No Bachelor's Degree Required

5 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Pennsylvania (2024)

There are 5 occupations in Pennsylvania 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 $121,310/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

5
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$121,310
#1: Air Traffic Controllers
$108,252
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
9,270
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
3 jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $121,310
Less than a High School Diploma
1 job
Top: Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers — $109,010
Associate's Degree
1 job
Top: Nuclear Technicians — $107,800

All 5 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 $121,310 390
2 Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers No Formal $109,010 80
3 Nuclear Technicians Associate's $107,800 360
4 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $102,400 4,670
5 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $100,740 3,770

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

Transportation
1 qualifying job
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $121,310
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers — $109,010
Life & Physical Science
1 qualifying job
Top: Nuclear Technicians — $107,800
Protective Service
1 qualifying job
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $102,400
Installation & Maintenance
1 qualifying job
Top: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $100,740

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Pennsylvania?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 5 occupations in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
The highest-paying occupation in Pennsylvania that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Air Traffic Controllers, with a median annual salary of $121,310. 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 Pennsylvania?
Among the 5 qualifying occupations in PA, the average median salary is $108,252/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 Pennsylvania

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