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No Bachelor's Degree Required

36 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in New York (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 36 occupations in New York where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Commercial Divers at $157,800/year (typical entry: Post-Secondary Certificate). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

36
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$157,800
#1: Commercial Divers
$117,419
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
346,090
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
23 jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $144,960
Associate's Degree
8 jobs
Top: Nuclear Technicians — $129,780
Post-Secondary Certificate
4 jobs
Top: Commercial Divers — $157,800
Less than a High School Diploma
1 job
Top: Plasterers and Stucco Masons — $120,180

All 36 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 Commercial Divers Certificate $157,800 170
2 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $144,960 1,150
3 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $142,280 15,010
4 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $139,390 150
5 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $135,720 3,470
6 Ship Engineers Certificate $133,640 550
7 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $132,520 4,100
8 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $130,860 206,740
9 Nuclear Technicians Associate's $129,780 260
10 Radiation Therapists Associate's $129,620 820
11 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators HS Diploma $129,580 230
12 Flight Attendants HS Diploma $126,650 12,060
13 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $124,080 12,750
14 Terrazzo Workers and Finishers HS Diploma $123,820 N/A
15 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $121,280 5,840
16 Plasterers and Stucco Masons No Formal $120,180 N/A
17 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $118,650 890
18 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Associate's $113,270 3,240
19 Locomotive Engineers HS Diploma $109,220 1,510
20 Respiratory Therapists Associate's $107,810 7,010
21 Models HS Diploma $107,280 N/A
22 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $106,990 1,960
23 Dental Hygienists Associate's $106,130 13,660
24 Riggers HS Diploma $105,600 650
25 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels HS Diploma $104,800 1,930
26 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Associate's $103,920 6,880
27 Funeral Home Managers Associate's $103,530 820
28 First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers HS Diploma $103,320 3,380
29 Real Estate Sales Agents HS Diploma $102,990 8,660
30 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Certificate $102,800 4,300
31 Gambling Managers HS Diploma $102,350 180
32 Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Certificate $101,990 1,400
33 Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers HS Diploma $101,230 670
34 Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door HS Diploma $101,150 4,170
35 Firefighters HS Diploma $100,960 12,950
36 Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $100,960 8,530

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

Installation & Maintenance
6 qualifying jobs
Top: Commercial Divers — $157,800
Healthcare Practitioners
6 qualifying jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $129,620
Transportation
5 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $144,960
Management
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Administrative Services Managers — $142,280
Production
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Distributors and Dispatchers — $139,390
Protective Service
4 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $132,520
Construction
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $135,720
Sales
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Models — $107,280

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in New York?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 36 occupations in New York 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 York?
The highest-paying occupation in New York that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Commercial Divers, with a median annual salary of $157,800. Entry typically requires: Post-Secondary Certificate.
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 York?
Among the 36 qualifying occupations in NY, the average median salary is $117,419/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 New York

All $100K+ Jobs in New York · All New York 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