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No Bachelor's Degree Required

9 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Alabama (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 9 occupations in Alabama where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $119,000/year (typical entry: High School Diploma or Equivalent). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

9
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$119,000
#1: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
$111,558
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
33,730
Workers in These Roles

Education Breakdown

These high-paying jobs span different education levels — from no formal education to associate's degrees and trade certifications.

High School Diploma or Equivalent
8 jobs
Top: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators — $119,000
Associate's Degree
1 job
Top: Nuclear Technicians — $110,240

All 9 Jobs Paying $100K+ Without a Bachelor's Degree

Ranked by median annual salary. Education level from O*NET (typical entry-level requirement). Click any job for the full salary breakdown.

# Occupation Education Median Salary Workers
1 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators HS Diploma $119,000 360
2 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $114,960 240
3 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $114,570 190
4 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $114,550 860
5 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $111,790 30,170
6 Nuclear Technicians Associate's $110,240 280
7 Transportation Inspectors HS Diploma $108,140 670
8 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $107,080 790
9 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $103,700 170

Top Career Fields (No Degree, $100K+)

Production
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators — $119,000
Transportation
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $114,960
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Administrative Services Managers — $114,550
Life & Physical Science
1 qualifying job
Top: Nuclear Technicians — $110,240
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $103,700

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Alabama?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 9 occupations in Alabama where the median salary exceeds $100,000/year and the typical entry-level education is below a bachelor's degree.
What is the highest-paying job without a degree in Alabama?
The highest-paying occupation in Alabama that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, with a median annual salary of $119,000. Entry typically requires: High School Diploma or Equivalent.
What education do you need for a $100K job without a college degree?
The jobs on this list typically require one of: a high school diploma, a post-secondary certificate or trade certification, some college courses, or an associate's degree. Many of these roles value on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or industry certifications over formal degrees.
What's the average salary for $100K+ no-degree jobs in Alabama?
Among the 9 qualifying occupations in AL, the average median salary is $111,558/year. These jobs range from just over $100,000 to well above $200,000 in some fields like management and skilled trades.
How do I get a $100K job without a bachelor's degree?
Focus on high-demand fields like skilled trades (elevator installers, power plant operators), transportation (airline pilots, air traffic controllers), sales management, or tech roles that accept certifications. Build relevant experience through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or industry certifications. Many employers value demonstrated skills and experience over formal education.

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$100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in Other States

What's the actual take-home? These $100K+ salaries are before taxes.

More Salary Data for Alabama

All $100K+ Jobs in Alabama · All Alabama Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This page combines two authoritative data sources: salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, and education requirements from the O*NET 28.3 database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor. Jobs are filtered to those where the typical education requirement is below a bachelor's degree (including high school diploma, post-secondary certificate, associate's degree, or some college courses) and the state-level median salary exceeds $100,000/year.

See our Methodology and Data Sources pages for details.

Sources: BLS OEWS · O*NET OnLine