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No College Degree Required

No-Degree Jobs in Kentucky

High-paying careers that don't require a college degree

$109,950

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$57,657

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in Kentucky

You don't need a college degree to build a successful, high-paying career in Kentucky. Many skilled trades, technical roles, and service positions offer competitive salaries and excellent growth opportunities. The occupations below are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and represent the highest-paying jobs that typically don't require a bachelor's degree.

Career Growth Potential

These roles often provide opportunities for advancement through experience, certifications, and specialized training. Many employers offer on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs, or tuition assistance for further education if you choose to pursue additional qualifications later.

How to Get Started

To get started, research the specific requirements for your target occupation, including any necessary licenses, certifications, or training programs. Many of these roles offer immediate employment opportunities with competitive starting salaries.

No-Degree Job Opportunities

Real Wages (Purchasing Power)

These careers typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or certification programs instead of a 4-year college degree.

No-Degree Jobs in Kentucky


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$109,950	$109,950	$53	2,340
Airfield Operations Specialists SOC: 53-2022 No Degree	$108,820	$108,820	$52	290
Gambling Managers SOC: 11-9071 No Degree	$107,860	$107,860	$52	30
Power Distributors and Dispatchers SOC: 51-8012 No Degree	$105,940	$105,940	$51	140
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$99,750	$99,750	$48	240
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8091 No Degree	$99,730	$99,730	$48	40
Maintenance Workers, Machinery SOC: 49-9043 No Degree	$96,450	$96,450	$46	2,920
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$93,970	$93,970	$45	690
Find Power Plant Operators Jobs
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$92,780	$92,780	$45	6,210
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC: 11-9013 No Degree	$89,300	$89,300	$43	110
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$88,030	$88,030	$42	1,600
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$86,900	$86,900	$42	720
Transportation Inspectors SOC: 53-6051 No Degree	$85,350	$85,350	$41	260
Locomotive Engineers SOC: 53-4011 No Degree	$83,310	$83,310	$40	540
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers SOC: 51-8093 No Degree	$82,740	$82,740	$40	520
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$82,130	$82,130	$39	2,090
Find First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers Jobs
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$81,350	$81,350	$39	10,020
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$77,540	$77,540	$37	15,550
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$76,120	$76,120	$37	3,670
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$75,710	$75,710	$36	2,930
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$74,710	$74,710	$36	13,820
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$74,220	$74,220	$36	9,620
Boilermakers SOC: 47-2011 No Degree	$74,080	$74,080	$36	150
Roof Bolters, Mining SOC: 47-5043 No Degree	$72,060	$72,060	$35	120
Find Roof Bolters, Mining Jobs
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$71,620	$71,620	$34	1,680
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers SOC: 53-4013 No Degree	$71,390	$71,390	$34	110
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders SOC: 51-9051 No Degree	$70,450	$70,450	$34	240
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC: 47-2152 No Degree	$68,870	$68,870	$33	6,360
Millwrights SOC: 49-9044 No Degree	$68,730	$68,730	$33	1,220
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC: 19-5012 No Degree	$68,730	$68,730	$33	650
Hearing Aid Specialists SOC: 29-2092 No Degree	$67,580	$67,580	$32	100
Signal and Track Switch Repairers SOC: 49-9097 No Degree	$67,440	$67,440	$32	60
Find Signal and Track Switch Repairers Jobs
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$67,370	$67,370	$32	19,670
Gas Plant Operators SOC: 51-8092 No Degree	$67,080	$67,080	$32	200
Structural Iron and Steel Workers SOC: 47-2221 No Degree	$66,980	$66,980	$32	990
Helpers Extraction Workers SOC: 47-5081 No Degree	$66,890	$66,890	$32	230
Construction and Building Inspectors SOC: 47-4011 No Degree	$66,580	$66,580	$32	1,380
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC: 41-3091 No Degree	$66,190	$66,190	$32	11,860
Industrial Machinery Mechanics SOC: 49-9041 No Degree	$66,000	$66,000	$32	11,540
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$65,590	$65,590	$32	2,700
Find Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Jobs
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9052 No Degree	$65,330	$65,330	$31	1,870
Rail Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators SOC: 47-4061 No Degree	$64,970	$64,970	$31	270
First Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC: 33-1011 No Degree	$64,780	$64,780	$31	780
First Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC: 45-1011 No Degree	$64,550	$64,550	$31	320
Sheet Metal Workers SOC: 47-2211 No Degree	$63,790	$63,790	$31	2,210
Crane and Tower Operators SOC: 53-7021 No Degree	$63,750	$63,750	$31	640
First Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors SOC: 53-1047 No Degree	$63,480	$63,480	$31	10,180
Real Estate Sales Agents SOC: 41-9022 No Degree	$63,180	$63,180	$30	1,120
Find Real Estate Sales Agents Jobs
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators SOC: 51-8021 No Degree	$62,810	$62,810	$30	90
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC: 49-9012 No Degree	$62,680	$62,680	$30	450

About No-Degree Careers

Many high-paying careers don't require a traditional 4-year college degree. These jobs often offer competitive salaries, strong job security, and clear advancement paths through:

On-the-job training programs
Apprenticeships (often paid)
Professional certifications
Trade school programs (typically 6 months to 2 years)
Community college associate degrees

The jobs shown above are filtered to include only occupations where the typical education requirement is high school or less, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

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