No Bachelor's Degree Required

21 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in New Jersey (2024)

There are 21 occupations in New Jersey where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Athletes and Sports Competitors at $204,510/year (typical entry: Less than a High School Diploma). Based on 2024 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 + O*NET 28.3

21
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$204,510
#1: Athletes and Sports Competitors
$121,785
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
90,690
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
15 jobs
Top: Gambling Managers — $159,440
Post-Secondary Certificate
3 jobs
Top: Ship Engineers — $120,180
Associate's Degree
2 jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $113,410
Less than a High School Diploma
1 job
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $204,510

All 21 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 Athletes and Sports Competitors No Formal $204,510 410
2 Gambling Managers HS Diploma $159,440 130
3 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $148,370 64,680
4 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $137,140 6,840
5 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $131,860 9,150
6 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $129,500 570
7 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $127,000 810
8 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $122,620 190
9 Ship Engineers Certificate $120,180 320
10 Radiation Therapists Associate's $113,410 660
11 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $112,560 1,330
12 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $107,790 420
13 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $107,620 230
14 First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers HS Diploma $107,520 1,390
15 Chemical Plant and System Operators Certificate $106,530 190
16 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $105,960 380
17 Structural Iron and Steel Workers HS Diploma $104,750 920
18 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels HS Diploma $104,410 800
19 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $104,020 520
20 Gas Plant Operators HS Diploma $101,580 190
21 Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining HS Diploma $100,720 560

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

Production
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Plant Operators — $107,620
Management
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Gambling Managers — $159,440
Protective Service
3 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $137,140
Construction
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $129,500
Transportation
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $122,620
Healthcare Practitioners
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $113,410
Installation & Maintenance
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $112,560
Arts & Media
1 qualifying job
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $204,510

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in New Jersey?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 21 occupations in New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
The highest-paying occupation in New Jersey that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Athletes and Sports Competitors, with a median annual salary of $204,510. Entry typically requires: Less than a High School Diploma.
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 New Jersey?
Among the 21 qualifying occupations in NJ, the average median salary is $121,785/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 New Jersey

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