5.7 Million Americans Without a Bachelor’s Degree Earn Six Figures — These Occupations Lead the Way

We are committed to providing accurate content that helps you make informed money decisions. Our partners have not commissioned or endorsed this content. Read our editorial guidelines here.

Many Americans have long believed that a college degree is the only ticket to a six-figure salary, but that’s a myth.

In fact, at least 40.0% of workers without a bachelor’s degree earn six figures in 20 occupations. For those juggling debt, these roles can offer a faster path to financial freedom without requiring an investment in education.

Here’s a closer look at which occupations have the most workers without bachelor’s degrees earning six figures — and where it’s most common.

Key findings

5.7 million full-time, year-round workers without a bachelor’s degree earned $100,000 or more in 2023 — the latest available data. This equates to 9.1% of workers without a bachelor’s earning six figures. Overall, 58.8% of the full-time, year-round workforce doesn’t hold at least a bachelor’s.
Men make up 58.9% of full-time, year-round workers without a bachelor’s degree, yet they account for 77.7% of the 5.7 million high earners. While 4.4 million men without a bachelor’s degree earn $100,000 or more, just 1.3 million women do, indicating a significant gender gap in high-paying, no-bachelor’s-degree jobs.
Many workers without a bachelor’s degree are thriving, with at least 40.0% earning six figures in 20 occupations. Chief executives and legislators lead the way, with 63.6% of workers in this profession who don’t hold a bachelor’s degree earning six figures. Architectural and engineering managers (60.9%) and software developers (56.5%) follow.
23 occupations have over 50,000 workers without a bachelor’s degree who earn six figures. The largest is other managers, with over 340,000 without a bachelor’s earning this much. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers, and general and operations managers follow, each with over 150,000 nonbachelor’s workers earning $100,000-plus.
In certain occupations across all workers, earning six figures without a bachelor’s degree is quite common. 47.5% of all elevator installers and repairers earn $100,000 or more without a four-year degree. Similarly, over 40% of locomotive engineers, power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers, and electrical power-line installers and repairers also earn six figures without a bachelor’s.
San Francisco (17.1%), Seattle (17.0%) and San Jose, Calif. (16.7%), have the highest percentage of full-time workers without a bachelor’s degree earning six figures. At the bottom are Greensboro, N.C., and El Paso, Texas (both at 4.9%). Lakeland, Fla. (5.2%), follows. In 81 of the 100 largest metros with available data, the most common high-earning job for nonbachelor’s workers is other managers.

9.1% of workers without bachelor’s earn six figures

As of 2023, 5.7 million full-time, year-round workers without a bachelor’s degree earned $100,000 or more. By percentage, that’s 9.1% of workers without a bachelor’s earning that much. Regardless of whether they earn six figures, 58.8% of this workforce doesn’t hold at least a bachelor’s.

Matt Schulz — LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst and author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life” — says that’s significant.

“The sky-high cost of a college education has already led many people to question whether the degree is worth it,” he says. “There’s no question that data showing that people can make six figures without that college degree will only make more people reconsider that degree.”

There’s no question that data showing that people can make six figures without that college degree will only make more people reconsider that degree.

Matt Schulz

LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst

Schulz believes that more companies are opening themselves up to people without degrees. “For the longest time, a college degree was a must-have for many jobs,” he says. “That’s not always the case anymore, and that’s great for folks without degrees.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the gender pay gap is evident. Although men account for 58.9% of the full-time, year-round workforce without a bachelor’s degree, they make up 77.7% of the nonbachelor’s workers earning $100,000-plus.

77.7% of six-figure earners without a bachelor's degree are men.

That leaves women accounting for 41.1% of the full-time, year-round workforce without a bachelor’s degree, although they make up just 22.3% of the nonbachelor’s workers earning $100,000-plus.

Looking at that from another angle, 4.4 million men without a bachelor’s degree earn six figures, while just 1.3 million women do.

Schulz says that’s a huge gap, and there could be any number of reasons. “Discrimination and sexism play at least some role here, but so do other factors,” he says. “For example, women tend to bear more of the responsibility for child-rearing, including potentially choosing to stay at home with their kids. In doing so, women may lower their earnings potential.”

