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No Bachelor's Degree Required

38 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in New Jersey (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 38 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 $253,870/year (typical entry: Less than a High School Diploma). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

38
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$253,870
#1: Athletes and Sports Competitors
$119,691
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
123,040
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
20 jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $173,690
Associate's Degree
10 jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $129,460
Post-Secondary Certificate
6 jobs
Top: Ship Engineers — $118,310
Less than a High School Diploma
2 jobs
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $253,870

All 38 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 $253,870 390
2 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $173,690 53,000
3 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $144,460 10,910
4 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $142,990 7,650
5 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $137,920 800
6 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $133,210 2,210
7 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $132,230 190
8 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $131,370 300
9 Radiation Therapists Associate's $129,460 600
10 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $128,220 330
11 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $124,280 540
12 Technical Writers Associate's $122,320 1,550
13 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $121,580 1,310
14 Ship Engineers Certificate $118,310 170
15 First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers HS Diploma $117,450 1,340
16 Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers No Formal $116,110 N/A
17 Sound Engineering Technicians Associate's $115,190 290
18 Carpet Installers HS Diploma $115,180 390
19 Structural Iron and Steel Workers HS Diploma $113,220 1,060
20 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $111,600 450
21 Gas Plant Operators HS Diploma $110,900 190
22 Insulation Workers, Mechanical HS Diploma $107,610 330
23 Millwrights HS Diploma $107,540 340
24 Dental Hygienists Associate's $107,040 7,230
25 First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers Certificate $105,510 16,230
26 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Certificate $105,370 1,900
27 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers HS Diploma $104,540 420
28 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Associate's $103,930 1,250
29 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Associate's $103,150 3,370
30 Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $102,090 2,540
31 Fashion Designers Associate's $101,610 160
32 Funeral Home Managers Associate's $101,520 420
33 Gambling Managers HS Diploma $101,470 130
34 Postmasters and Mail Superintendents HS Diploma $101,100 440
35 Respiratory Therapists Associate's $100,810 3,350
36 Crane and Tower Operators Certificate $100,640 1,000
37 Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters HS Diploma $100,520 N/A
38 Avionics Technicians Certificate $100,250 260

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

Construction
7 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $137,920
Healthcare Practitioners
6 qualifying jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $129,460
Installation & Maintenance
6 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $121,580
Management
5 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $173,690
Arts & Media
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $253,870
Production
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Plant Operators — $131,370
Protective Service
3 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $142,990
Transportation
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $132,230

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in New Jersey?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 38 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 $253,870. 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 38 qualifying occupations in NJ, the average median salary is $119,691/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

$100K+ No Degree in Washington (42) $100K+ No Degree in California (37) $100K+ No Degree in New York (36) $100K+ No Degree in Massachusetts (31) $100K+ No Degree in Illinois (29) $100K+ No Degree in District of Columbia (24) $100K+ No Degree in Hawaii (23) $100K+ No Degree in Maryland (22) $100K+ No Degree in Oregon (22) $100K+ No Degree in Connecticut (18) $100K+ No Degree in Alaska (17) $100K+ No Degree in Texas (17) $100K+ No Degree in Colorado (16) $100K+ No Degree in Nevada (15) $100K+ No Degree in Rhode Island (15) $100K+ No Degree in Minnesota (14)

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

More Salary Data for New Jersey

All $100K+ Jobs 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 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

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Salary Data
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Salary Thresholds
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