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No College Degree Required

No-Degree Jobs in Rhode Island

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

$125,860

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$70,003

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in Rhode Island

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


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$125,860	$125,860	$61	450
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$103,110	$103,110	$50	120
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$102,480	$102,480	$49	820
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$102,280	$102,280	$49	50
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$102,080	$102,080	$49	4,870
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$101,920	$101,920	$49	40
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$100,590	$100,590	$48	350
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC: 49-9012 No Degree	$99,040	$99,040	$48	110
Find Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door Jobs
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$98,430	$98,430	$47	360
Lodging Managers SOC: 11-9081 No Degree	$97,970	$97,970	$47	110
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9052 No Degree	$97,780	$97,780	$47	490
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$97,550	$97,550	$47	2,060
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$95,270	$95,270	$46	1,700
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$91,320	$91,320	$44	1,150
Structural Iron and Steel Workers SOC: 47-2221 No Degree	$89,740	$89,740	$43	360
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC: 19-5012 No Degree	$88,900	$88,900	$43	60
Find Occupational Health and Safety Technicians Jobs
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers SOC: 11-9141 No Degree	$87,910	$87,910	$42	730
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$85,280	$85,280	$41	2,660
Chefs and Head Cooks SOC: 35-1011 No Degree	$84,860	$84,860	$41	740
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$84,690	$84,690	$41	1,460
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$84,340	$84,340	$41	760
Brickmasons and Blockmasons SOC: 47-2021 No Degree	$81,960	$81,960	$39	220
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC: 47-2152 No Degree	$81,610	$81,610	$39	1,820
Insulation Workers, Mechanical SOC: 47-2132 No Degree	$81,320	$81,320	$39	60
Find Insulation Workers, Mechanical Jobs
Construction and Building Inspectors SOC: 47-4011 No Degree	$80,850	$80,850	$39	270
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC: 33-3051 No Degree	$78,760	$78,760	$38	1,940
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$77,650	$77,650	$37	950
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$77,180	$77,180	$37	5,090
Electricians SOC: 47-2111 No Degree	$74,150	$74,150	$36	2,420
First Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors SOC: 53-1047 No Degree	$73,210	$73,210	$35	1,520
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders SOC: 51-9011 No Degree	$73,080	$73,080	$35	430
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines SOC: 49-3042 No Degree	$72,700	$72,700	$35	260
Find Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines Jobs
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators SOC: 47-2073 No Degree	$72,470	$72,470	$35	970
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC: 49-3031 No Degree	$69,320	$69,320	$33	350
First Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers SOC: 39-1013 No Degree	$69,270	$69,270	$33	100
Maintenance Workers, Machinery SOC: 49-9043 No Degree	$69,060	$69,060	$33	110
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators SOC: 51-8021 No Degree	$69,050	$69,050	$33	60
Transportation Security Screeners SOC: 33-9093 No Degree	$68,450	$68,450	$33	160
Glaziers SOC: 47-2121 No Degree	$68,080	$68,080	$33	150
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks SOC: 43-5061 No Degree	$67,580	$67,580	$32	960
Find Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Jobs
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators SOC: 47-2071 No Degree	$67,140	$67,140	$32	160
Riggers SOC: 49-9096 No Degree	$66,290	$66,290	$32	160
Surveying and Mapping Technicians SOC: 17-3031 No Degree	$66,230	$66,230	$32	110
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC: 49-3021 No Degree	$66,140	$66,140	$32	800
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers SOC: 47-2051 No Degree	$66,020	$66,020	$32	250
Industrial Machinery Mechanics SOC: 49-9041 No Degree	$65,870	$65,870	$32	1,070
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers SOC: 49-2098 No Degree	$65,510	$65,510	$32	240
Advertising Sales Agents SOC: 41-3011 No Degree	$64,380	$64,380	$31	340
Find Advertising Sales Agents Jobs
Carpenters SOC: 47-2031 No Degree	$64,320	$64,320	$31	2,580
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8031 No Degree	$64,260	$64,260	$31	420

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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