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No Bachelor's Degree Required

7 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in South Dakota (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 7 occupations in South Dakota where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is General and Operations Managers at $137,400/year (typical entry: High School Diploma or Equivalent). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

7
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$137,400
#1: General and Operations Managers
$113,508
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
4,960
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
5 jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $137,400
Post-Secondary Certificate
1 job
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $101,830
Associate's Degree
1 job
Top: Funeral Home Managers — $100,880

All 7 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 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $137,400 4,280
2 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $130,270 30
3 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $116,320 N/A
4 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $106,410 450
5 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $101,830 40
6 Gas Plant Operators HS Diploma $101,450 90
7 Funeral Home Managers Associate's $100,880 70

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

Management
3 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $137,400
Production
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Distributors and Dispatchers — $130,270
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $116,320
Installation & Maintenance
1 qualifying job
Top: Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay — $101,830

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in South Dakota?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 7 occupations in South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
The highest-paying occupation in South Dakota that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is General and Operations Managers, with a median annual salary of $137,400. 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 South Dakota?
Among the 7 qualifying occupations in SD, the average median salary is $113,508/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 New Jersey (38) $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)

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

More Salary Data for South Dakota

All $100K+ Jobs in South Dakota · All South Dakota 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

More About South Dakota

Salary Data
All Salaries in South Dakota Average Salary in South Dakota Highest Paying Jobs in South Dakota
Salary Thresholds
Jobs Over $100K in South Dakota Jobs Over $50K in South Dakota $100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in South Dakota
Top Cities in South Dakota
Sioux Falls Rapid City
Top Colleges in South Dakota
Augustana University Black Hills State University Dakota State University Dakota Wesleyan University