No Bachelor's Degree Required

6 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Ohio (2024)

There are 6 occupations in Ohio 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 $151,170/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

6
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$151,170
#1: Air Traffic Controllers
$116,413
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
2,650
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
4 jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $151,170
Post-Secondary Certificate
2 jobs
Top: Fire Inspectors and Investigators — $110,450

All 6 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 $151,170 700
2 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators HS Diploma $123,290 150
3 Fire Inspectors and Investigators Certificate $110,450 490
4 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $110,140 320
5 Commercial Divers Certificate $102,800 N/A
6 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers HS Diploma $100,630 990

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

Production
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators — $123,290
Transportation
1 qualifying job
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $151,170
Protective Service
1 qualifying job
Top: Fire Inspectors and Investigators — $110,450
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $110,140
Installation & Maintenance
1 qualifying job
Top: Commercial Divers — $102,800

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Ohio?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 6 occupations in Ohio 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 Ohio?
The highest-paying occupation in Ohio that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Air Traffic Controllers, with a median annual salary of $151,170. 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 Ohio?
Among the 6 qualifying occupations in OH, the average median salary is $116,413/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 Ohio

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