No Bachelor's Degree Required

2 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Kentucky (2024)

There are 2 occupations in Kentucky where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Airfield Operations Specialists at $130,160/year (typical entry: Some College Courses). Based on 2024 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 + O*NET 28.3

2
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$130,160
#1: Airfield Operations Specialists
$126,065
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
460
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.

Some College Courses
1 job
Top: Airfield Operations Specialists — $130,160
High School Diploma or Equivalent
1 job
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $121,970

All 2 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 Airfield Operations Specialists Some College $130,160 270
2 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $121,970 190

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

Transportation
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Airfield Operations Specialists — $130,160

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Kentucky?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 2 occupations in Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupation in Kentucky that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Airfield Operations Specialists, with a median annual salary of $130,160. Entry typically requires: Some College Courses.
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 Kentucky?
Among the 2 qualifying occupations in KY, the average median salary is $126,065/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.

$100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in Other States

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

More Salary Data for Kentucky

All $100K+ Jobs in Kentucky · Highest Paying Jobs in Kentucky · Average Salary in Kentucky · All Kentucky 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 2024 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

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