Skilled Trades and Logistics Lead High-Paying, No-Degree Job Growth Through 2035
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that transportation, storage, and distribution managers will be the highest-paying fast-growing occupations not requiring a college degree, with median pay reaching $100,000. Other roles, including construction supervisors and elevator installers, also show strong growth and high wages, though some high-paying fields like nuclear power operations are expected to decline.
Key points
- Transportation, storage, and distribution managers are projected to have the highest median pay at $100,000, with 5% to 6% job growth from 2025 to 2035.
- First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers follow, with median pay ranging from $75,000 to nearly $100,000.
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers earn median salaries of $100,000 or more, with similar 5% to 6% growth projected.
- Electrical power-line installers and repairers are expected to see over 7% employment growth, with median pay between $75,000 and nearly $100,000.
- Nuclear power reactor operators and power plant operators earn median pay of $100,000 or more but are projected to see employment decline by 1% or more over the next decade.
Background
Recent analyses have highlighted a shift in labor market dynamics, with skilled trades and logistics emerging as viable alternatives to four-year degrees. Earlier reports noted that while college degrees generally correlate with higher salaries and lower unemployment, societal attitudes still favor traditional higher education. The current data reinforces the trend of strong demand for skilled tradespeople, driven by an aging workforce, declining birth rates, and employers seeking to fill roles historically reliant on immigrant labor. This follows broader discussions about high-paying careers in healthcare and technology, but focuses specifically on roles accessible with a high school diploma and training.
Why it matters
Understanding which high-paying jobs do not require a college degree helps workers and policymakers navigate a changing labor market. As the workforce ages and immigration patterns shift, demand for skilled trades and logistics roles is rising, offering viable career paths for those without a bachelor's degree. However, the data also shows that not all high-paying jobs are growing, highlighting the importance of choosing fields with strong projected employment growth.
What to watch
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will continue to monitor employment trends through 2035, providing updated projections on job growth and pay for various occupations. Employers and workers may see increased demand for training and apprenticeship programs in sectors like construction, manufacturing, and logistics as the labor market tightens.
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