No Bachelor’s Degree to Make Good Money

30. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Description: Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems.

Average annual salary (2015): $65,300

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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29. Gas plant operators

Description: Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.

Average annual salary (2015): $65,830

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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28. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers.

Average annual salary (2015): $65,890

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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27. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Description: Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units.

Average annual salary (2015): $66,020

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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26. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties.

Average annual salary (2015): $68,240

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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25. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Description: Monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of area being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.

Average annual salary (2015): $68,340

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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24. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians

Description: Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.

Average annual salary (2015): $68,620

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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23. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments.

Average annual salary (2015): $69,880

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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22. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.

Average annual salary (2015): $70,540

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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21. Web developers

Description: Design, create, and modify websites.

Average annual salary (2015): $70,660

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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20. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Description: Use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient's body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

Average annual salary (2015): $70,880

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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19. Registered nurses

Description: Provide and coordinate patient care, and educate patients and the public about various health conditions.

Average annual salary (2015): $71,000

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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18. Power plant operators

Description: Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Average annual salary (2015): $71,070

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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17. Transportation inspectors

Description: Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people.

Average annual salary (2015): $72,220

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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16. Dental hygienists

Description: Clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.

Average annual salary (2015): $72,720

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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15. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

Average annual salary (2015): $74,970

Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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14. Nuclear medicine technologists

Description: Use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient's body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.

Average annual salary (2015): $74,990

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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13. Elevator installers and repairers

Description: Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

Average annual salary (2015): $77,350

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

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12. Gaming managers

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino.

Average annual salary (2015): $77,770

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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11. Nuclear technicians

Description: Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and production.

Average annual salary (2015): $78,850

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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10. Detectives and criminal investigators

Description: Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Average annual salary (2015): $79,620

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

21

9. Power distributors and dispatchers

Description: Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Average annual salary (2015): $80,400

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

22

8. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

Description: Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.

Average annual salary (2015): $83,150

Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award

On-the-job training: None

23

7. Radiation therapists

Description: Check equipment, observe patients' reactions to treatment, and document the session.

Average annual salary (2015): $84,460

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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6. Funeral service managers

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes.

Average annual salary (2015): $84,470

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: None

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5. Commercial pilots

Description: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes or helicopters. Requires commercial-pilot certificate.

Average annual salary (2015): $84,510

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of non-retail sales workers — i.e., people who sell services or media.

Average annual salary (2015): $84,910

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: None

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3. Nuclear power reactor operators

Description: Operate or control nuclear reactors, move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, record data in logs, and implement emergency procedures when needed.

Average annual salary (2015): $88,820

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

28

2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.

Average annual salary (2015): $88,820

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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1. Air traffic controllers

Description: Monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. Median annual wages of air traffic controllers are the highest of any occupation in which workers typically do not need a bachelor's degree.

Average annual salary (2015): $118,740

Education required: Associate degree

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

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