Figure rises to at least 40.0% in 20 occupations

Those without a bachelor’s degree may have more success in some fields than others. In fact, at least 40.0% of workers without a bachelor’s earn six figures in 20 occupations.

Chief executives and legislators rank first, with a whopping 63.6% of workers without a bachelor’s degree earning six figures in this career.

The occupations with the highest percentage of workers without a bachelor's degree earning six figures are chief executives and legislators, architectural and engineering managers, and software developers.

Architectural and engineering managers (60.9%) and software developers (56.5%) follow.

Schulz believes those occupations show that it’s never been easier to teach yourself or to get yourself trained on the skills and tools you need to be successful in business.

“You don’t need to have a college degree or work for a giant company to learn these things,” he says. “You can find tutorials on YouTube or elsewhere online and take the time at home to learn various software programs or soft skills. Additionally, there’s a significant entrepreneurial spirit among younger Americans. Millennials and Gen Zers don’t want their whole livelihoods to be reliant on a single paycheck. They’re not afraid to put themselves out there and start a side hustle, and it’s never been easier to start a small business than it is today.”

By raw numbers, 23 occupations have over 50,000 workers without a bachelor’s degree earning six figures. The largest is other managers, which includes government, company and enterprise managers, scientific and technical consulting services managers and more, with over 340,000 workers.

Occupations with the most workers without a bachelor’s degree earning six figures

Rank	Occupation	Nonbachelor’s workers who earn six figures	% of workers in occupation without bachelor’s
1	Other managers	341,861	38.2%
2	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers	157,066	93.7%
3	General and operations managers	153,783	54.1%
4	First-line supervisors of retail sales workers	147,766	75.4%
5	Chief executives and legislators	141,710	21.5%
6	Construction managers	130,718	60.4%
7	Registered nurses	130,514	31.8%
8	Software developers	127,473	13.5%
9	Electricians	109,899	92.2%
10	Police officers	108,613	59.7%
11	Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing	108,467	50.0%
12	Financial managers	95,175	36.2%
13	First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	91,969	91.4%
14	Retail salespersons	88,080	75.9%
15	First-line supervisors of nonretail sales	84,583	55.8%
16	Computer and information systems managers	83,105	26.1%
17	Sales managers	81,115	39.1%
18	First-line supervisors of production and operating workers	76,604	84.0%
19	Project management specialists	66,704	27.3%
20	Computer occupations, all other	62,697	45.7%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates microdata, hosted on IPUMS. Note: Only occupations where at least 10.0% of their workforce doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree were considered.

Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers follow at 157,066, with general and operations managers (including those in restaurant management, merchant wholesalers and more) ranking third at 153,783.

By gender, chief executives and legislators are top occupation

Chief executives and legislators make up the largest share of men and women without a bachelor’s degree who earn six figures. Specifically, 68.1% of men and 53.3% of women without bachelor’s degrees in these roles still earn six figures.

Occupations where the largest share of men without a bachelor’s degree earn six figures

Rank	Occupation	%
1	Chief executives and legislators	68.1%
2	Architectural and engineering managers	61.6%
3	Software developers	59.1%
4	Sales engineers	57.9%
5	Computer and information systems managers	57.0%
6	Power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers	54.1%
7	Computer hardware engineers	52.7%
8	Elevator installers and repairers	52.0%
9	Computer network architects	51.1%
10	Petroleum, mining and geological engineers	50.5%
11	Information security analysts	50.2%
12	Sales managers	48.9%
12	First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers	48.9%
14	Locomotive engineers and operators	48.3%
15	Aircraft pilots and flight engineers	47.0%
16	Aerospace engineers	46.5%
17	Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists	46.2%
18	Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists	44.8%
19	Electrical power-line installers and repairers	44.7%
20	Database administrators and architects	42.8%

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2023 ACS five-year estimates microdata, hosted on IPUMS. Note: Only occupations where at least 10.0% of their workforce doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree were considered.

Among men, architectural and engineering managers (61.6%) and software developers (59.1%) also rank high.

For women, top roles include architectural and engineering managers (50.6%) and computer and information systems managers (44.2%).

