. No college degree required. Tried to look for a job, web surfing, nation wide last 30 days, no listings.
ReplyIt's true a truck driver makes good money . But that depends on the outfit he works for.Are they going to load him within reasonable time when he's empty or are they going to let him sit for a couple of days out there in the middle of no where. And you got to admit it ..Truck Drivers do not have a life,get no respect. And all the regulations that he or she have to put up with ( DOT Cops ) who never think that these drivers have families and obligation like they do.I'm in construction but have maintained my commercial license for 25 years just for times like these. For you drivers or job searchers keep in mind that just about all the ads that you see looking for drivers "ARE BOGUS". I ve been at this now for 4 months. I have finally hooked up..But I had to settle.If you are an experienced driver it will be harder for you to get hired. The big companies like, Swift,Werner,SRT,PTL, just want to bring on 'Non CDL License drivers so they can put them in there training program Charge them for the course and put them on the road for as little as .25 cents per mile!!And then on top of that these trucking companies can recieve goverment funding for suppling this training service. ( Talk about our tax dollars!!) I'm not saying this out of frustration. I have answered some of these ads, gone to orientation just to finish and sit in a motel room because they have no trucks to issue (PTL)or some sort of excuse.Or they send you out to get your first load than bring you back to lay you off?????(SRT) Keep in mind I have no felonies and have a clean DMV. But they still keep bringing
drivers in. Please don't be discouraged by my comments..You might luck out. But I'm juat one of many that have seen this first hand. Good Luck and God Bless!
have you tried looking under transportation on careet builder...the r lots of companies looking for drivers
You forgot the other fringe benifit for air controllers - early heart attack. Having observed them for several years, I wouldn't want the job for 150K a year. Add private pilots often complicating the job, its more fun to wrestle gators.
ReplyGOOD POINT. I'VE BEEN FLYING R/C AIRCRAFT FOR SOME 20 YEARS AND WHEN THE SKY IS FULL OF PLANES, YOUR HEART RACES. THANK YOU.
No one cares to mention that the most Air Traffic Controllers have to work tons of overtime, are heavily short-staffed, there is horrible morale because of union issues, and you cannot mistakes. It takes a really sharp person and one who can take the pressure. From personal experience, I would advise remembering how stressful a career it is!
Reply