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No Bachelor's Degree Required

22 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Maryland (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 22 occupations in Maryland where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels at $138,950/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

22
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$138,950
#1: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
$111,426
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
124,660
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
13 jobs
Top: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $138,950
Associate's Degree
7 jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $107,830
Post-Secondary Certificate
2 jobs
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $117,760

All 22 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 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels HS Diploma $138,950 450
2 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $131,290 70
3 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $122,260 810
4 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $120,700 6,700
5 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $120,530 2,380
6 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $117,930 96,740
7 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $117,760 N/A
8 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $115,550 4,320
9 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $113,660 50
10 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $111,260 330
11 Dental Hygienists Associate's $107,830 3,500
12 Radiation Therapists Associate's $107,120 250
13 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $106,090 1,830
14 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Associate's $105,230 770
15 Health Education Specialists Associate's $104,470 2,220
16 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $104,150 330
17 Gas Plant Operators HS Diploma $102,950 180
18 Technical Writers Associate's $100,990 1,780
19 Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $100,800 370
20 Transportation Inspectors HS Diploma $100,700 250
21 Funeral Home Managers Associate's $100,670 260
22 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Certificate $100,500 1,070

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

Installation & Maintenance
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $117,760
Healthcare Practitioners
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $107,830
Transportation
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $138,950
Management
3 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $117,930
Production
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Distributors and Dispatchers — $113,660
Protective Service
2 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $120,700
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $122,260
Community & Social Service
1 qualifying job
Top: Health Education Specialists — $104,470

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Maryland?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 22 occupations in Maryland 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 Maryland?
The highest-paying occupation in Maryland that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, with a median annual salary of $138,950. 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 Maryland?
Among the 22 qualifying occupations in MD, the average median salary is $111,426/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 Maryland

All $100K+ Jobs in Maryland · All Maryland 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