No Bachelor's Degree Required

10 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Minnesota (2024)

There are 10 occupations in Minnesota 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 $166,860/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

10
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$166,860
#1: Air Traffic Controllers
$114,493
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
9,470
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
5 jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $166,860
Associate's Degree
3 jobs
Top: Nuclear Medicine Technologists — $104,020
Post-Secondary Certificate
1 job
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $113,520
Less than a High School Diploma
1 job
Top: Hoist and Winch Operators — $101,380

All 10 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 $166,860 630
2 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $128,400 5,060
3 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $113,560 2,330
4 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $113,520 160
5 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $113,470 150
6 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $104,020 170
7 Surgical Assistants Associate's $101,600 390
8 Hoist and Winch Operators No Formal $101,380 100
9 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $101,290 250
10 Funeral Home Managers Associate's $100,830 230

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

Transportation
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $166,860
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Administrative Services Managers — $128,400
Healthcare Practitioners
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Nuclear Medicine Technologists — $104,020
Protective Service
1 qualifying job
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $113,560
Installation & Maintenance
1 qualifying job
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $113,520
Production
1 qualifying job
Top: Power Distributors and Dispatchers — $113,470
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $101,290

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Minnesota?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 10 occupations in Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
The highest-paying occupation in Minnesota that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Air Traffic Controllers, with a median annual salary of $166,860. 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 Minnesota?
Among the 10 qualifying occupations in MN, the average median salary is $114,493/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 Minnesota

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