Several fast-growing jobs between 2025 and 2035 no longer require a college degree and can pay around $100,000 or more a year, new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show.
The classic American dream has a hefty price tag. However, there is another route to financial security for young Americans that does not start in a lecture hall, but on a construction site, inside a warehouse or high above the streets on a power pole.
Data from the BLS project several occupations that no longer require college degrees to grow between 2025 and 2035. Many of these jobs require years of experience, specialized training or licensing.
Among the fastest-growing jobs that need little or no training are transportation, storage and distribution managers, with the highest median pay of $100,000.
The big-money jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree
1. Transportation, storage and distribution managers
People in this job are the ones who keep America’s supply chains running, from warehouses to delivery routes. They are in charge of storing and moving goods. Their work has become even more important with the rise of online shopping.
The occupation had a median annual wage of $107,230 and is projected to grow 6 percent between 2025 and 2035, according to the BLS.
A bachelor’s degree is not usually required to enter the field, although related work experience is generally expected. This means that instead of spending four years in college, workers can move into management roles by gaining experience.
2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Some of America’s best-paid workers are elevator mechanics who spend their days inside elevator shafts and machinery rooms, earning a median annual wage of $109,910, according to the BLS.
Employment is projected to increase 6 percent over the next decade.
The work involves installing, maintaining and repairing the equipment that keeps people moving through offices, hospitals, shopping centers and apartment buildings.
But there is no shortcut to a fat paycheck. Most workers complete an apprenticeship, and many states require licensing.
3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Although jobs on the power grid involve heights, tough weather, and working with high-voltage equipment, it pays well. Electrical power-line installers and repairers earned a median annual wage of $95,320.
The BLS said the jobs in this field will grow by 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than average.
Lineworkers install and maintain the infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses. This job usually needs technical training and a lot of hands-on experience, but not a four-year college degree.
4. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
Construction supervisors are responsible for keeping crews productive, projects on schedule, and safety procedures in place.
With a median annual wage of $79,920, employment is projected to grow 5 percent through 2035.
This job does not need a bachelor’s degree, but BLS says most workers need five years or more in a related occupation before moving into supervisory roles, including construction workers, who build their skills and take on more responsibility can move into management and earn more.
The job market in America is changing, but practical skills are still in demand. Construction projects, electrical infrastructure, warehouse operations, and building maintenance all require workers with specialized knowledge.
The BLS projects continued employment opportunities across construction and extraction occupations, including openings created when workers retire or leave their jobs.
Growing electricity networks and more complex supply chains are also increasing the need for trained workers.
Apprenticeships and technical training offer alternative routes into these industries. However, requirements are different for each job. Some roles are easy to start, others, however, need years of experience.
Behind those eye-catching salaries
Construction, manufacturing and the skilled trades are growing partly due to an aging workforce, said Jerry Rubin, a senior adviser at the Harvard Project on the Workforce.
Those six-figure salaries might be appealing. However, they are not starting pay.
No high school graduate can start out as a distribution manager, or become an expert elevator mechanic right away making $107,230.
The reported median wages include workers at different stages of their careers, which often takes years of training, experience, and career advancement to reach those salaries.
The work itself can also be tough as power-line workers face electrical hazards and work at heights, while elevator mechanics work with heavy machines, and construction supervisors have to manage teams and keep everyone safe.
It’s important to consider training costs, job location, the work itself, and opportunities to advance.
College is still an option.
The BLS data do not suggest that a college degree is no longer necessary, they show instead that a bachelor’s degree is not the only way to achieve financial security.
An apprenticeship or technical job can be a practical way to start working and learn useful skills. But the more important question is not whether everyone should attend college or not. It is whether their education or training prepares them for the job they want and gives them a real chance to earn a living.
“There are definitely more opportunities in sectors that don’t require a college degree, but that doesn’t mean people should simply reject going to college,” Rubin said.
