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No College Degree Required

No-Degree Jobs in Minnesota

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

$128,660

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$70,284

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in Minnesota

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


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$128,660	$128,660	$62	4,030
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers SOC: 47-4021 No Degree	$115,070	$115,070	$55	550
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$112,740	$112,740	$54	2,870
Power Distributors and Dispatchers SOC: 51-8012 No Degree	$107,310	$107,310	$52	100
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers SOC: 51-8093 No Degree	$103,380	$103,380	$50	550
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$101,860	$101,860	$49	2,190
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$100,270	$100,270	$48	10,010
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$95,820	$95,820	$46	2,130
Find First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers Jobs
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$95,700	$95,700	$46	970
First Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC: 33-1011 No Degree	$95,390	$95,390	$46	750
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$94,970	$94,970	$46	13,580
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$93,420	$93,420	$45	320
Gas Plant Operators SOC: 51-8092 No Degree	$93,040	$93,040	$45	360
Boilermakers SOC: 47-2011 No Degree	$92,800	$92,800	$45	140
Structural Iron and Steel Workers SOC: 47-2221 No Degree	$92,680	$92,680	$45	910
Insulation Workers, Mechanical SOC: 47-2132 No Degree	$91,920	$91,920	$44	250
Find Insulation Workers, Mechanical Jobs
Signal and Track Switch Repairers SOC: 49-9097 No Degree	$91,850	$91,850	$44	80
Brickmasons and Blockmasons SOC: 47-2021 No Degree	$91,330	$91,330	$44	1,040
Construction and Building Inspectors SOC: 47-4011 No Degree	$90,440	$90,440	$43	1,390
Plasterers and Stucco Masons SOC: 47-2161 No Degree	$90,380	$90,380	$43	160
Transportation Inspectors SOC: 53-6051 No Degree	$89,890	$89,890	$43	310
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$89,820	$89,820	$43	9,110
Locomotive Engineers SOC: 53-4011 No Degree	$88,730	$88,730	$43	990
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$87,860	$87,860	$42	1,970
Find Detectives and Criminal Investigators Jobs
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC: 47-2152 No Degree	$86,700	$86,700	$42	10,720
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$85,730	$85,730	$41	31,230
Crane and Tower Operators SOC: 53-7021 No Degree	$85,490	$85,490	$41	370
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC: 33-3051 No Degree	$85,130	$85,130	$41	9,160
Pipelayers SOC: 47-2151 No Degree	$85,080	$85,080	$41	510
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC: 41-3091 No Degree	$84,460	$84,460	$41	19,220
Lodging Managers SOC: 11-9081 No Degree	$83,850	$83,850	$40	250
Continuous Mining Machine Operators SOC: 47-5041 No Degree	$83,780	$83,780	$40	420
Find Continuous Mining Machine Operators Jobs
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters SOC: 53-4031 No Degree	$83,640	$83,640	$40	830
Riggers SOC: 49-9096 No Degree	$82,690	$82,690	$40	190
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$82,300	$82,300	$40	730
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$81,340	$81,340	$39	5,530
Electricians SOC: 47-2111 No Degree	$80,830	$80,830	$39	14,350
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$80,340	$80,340	$39	13,380
Tapers SOC: 47-2082 No Degree	$79,930	$79,930	$38	220
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$79,810	$79,810	$38	7,970
Find Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants Jobs
First Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC: 45-1011 No Degree	$79,670	$79,670	$38	230
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators SOC: 47-2073 No Degree	$79,070	$79,070	$38	8,590
Sheet Metal Workers SOC: 47-2211 No Degree	$78,420	$78,420	$38	2,980
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$77,820	$77,820	$37	21,690
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators SOC: 51-8021 No Degree	$77,730	$77,730	$37	1,440
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines SOC: 49-3042 No Degree	$76,880	$76,880	$37	2,890
Millwrights SOC: 49-9044 No Degree	$76,670	$76,670	$37	480
Advertising Sales Agents SOC: 41-3011 No Degree	$75,620	$75,620	$36	1,750
Find Advertising Sales Agents Jobs
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC: 49-9012 No Degree	$75,070	$75,070	$36	710
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC: 11-9013 No Degree	$73,720	$73,720	$35	160

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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