36 High-Paying Jobs With Little Schooling (With Salary Information)

By Indeed Editorial Team

June 22, 2021

A high salary can be an important factor in pursuing a career. During your job search, you might also consider the educational background employers seek in qualified candidates. Learning about occupations that have high incomes and yet require minimal schooling can help you find the right career fit. In this article, we describe 36 professions with limited schooling requirements.

36 high-paying jobs with little schooling

If you're interested in transitioning to a different industry, consider the following occupations that require minimum educational credentials:

1. Logistics manager

Average salary: $60,538 per year

Primary duties: A logistics manager spearheads activities in a supply chain. Primarily working in warehouses, logistics managers ensure the inventory is correct and employees distribute merchandise in a timely manner. They also track the routes of the associates transporting the products from the warehouse.

2. Funeral director

Average salary: $60,944 per year

Primary duties: A funeral director coordinates funeral services. Consulting with family members and friends of the deceased person, funeral directors collect paperwork for the death certificate. They also explain how the funeral activities commence.

3. Nuclear power reactor operator

Average salary: $61,952 per year

Primary duties: A nuclear power reactor operator controls the electrical and technical functions within a nuclear plant. Using equipment, operators oversee the radiation levels and tweak the controls of turbines. They also build emergency response protocols.

4. Boilermaker

Average salary: $62,319 per year

Primary duties: A boilermaker is a trade professional who installs and inspects boilers atop large vessels. Using blueprints, boilermakers measure the space to place or remove boilers. They also fix leaks and ensure the valves align properly.

5. Massage therapist

Average salary: $65,042 per year

Primary duties: A massage therapist is a licensed professional who performs relaxing exercises on the body to release tension and reduce pain. Following a client's treatment plan, massage therapists suggest ways to improve posture. They also help the body recover from injuries.

6. Electrical power line operator

Average salary: $68,030 per year

Primary duties: An electrical power line operator is a technician who ensures the electrical lines in a city function properly. Working for energy companies, power line operators may work underground to maintain cables, and they fix the lines that extend above buildings.

7. Agricultural manager

Average salary: $68,090 per year

Primary duties: An agricultural manager supervises farming activities. To ensure the harvest runs smoothly, agricultural managers purchase supplies and decide the best conditions to plant new crops. They also consider how the weather and market prices might influence their work.

8. Aerospace engineering technician

Average salary: $68,570 per year

Primary duties: An aerospace engineering technician helps design spacecraft and missiles. Working with aerospace engineers, technicians detect and fix issues with machines. They also document their progress throughout the development process.

9. Aircraft mechanic

Average salary: $69,098 per year

Primary duties: An aircraft mechanic repairs parts of an aircraft, such as brakes and wings. Mechanics perform regular inspections on the plane to identify issues, and they ensure the plane upholds safety standards for transport. They use hand tools to mend the mechanical and electrical systems.

10. Commercial driver

Average salary: $69,308 per year

Primary duties: A commercial driver operates a truck to transport and deliver materials, such as merchandise or hazardous substances. Drivers hold a commercial driver's license and perform regular inspections on their vehicles. They can also operate heavy equipment to unload shipments.

11. Occupational therapy assistant

Average salary: $69,618 per year

Primary duties: An occupational therapy assistant helps the occupational therapist assist patients. During a session, the assistant demonstrates therapeutic exercises that encourage movement and enhance fine motor skills. They also document the patients' performance.

12. Surgical technician

Average salary: $69,650 per year

Primary duties: A surgical technician helps medical staff members operate on patients during surgery. Before the operation begins, technicians disinfect the surgical tools and organize them for easy access. They also track the progress of the surgery.

13. Network systems administrator

Average salary: $69,731 per year

Primary duties: A network systems administrator develops and maintains the security of networks for organizations. The goal is to safeguard sensitive company information while enhancing data flow. Administrators detect the root causes of data issues and prevent them from reoccurring.

14. Diagnostic imaging manager

Average salary: $70,245 per year

Primary duties: A diagnostic imaging manager leads a department of imaging specialists in a health care facility. They assess the quality of imaging services, and they train employees on using the imaging equipment safely and efficiently.

15. Diagnostic medical sonographer

Average salary: $70,380 per year

Primary duties: A diagnostic medical sonographer is a health care professional who uses ultrasounds to diagnose patients. Applying gel to the patient's skin, the sonographer directs the equipment to emit sound waves into the body to retrieve images internally. Next, the sonographer interprets the images to help determine the state of the patient's physical well-being.

16. Locomotive engineer

Average salary: $70,660 per year

Primary duties: A locomotive engineer is a professional who ensures trains operate safely on railroads. Their responsibilities include keeping the railroads clear for trains to pass and inspecting the speed and air pressure of the train's equipment. They also operate the trains from one station to the other.

17. Transit police officer

Average salary: $71,000 per year

Primary duties: A transit police officer protects the safety of passengers on public transportation, such as subways and streetcars. Securing the area, transit police officers apprehend suspects who trespass without paying fare, and they investigate stolen property incidents. They also respond to emergencies.

