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No College Degree Required

No-Degree Jobs in Massachusetts

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

$139,330

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$83,398

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in Massachusetts

You don't need a college degree to build a successful, high-paying career in Massachusetts. 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 WagesReal 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 Massachusetts


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$139,330	$139,330	$67	4,310
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$119,760	$119,760	$58	5,490
Power Distributors and Dispatchers SOC: 51-8012 No Degree	$118,540	$118,540	$57	390
Locomotive Engineers SOC: 53-4011 No Degree	$118,340	$118,340	$57	640
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$118,130	$118,130	$57	1,300
Signal and Track Switch Repairers SOC: 49-9097 No Degree	$114,970	$114,970	$55	160
Structural Iron and Steel Workers SOC: 47-2221 No Degree	$113,290	$113,290	$54	2,050
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers SOC: 11-9141 No Degree	$112,940	$112,940	$54	7,320
Find Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers Jobs
Gambling Managers SOC: 11-9071 No Degree	$112,820	$112,820	$54	40
Pile Driver Operators SOC: 47-2072 No Degree	$112,680	$112,680	$54	130
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$112,480	$112,480	$54	5,540
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$108,040	$108,040	$52	2,350
First Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC: 33-1011 No Degree	$105,620	$105,620	$51	460
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$103,070	$103,070	$50	9,940
Gas Plant Operators SOC: 51-8092 No Degree	$102,210	$102,210	$49	340
Rail Car Repairers SOC: 49-3043 No Degree	$101,040	$101,040	$49	770
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Crane and Tower Operators SOC: 53-7021 No Degree	$100,260	$100,260	$48	680
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$100,030	$100,030	$48	18,330
Brickmasons and Blockmasons SOC: 47-2021 No Degree	$99,860	$99,860	$48	1,570
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$99,500	$99,500	$48	880
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$99,250	$99,250	$48	330
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC: 41-3091 No Degree	$98,380	$98,380	$47	32,300
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$93,750	$93,750	$45	22,700
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$92,890	$92,890	$45	12,140
Find First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Jobs
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$91,810	$91,810	$44	4,310
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9052 No Degree	$91,700	$91,700	$44	2,230
Glaziers SOC: 47-2121 No Degree	$90,890	$90,890	$44	1,080
Advertising Sales Agents SOC: 41-3011 No Degree	$90,640	$90,640	$44	1,480
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC: 47-2152 No Degree	$90,410	$90,410	$43	13,460
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC: 49-9012 No Degree	$89,360	$89,360	$43	1,320
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$88,750	$88,750	$43	5,070
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles SOC: 47-2042 No Degree	$87,300	$87,300	$42	1,060
Find Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles Jobs
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$87,060	$87,060	$42	14,820
Construction and Building Inspectors SOC: 47-4011 No Degree	$86,940	$86,940	$42	4,290
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8091 No Degree	$85,260	$85,260	$41	570
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators SOC: 47-2073 No Degree	$84,730	$84,730	$41	9,680
Rail Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators SOC: 47-4061 No Degree	$84,610	$84,610	$41	570
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC: 33-3051 No Degree	$83,230	$83,230	$40	17,040
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$83,140	$83,140	$40	12,390
Bailiffs SOC: 33-3011 No Degree	$82,910	$82,910	$40	930
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Correctional Officers and Jailers SOC: 33-3012 No Degree	$82,890	$82,890	$40	6,360
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators SOC: 51-8021 No Degree	$82,450	$82,450	$40	530
Electricians SOC: 47-2111 No Degree	$81,560	$81,560	$39	17,810
Tile and Stone Setters SOC: 47-2044 No Degree	$80,300	$80,300	$39	410
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines SOC: 49-3042 No Degree	$80,190	$80,190	$39	1,620
Carpenters SOC: 47-2031 No Degree	$79,680	$79,680	$38	18,540
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$79,530	$79,530	$38	34,520
Sheet Metal Workers SOC: 47-2211 No Degree	$78,900	$78,900	$38	2,890
Find Sheet Metal Workers Jobs
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers SOC: 49-2098 No Degree	$78,560	$78,560	$38	1,690
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining SOC: 47-5022 No Degree	$75,540	$75,540	$36	280

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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