No Bachelor's Degree Required

9 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in Texas (2024)

There are 9 occupations in Texas 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 $193,000/year (typical entry: Less than a High School Diploma). Based on 2024 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 + O*NET 28.3

9
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$193,000
#1: Athletes and Sports Competitors
$123,278
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
47,340
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: Air Traffic Controllers — $159,100
Post-Secondary Certificate
2 jobs
Top: Ship Engineers — $118,490
Less than a High School Diploma
1 job
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $193,000
Associate's Degree
1 job
Top: Radiation Therapists — $102,000

All 9 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 $193,000 2,760
2 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $159,100 2,060
3 Ship Engineers Certificate $118,490 1,190
4 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels HS Diploma $116,960 4,330
5 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $109,450 21,990
6 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $105,840 6,180
7 Chemical Plant and System Operators Certificate $104,620 3,870
8 Radiation Therapists Associate's $102,000 1,790
9 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $100,050 3,170

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

Transportation
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $159,100
Production
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Chemical Plant and System Operators — $104,620
Arts & Media
1 qualifying job
Top: Athletes and Sports Competitors — $193,000
Management
1 qualifying job
Top: Administrative Services Managers — $109,450
Protective Service
1 qualifying job
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $105,840
Healthcare Practitioners
1 qualifying job
Top: Radiation Therapists — $102,000

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in Texas?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 9 occupations in Texas 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 Texas?
The highest-paying occupation in Texas that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Athletes and Sports Competitors, with a median annual salary of $193,000. 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 Texas?
Among the 9 qualifying occupations in TX, the average median salary is $123,278/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 Texas

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