Jobs That Pay $150K a Year Without a Degree in 2025

Most people think that to earn a six-figure salary, you need a college degree. However, four-year degree programs are expensive and end up leaving many graduates in debt. In fact, as of August 2025, the national average for federal student debt in the U.S. is $39,075.¹ Instead of enrolling in a costly four-year program, there are also a wide variety of jobs that pay $150K a year without a degree.

This guide will help you find six-figure jobs without a college degree. We will examine how to land jobs that can pay up to $150K, how common high-paying careers are, and take a closer look at the top jobs that don’t require a degree. To find a job that pays up to or even more than $150K a year, and avoid taking on college debt, consider the opportunities in this article.

Key Takeaways

• Six-figure jobs without a degree are attainable, especially in the tech industry and other fields like healthcare and construction.
• Top jobs that pay up to or more than an average salary of $150K without a degree include data scientist, web developer, product manager, software engineer, and more.
• Alternative paths to land these jobs include enrolling in a coding bootcamp, networking to create more opportunities, apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and attending online courses to acquire necessary skills.
• Developing coding skills can qualify you for various high-paying careers without a degree. However, soft skills and a professional resume are essential in competing with degree holders and to achieve financial success.

How Common Are Six-Figure Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree?

Six-figure jobs without a degree are fairly common in the tech industry, and are also sometimes available in other fields. For example, computer and information systems managers earn a median wage of $171,200 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and they also have a projected job growth rate of 17% through 2033 (much faster than the national average of 4%).² Healthcare and construction are other industries where you can land six-figure salary jobs without a college degree.

At a Glance: Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree and Pay $150K a Year

Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree and Can Pay Up to $150K a Year: A Closer Look 

At first glance, most of the six-figure jobs without a college degree from the previous table are IT jobs. The top earners range from $155,000 to $305,000 in annual salaries. In the next section, we will describe the top jobs that pay $150k a year without a degree in more detail and explain how to obtain them.

Data Scientist

• Salary Range: $120K–$194K³

Roles in data science are growing at a rapid pace, with the BLS projecting a 36% job market growth rate through 2033.¹² A data scientist is responsible for gathering, organizing, and interpreting data in order to work closely with business leaders to achieve company growth. Technical skills required for this role typically include programming languages such as Python or SQL, statistical analysis, and machine learning.It is possible to land a job in this field without a bachelor’s degree. For many employers, to get this role you only need to complete a data science bootcamp and then get a job at the entry level. You can then work on obtaining work experience and certifications to qualify you for advancement.

Product Manager

• Salary Range: $114K–$191K⁴

A product manager is in charge of the development of products, from concept to production. They have many supervisory responsibilities, such as marketing coordination, product strategy development, and sales. Seeking a PM career without experience or a degree is difficult but not impossible. 

Companies like Facebook, Amazon, and Google don’t require product managers to have a computer science degree. However, you must have sufficient technical knowledge, business strategy skills, and product development skills to get an entry-level job and advance your career into positions such as senior product manager.

Software Engineer

• Salary Range: $118K–$187K⁵

Software engineering is an important and ever-evolving aspect of the tech world, responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software applications.Today, software engineers don’t need four-year degrees when seeking employment. However, you need hands-on experience with in-demand programming languages and tools, an understanding of Agile project management, and soft skills such as communication and problem solving.

Engagement Manager

• Salary Range: $164K–$305K⁶

An engagement manager builds and nurtures positive client relationships on behalf of the company. They’re responsible for increasing the company’s business growth, retaining high-quality clients, and meeting business goals.

Although historically to become an engagement manager you needed a four-year degree or 2-year associate degree, employers are increasingly prioritizing practical experience and skills over a college degree, alongside relevant work experience.

Full-Stack Developer

• Salary Range: $91K–$155K⁷

A full-stack developer is a person with extensive experience in both front-end and back-end development to build and maintain websites. Many web developers are self-taught or have acquired skills through coding bootcamps. A degree isn’t the only path to becoming a web developer, but you must learn relevant programming languages such as React, JavaScript, CSS, and more.

Software Test Manager 

• Salary Range: $125K–$212K⁸

A software test manager is in charge of a team of software testers. They work with other engineers to ensure that the test resources are properly planned and executed. Software test managers are considered senior-level DevOps positions.You don’t need a bachelor’s degree if you have work experience in quality assurance processes and an advanced understanding of test planning. You also need to have good leadership skills to effectively coordinate with your team and manage all the work they do.

Application Developer

• Salary Range: $113K–$172K⁹

An application developer designs, creates, deploys, and updates programs for the web or for a particular operating system or device, such as mobile phones. Other duties include communicating with peers at the managerial level, dealing with clients, and working with directors.

