44 career paths
Career paths without a degree
Occupations where most workers do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Each page shows what the job pays (BLS, May 2025), what employers typically ask for, and how people get in: the licence, apprenticeship, exam, or short program that leads to the job, what it costs, and how long it takes.
By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS, O*NET
Business and finance
Computer and IT
Computer network support specialist
Median pay $76,220
BLS typical entry: Associate's degree50% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 6 months for the certificate; 2 to 4 months of Network+ study
Cybersecurity analyst
Median pay $129,180
BLS typical entry: Bachelor's degree22% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 6 months for the certificate, plus exam preparation
Front-end web developer
Median pay $92,650
BLS typical entry: Bachelor's degree50% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 7 months at 10 hours a week
IT support specialist
Median pay $61,860
BLS typical entry: Some college, no degree48% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 6 months at 10 hours a week
Salesforce administrator
Median pay $116,580
BLS typical entry: Bachelor's degree41% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
3 to 6 months of study
UX designer
Median pay $104,000
BLS typical entry: Bachelor's degree45% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 6 months at 10 hours a week
Healthcare practitioners and technicians
Dental hygienist
Median pay $98,100
BLS typical entry: Associate's degree75% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
2 to 3 years
Diagnostic medical sonographer
Median pay $96,590
BLS typical entry: Associate's degree18 to 24 months
EMT
Median pay $44,470
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award3 to 6 months
Medical billing and coding specialist
Median pay $51,140
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award4 to 12 months
Pharmacy technician
Median pay $45,750
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent96% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
2 to 6 months of study, or on-the-job training
Radiologic technologist
Median pay $80,110
BLS typical entry: Associate's degreeAbout 2 years
Respiratory therapist
Median pay $82,280
BLS typical entry: Associate's degreeAbout 2 years
Surgical technologist
Median pay $64,650
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award9 to 24 months
Healthcare support
Certified nursing assistant
Median pay $42,260
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award87% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
4 to 12 weeks
Medical assistant
Median pay $45,690
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award83% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
9 to 12 months
Phlebotomist
Median pay $45,230
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award4 to 12 weeks
Physical therapist assistant
Median pay $68,380
BLS typical entry: Associate's degree84% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 2 years
Sterile processing technician
Median pay $47,700
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent83% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
4 to 9 months including the required hours
Protective service
Personal care and service
Sales
Automotive sales consultant
Median pay $38,630
BLS typical entry: No formal educational credential86% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
1 to 4 weeks of dealer training
Insurance sales agent
Median pay $62,280
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent53% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
2 to 6 weeks of study
Real estate agent
Median pay $52,830
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent2 to 6 months, self-paced online courses are common
Sales development representative
Median pay $72,080
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent66% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 4 to 6 months at 5 to 10 hours a week
Office and administrative
Bookkeeper
Median pay $50,670
BLS typical entry: Some college, no degree81% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 2 to 4 months
Customer service representative
Median pay $44,770
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent86% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 1 to 2 months
Construction and trades
Electrician
Median pay $63,190
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent99% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
About 4 years, paid from day one
Elevator and escalator installer
Median pay $109,910
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
4 years
Heavy equipment operator
Median pay $59,850
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
3 to 4 years to journeyman, with scheduled pay increases along the way
Plumber
Median pay $63,800
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
4 to 5 years, paid from day one
Solar installer
Median pay $53,140
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent85% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
1 to 12 months of on-the-job training
Installation, maintenance, and repair
Aircraft mechanic
Median pay $79,870
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award99% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
18 to 24 months
Automotive technician
Median pay $50,620
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award6 months to 2 years of training, and 2 years of hands-on work before full ASE certification
Diesel technician
Median pay $61,770
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
1 to 2 years, or an employer program you are paid for
Electrical power-line installer
Median pay $95,320
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent97% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
3 to 4 years, paid
Heavy equipment technician
Median pay $65,510
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
1 to 4 years depending on the route
HVAC technician
Median pay $61,010
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award6 to 12 months for a certificate; 3 to 5 years for a full apprenticeship
Industrial machinery mechanic
Median pay $64,520
BLS typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
6 to 18 months for a certificate; 2 to 4 years for an apprenticeship
Wind turbine technician
Median pay $64,120
BLS typical entry: Postsecondary nondegree award100% of workers here hold no bachelor’s degree (O*NET).
1 to 2 years, or employer training