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No Bachelor's Degree Required

29 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Illinois (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 29 occupations in Illinois where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Air Traffic Controllers at $181,560/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

29
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$181,560
#1: Air Traffic Controllers
$113,358
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
263,780
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
17 jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $181,560
Post-Secondary Certificate
5 jobs
Top: Forensic Science Technicians — $124,790
Associate's Degree
5 jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $124,600
Less than a High School Diploma
2 jobs
Top: Hoist and Winch Operators — $118,210

All 29 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 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $181,560 990
2 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $135,080 4,900
3 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $133,690 1,080
4 Forensic Science Technicians Certificate $124,790 370
5 Radiation Therapists Associate's $124,600 N/A
6 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators HS Diploma $123,980 410
7 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $123,500 3,240
8 Hoist and Winch Operators No Formal $118,210 320
9 Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators Certificate $115,780 1,680
10 Ship Engineers Certificate $115,310 110
11 Tapers HS Diploma $113,180 320
12 Nuclear Technicians Associate's $110,390 780
13 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $108,120 3,090
14 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $107,470 420
15 Terrazzo Workers and Finishers HS Diploma $107,190 N/A
16 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $106,860 12,040
17 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Certificate $105,750 19,340
18 Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers No Formal $105,580 N/A
19 First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers HS Diploma $105,450 2,860
20 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $104,950 620
21 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $104,440 1,160
22 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $103,570 171,300
23 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers HS Diploma $102,890 1,070
24 Structural Iron and Steel Workers HS Diploma $101,850 2,740
25 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $101,470 330
26 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Associate's $100,660 3,270
27 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers HS Diploma $100,520 29,180
28 Insulation Workers, Mechanical HS Diploma $100,400 1,100
29 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Associate's $100,170 1,060

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

Construction
7 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $133,690
Production
5 qualifying jobs
Top: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators — $123,980
Protective Service
4 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $135,080
Transportation
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $181,560
Healthcare Practitioners
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $124,600
Life & Physical Science
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Forensic Science Technicians — $124,790
Installation & Maintenance
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $108,120
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Administrative Services Managers — $106,860

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Illinois?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 29 occupations in Illinois 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 Illinois?
The highest-paying occupation in Illinois that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Air Traffic Controllers, with a median annual salary of $181,560. 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 Illinois?
Among the 29 qualifying occupations in IL, the average median salary is $113,358/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

$100K+ No Degree in Washington (42) $100K+ No Degree in New Jersey (38) $100K+ No Degree in California (37) $100K+ No Degree in New York (36) $100K+ No Degree in Massachusetts (31) $100K+ No Degree in District of Columbia (24) $100K+ No Degree in Hawaii (23) $100K+ No Degree in Maryland (22) $100K+ No Degree in Oregon (22) $100K+ No Degree in Connecticut (18) $100K+ No Degree in Alaska (17) $100K+ No Degree in Texas (17) $100K+ No Degree in Colorado (16) $100K+ No Degree in Nevada (15) $100K+ No Degree in Rhode Island (15) $100K+ No Degree in Minnesota (14)

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

More Salary Data for Illinois

All $100K+ Jobs in Illinois · All Illinois 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

More About Illinois

Salary Data
All Salaries in Illinois Average Salary in Illinois Highest Paying Jobs in Illinois
Salary Thresholds
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