18. Computer network support specialist

Average salary: $71,040 per year

Primary duties: A computer network support specialist fixes issues within computer networks. After troubleshooting, specialists determine what's preventing a system from functioning properly. They also help other employees to use the software applications on the computer.

19. Radiation therapist

Average salary: $72,963 per year

Primary duties: A radiation therapist is a medical professional who specializes in care for cancer patients. Consulting with oncologist doctors and nurses, radiation therapists administer radiation treatment and monitor patients' recoveries. They also wear protective equipment to prevent exposure to radiation.

20. Web developer

Average salary: $74,861 per year

Primary duties: A web developer is a technology industry professional who designs web applications. During the design process, web developers troubleshoot the programs to make sure they work properly. They also strive to make the interface easy to use and appealing to users.

21. Signal and track switch repairer

Average salary: $75,970 per year

Primary duties: A signal and track switch repairer installs and repairs the signal and switch mechanisms on railroads. To make sure the system works properly, repairers test their functioning and use hand tools to make the bolts tighter. They also focus on the crossing gates, ensuring the circuits open and close.

22. Gas plant operator

Average salary: $77,610 per year

Primary duties: A gas plant operator adheres to the safety protocols within energy companies or industrial plants. They inspect the temperature of equipment, and they use compressors and evaporators. They also monitor the levels within boilers and furnaces to minimize fire hazards.

23. Petroleum pump system operator

Average salary: $77,610 per year

Primary duties: A petroleum pump system operator manages activities at a petroleum pump system. They operate special equipment to control valves and command the flow of petroleum into a pipeline. To avoid contamination, operators align their efforts with professionals at other pump systems.

24. Registered nurse

Average salary: $78,461 per year

Primary duties: A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed health care provider who helps tend to patients and develop treatment plans. Working with physicians, the RN addresses the patient's needs and explains their medical conditions to families. Nurses may also have specialties in emergency room care, for example.

25. Construction manager

Average salary: $78,938 per year

Primary duties: A construction manager is the supervisor of a building site. When spearheading a project, construction managers establish budgets for the building process and expectations for employees. They also update clients about their progress.

26. Dental hygienist

Average salary: $79,174 per year

Primary duties: A dental hygienist performs routine dental procedures on patients, including teeth cleanings and screenings. As licensed professionals, dental hygienists recommend consistent brushing and flossing for patients to maintain oral health. They work in dentist's offices and explain treatment plans to patients.

27. MRI Technologist

Average salary: $80,362 per year

Primary duties: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist operates the MRI machine to help diagnose patients with medical conditions. The scanning may require technologists to inject patients with contrast, which enables the machine to evaluate their internal organs. Technologists consult with radiologists to interpret MRI results.

28. Ship engineer

Average salary: $81,110 per year

Primary duties: A ship engineer maintains the major parts of a ship, such as the engine, pumps and generator. Engineers inspect the functioning of the refrigeration and ventilation aboard the vessel. They also make sure the sewage plant and purifier decompose the sewage normally.

29. Transportation inspector

Average salary: 81,320 per year

Primary duties: A transportation inspector examines the operation of transportation modes. Prioritizing safety and efficiency, inspectors check the communication equipment so operators can contact someone at all times, and they repair the functions of brakes to avoid accidents.

30. Criminal investigator

Average salary: $82,927 per year

Primary duties: A criminal investigator works in law enforcement and aims to solve crimes. Responsible for gathering evidence, investigators visit the crime scene and interview eyewitnesses to gain insight into the situation that occurred. They also participate in suspect interrogations and help verify alibis.

31. Elevator installer

Average salary: $88,540 per year

Primary duties: An elevator installer is a technician who puts together and fixes elevators and escalators. Installers manage the control paneling that allows the elevator to move properly. They also perform testing procedures to detect and solve issues.

32. Nuclear medicine technologist

Average salary: $89,828 per year

Primary duties: A nuclear medicine technologist administers radioactive substances to patients for imaging testing. The results of the test allow medical professionals to see the inside of the patient's body and make diagnoses. Technologists inspect the testing equipment to ensure it works normally.

33. Power plant operator

Average salary: $90,875 per year

Primary duties: A power plant operator manages electric equipment inside of a power plant. They review how energy distributes from one station to another, and they conduct troubleshooting to ensure generations function as intended.

34. Real estate broker

Average salary: $91,294 per year

Primary duties: A real estate broker helps agents buy and sell property. For clients selling their homes, brokers recommend ways to make the houses appear more attractive to prospective buyers. They also review the transactions that agents make.

35. Software developer

Average salary: $105,564 per year

Primary duties: A software developer is a technology professional who designs new software programs. Collaborating with a team of other designers and engineers, developers maintain a budget for their projects. They use programming languages to enable the product to perform different tasks.

36. Loan officer

Average salary: $178,203 per year

Primary duties: A loan officer is a licensed professional who helps customers apply for loans. Working in a customer service position, loan officers suggest financial products that match the customer's monetary circumstances. Once the customer invests, the officer processes the application.

36 High-Paying Jobs With Little Schooling (With Salary Information)

36 high-paying jobs with little schooling

Browse more articles