No Bachelor's Degree Required

11 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Massachusetts (2024)

There are 11 occupations in Massachusetts where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers at $142,670/year (typical entry: High School Diploma or Equivalent). Based on 2024 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 + O*NET 28.3

11
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$142,670
#1: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
$109,883
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
130,560
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
6 jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $142,670
Associate's Degree
4 jobs
Top: Nuclear Medicine Technologists — $103,480
Post-Secondary Certificate
1 job
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $102,920

All 11 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 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $142,670 600
2 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $120,680 111,380
3 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $117,850 8,700
4 Structural Iron and Steel Workers HS Diploma $109,120 N/A
5 Pile Driver Operators HS Diploma $107,270 100
6 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $103,480 340
7 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $102,920 220
8 Radiation Therapists Associate's $102,400 380
9 Technical Writers Associate's $100,860 1,980
10 Dental Hygienists Associate's $100,750 5,010
11 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $100,720 1,850

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

Construction
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $142,670
Healthcare Practitioners
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Nuclear Medicine Technologists — $103,480
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $120,680
Installation & Maintenance
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $102,920
Arts & Media
1 qualifying job
Top: Technical Writers — $100,860

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Massachusetts?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 11 occupations in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
The highest-paying occupation in Massachusetts that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers, with a median annual salary of $142,670. 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 Massachusetts?
Among the 11 qualifying occupations in MA, the average median salary is $109,883/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 Massachusetts

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