Highly Paying Jobs - Without a Bachelors’ Degree

Forewords

This article is based on the premise that it is realizable to savor job opportunities without having bachelors’ degrees.  Associate degrees, postsecondary non-degree awards and high school diplomas may also lead candidates towards upward mobility of earnings.

N.B: the basic premise of this article does not stultify the efficacy of Bachelors’ Degrees.

Bachelors’ Degree – A Big ticket item

Students may not reckon it momentous or imperative to undertake Bachelors’ Degree programs owing to number of reasons. Nevertheless, the fact that Higher Education is entailed with higher price tags is likely to top the list. Financial destitute of students may not allow them to undertake Bachelors’ degrees.

Inflation and financial downturns have also affected education sector adversely with an impact that study expenses have upheaved to unaffordable heights. College degrees at their execution may leave students at the verge of educational loans plethora with complementing inabilities of loans payback.

Highly Paying Occupations that do not Demand Bachelors’ Degrees

Students who do not aspire to pursue Bachelors’ Degrees may also relish reasonable job-placements in these competitive and somehow stagnant markets.

Following are some of the occupations that only require Associate Degrees, Postsecondary non-degree awards and High school diplomas.

1 - Occupations Requiring Associate Degrees

An Associate Degree can be elucidated as the undergraduate learning program that plausibly lasts for two years. Associate Degree programs are unlikely to be ultra-expensive as compared to Bachelors’ Degree programs. Given below are some of the areas of expertise where Associate Degree holders may relish prevalent job-opportunities.

Occupation	Estimated Median Wage (per annum)	Projected job openings, 2010-2020	Work experience	On-the-job training
Air traffic controllers	$108,040	10,200	None	Long-term on the-job training
General and operations managers	$94,400	410,100	1 to 5 years	None
Construction managers	$83,860	120,400	More than 5 years	None
Radiation therapists	$74,980	6,700	None	None
Nuclear medicine technologists	$68,560	7,500	None	None
Dental hygienists	$68,250	104,900	None	None
Nuclear technicians	$68,090	3,300	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Registered nurses	$64,690	1,207,400	None	None
Diagnostic medical sonographers	$64,380	31,700	None	None
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians	$58,080	1,700	None	None
Engineering technicians, except drafters, all other	$58,020	16,800	None	None
Electrical and electronics engineering technicians	$56,040	31,800	None	None
Radiologic technologists and technicians	$54,340	95,100	None	None
Funeral service managers, directors, morticians, and undertakers	$54,330	10,700	None	Apprenticeship
Respiratory therapists	$54,280	52,700	None	None
Geological and petroleum technicians	$54,020	7,000	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Electrical and electronics drafters	$53,020	7,200	None	None
Occupational therapy assistants	$51,010	16,800	None	None
Precision instrument and equipment repairers & PC Repair	$50,910	5,500	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Mechanical engineering technicians	$50,110	10,400	None	None

2 - Occupations Requiring Post-Secondary Non-Degree Awards

Post-Secondary non-degree awards are the learning programs that are presumable to lead learners to certificates or other awards, but not the college degrees. Post-Secondary non-degree awards may also complement the job-seekers to enjoy career placements without hounding expensive Bachelors’ degrees. Following fields may be reckoned as interest-instigating for non-degree awards holders.

Occupation	Estimated Median Wage (per annum)	Projected job openings, 2010-2020	Work experience	On-the-job training
First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers	$68,240	33,100	1 to 5 years	None
Commercial pilots	$67,500	19,300	None	None
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay	$65,230	6,900	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers	$54,710	59,300	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians	$53,420	45,200	None	None
Signal and track switch repairers	$53,230	1,300	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	$53,090	87,900	1 to 5 years	None
Avionics technicians	$52,320	5,800	None	None
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment	$51,820	17,700	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Commercial drivers	$51,360	1,300	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training

3 - Occupations Requiring High School Diplomas

A High School Diploma is usually accoladed on the completion of High School education. These diplomas may also uphold job-seekers in getting access to exuberant job opportunities. Following are some of the job fields, where High School Diploma holders are presumable to have a spot for career upheavals.

Occupation	Estimated Median annual Wage (per annum)	Projected job Openings, 2010-2020	Work experience	On-the-job training
Managers, all other	$96,450	249,400	1 to 5 years	None
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers	$80,210	33,700	More than 5 years	None
First-line supervisors of police and detectives	$78,260	38,700	1 to 5 years	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Administrative services managers	$77,890	99,800	1 to 5 years	None
Nuclear power reactor operators	$75,650	2,000	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Elevator installers and repairers	$70,910	8,200	None	Apprenticeship
Power distributors and dispatchers	$68,900	3,600	None	Long-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers	$68,880	123,500	More than 5 years	None
Detectives and criminal investigators	$68,820	30,100	1 to 5 years	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Fashion designers	$64,530	6,700	None	Long-term on-the-job training
Power plant operators	$63,080	14,400	None	Long-term on the-job training
Business operations specialists, all other	$62,450	327,200	Less than 1 year	Long-term on-the-job training
Media and communication equipment workers, all other	$61,680	3,300	None	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$60,750	234,500	More than 5 years	None
Postmasters and mail superintendents	$60,300	4,800	1 to 5 years	Moderate-term on-the-job training
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers	$60,040	14,400	None	Long-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers	$59,150	164,900	1 to 5 years	None
Artists and related workers, all other	$58,840	4,800	None	Long-term on-the-job training
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	$58,680	259,700	More than 5 years	None
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators	$58,620	79,900	None	Long-term on-the-job training

*Wage data is for wage and salary workers only
Source: BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Employment Projections program

Affirmative Context of Pursuing High School Diplomas, Non-Degree Awards and Associate Degrees
Diplomas, Non-degree awards and Associate degrees are unlikely to put the students under gruesome financial encumbrances of education. Obverse is the case of Bachelors’ degree programs that are arduous to afford.

These diplomas, non-degree awards and associate degrees can be executed within a shorter period of time—allowing the students to surf their time in developing job skills. It is beneficial to undertake training sessions as it gives practical exposures of education to the students. In this context diplomas, non-degree awards and associate are benignant, as students may spend more time in securing practical efficacies.