You need a high school diploma or a GED to become an application developer. Experience in project management, Agile software development, and other technical skills are also essential.

Real Estate Broker

• Salary Range: $148K–$264K¹⁰

A real estate broker is a licensed professional who helps clients sell or buy property. They earn a percentage in commission when they sell a property. A real estate agent is licensed to sell property whereas a real estate broker can also own their own real estate firm.

Real estate brokers are required to get certified and obtain a real estate license through licensing exams. Depending on your state of residence, it can take two to four months to get a license in person.

Sales Representative

• Salary Range: $93K–$167K¹¹

Sales representatives help connect a company’s products or services to consumers. Since there’s typically no degree requirement, these roles can be open to high school graduates and above. However, it does require expert communication skills and market knowledge. And if you’re specializing in selling a certain type of product, such as a healthcare product or piece of software, it’s also important to be well-versed in that industry knowledge as well.

How to Earn $150K Without a Degree: 3 Alternative Paths to Your Dream Job

There are several ways to land jobs that pay six figures with a college degree. For most jobs, you will need a professional resume, and if you want to work in the tech industry, a strong portfolio is essential. No matter what field you want to work in, you will need in-demand skills and knowledge. Below are three of the best paths to take to get jobs that pay $150K a year without a degree.

Enroll In a Coding Bootcamp

The top coding bootcamps aim to boost your skills and get you to a higher level of expertise in a short space of time, from web development to digital marketing and more. For those looking for an alternative to the traditional educational path, bootcamps can be an excellent choice to break into a new field as well as for those who want to advance in their existing careers. Bootcamps offer training in a variety of formats, from in-person to online to hybrid, and from full-time to part-time and even self-paced. In addition, many bootcamps offer career support such as resume and interview prep, coaching, job boards, and more to help job seekers find employment.

In order to find a bootcamp that works for you, make sure to do thorough research to find a program that not only has a high reputation and relevant curriculum but that also matches your learning style, schedule, budget, and goals.

Networking

Networking is essential if you want a promotion or are looking to break into the highest-paying careers without a degree. Strong networking skills mean more opportunities, and well as the ability to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and industry news. Therefore, without a college degree, you can fall back on networking for lucrative job opportunities and promotions that will help you earn $150K.

Attend Online Courses

For many, distance learning classes can be an ideal way to learn new skills. You can find online courses on a wide range of subjects. Furthermore, most online courses are far cheaper than traditional undergraduate courses. Lower costs, less time, and more concise learning will help you develop the skills required for jobs that pay $150K a year without a degree.

How to Earn $150K Without a Degree

The best way to earn $150K without a degree is by enrolling in a bootcamp or other non-traditional training program, taking online courses, and networking. To change your career path and earn a high salary, you must acquire and master the necessary skills. If you develop coding skills, you can qualify for a variety of high-paying careers without a degree.

Furthermore, soft skills and a professional resume will be important when you are competing with advanced degree holders. You can start building the skills you need to land these jobs that pay $150K a year without a degree today by taking advantage of non-traditional education paths. If you’re transitioning from another field, also take into account any transferable skills you may be able to apply to your new role. For example, the communication skills you needed while working in healthcare facilities can be useful as a sales rep, and the attention to detail you built as an air traffic controller can be applied to coding.

Jobs That Pay $150K a Year Without a Degree FAQ

Do you need a degree to work in IT?

You can easily work in IT without a degree. For many, coding bootcamps, online courses, and online tutorials can be excellent resources for learning coding and basic IT terminology. These skills will help you get an entry-level IT job without a degree. However, you must be willing to work hard and enjoy solving problems.

How do I get a creative job without a degree?

The easiest way to get a creative job without a degree is by doing freelance work. Ample work experience will allow you to get a creative job without the need for a four-year degree program. Graphic designers, voiceover artists, or video editors can earn a high annual salary working as freelancers.

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What high-paying jobs are in demand?

There are many high-paying jobs that are in demand within the tech industry. For example, software engineer, web developer, UX designer, data scientist, and cyber security specialist are all high-paying jobs that are in demand.

Where can I find high-paying jobs?

You can find high-paying jobs at a wide range of tech companies. You can look for jobs that pay $150K a year on individual company websites, or by checking job sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor. In addition, relying on your network is a great way to find a high-paying job, especially if you’re not a college graduate.

Sources

¹https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics

²https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm#tab-1

³https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/data-scientist-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm

⁴https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/product-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,15.htm

⁵https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/software-engineer-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm

⁶https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/engagement-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm

⁷https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/full-stack-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm

⁸https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/software-test-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm

⁹https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/application-developer-salary-SRCH_KO0,21.htm

¹⁰https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/real-estate-broker-salary-SRCH_KO0,18.htm

¹¹https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/sales-representative-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm

¹²https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm#tab-6