Occupations where the largest share of women without a bachelor’s degree earn six figures

Rank	Occupation	%
1	Chief executives and legislators	53.3%
2	Architectural and engineering managers	50.6%
3	Computer and information systems managers	44.2%
4	Software developers	42.1%
5	Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists	39.2%
6	Information security analysts	38.0%
7	Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists	35.8%
8	Advertising and promotions managers	31.0%
9	Computer programmers	29.5%
10	Other engineers	28.0%
11	Project management specialists	25.9%
12	Human resources managers	25.8%
13	Sales managers	25.0%
14	Budget analysts	24.7%
15	Court reporters and simultaneous captioners	24.4%
15	Management analysts	24.4%
17	Software quality assurance analysts and testers	24.3%
18	Producers and directors	24.1%
19	Training and development managers	22.9%
20	Operations research analysts	22.2%
20	Technical writers	22.2%

Earning six figures without a bachelor’s degree is significantly more common in some occupations. Across all workers in an occupation, elevator installers and repairers rank first, with 47.5% of workers earning $100,000 or more without holding a four-year degree.

Occupations where the largest share of workers earn six figures without a bachelor’s degree

Rank	Occupation	%
1	Elevator installers and repairers	47.5%
2	Locomotive engineers and operators	41.3%
3	Power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers	41.2%
4	Electrical power-line installers and repairers	40.5%
5	First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers	33.5%
6	Air traffic controllers and airfield operations specialists	26.6%
7	Railroad conductors and yardmasters	25.9%
7	Miscellaneous plant and system operators	25.9%
9	Crane and tower operators	23.6%
9	Underground mining machine operators	23.6%
11	Millwrights	22.9%
12	Computer network architects	22.6%
13	Construction managers	21.2%
14	Ship and boat captains and operators	21.0%
15	Derrick, rotary drill and service unit operators and roustabouts, oil, gas and mining	20.8%
16	Court reporters and simultaneous captioners	19.5%
17	First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers	19.1%
18	Firefighters	19.0%
19	Boilermakers	18.8%
20	First-line supervisors of police and detectives	17.5%

Meanwhile, 41.3% of locomotive engineers and operators earn similarly, followed by power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers (41.2%), and electrical power-line installers and repairers (40.5%).

San Francisco has highest percentage of workers without bachelor’s earning six figures

It’s probably not surprising that expensive places are more likely to pay workers without degrees six figures. San Francisco ranks first, with 17.1% of workers without a bachelor’s earning six figures. Seattle (17.0%) and San Jose, Calif. (16.7%), follow.

Meanwhile, Greensboro, N.C., and El Paso, Texas, tie for last, at 4.9%. Lakeland, Fla. (5.2%), is closest.

The metros with the highest percentage of workers without a bachelor's degree earning six figures are San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and San Jose, CA.

What jobs are most common for degree-less six-figure earners? Other managers ranks first in 81 of the 100 largest metros with available info. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers is the top occupation in another six metros.

Full rankings: Metros with highest/lowest percentage of workers without bachelor’s degree earning six figures

Rank	Metro	% of nonbachelor’s workers who earn six figures	Top occupation among nonbachelor’s workers who earn six figures (by #)
1	San Francisco, CA	17.1%	Other managers
2	Seattle, WA	17.0%	Other managers
3	San Jose, CA	16.7%	Other managers
4	Washington, DC	15.6%	Other managers
5	Boston, MA	15.2%	Other managers
6	Bridgeport, CT	14.8%	Other managers
7	Baltimore, MD	14.2%	Other managers
8	New York, NY	14.0%	Other managers
9	Worcester, MA	13.7%	Other managers
10	Oxnard, CA	13.6%	Other managers
11	Sacramento, CA	13.4%	Other managers
12	Hartford, CT	12.7%	Other managers
13	Stockton, CA	12.5%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
14	Portland, OR	12.2%	Other managers
15	Honolulu, HI	12.0%	Other managers
16	New Haven, CT	11.9%	Other managers
17	Minneapolis, MN	11.8%	Other managers
17	Denver, CO	11.8%	Other managers
19	San Diego, CA	11.6%	Other managers
19	Baton Rouge, LA	11.6%	Miscellaneous production workers
21	Philadelphia, PA	11.5%	Other managers
22	Austin, TX	11.0%	Other managers
23	Riverside, CA	10.9%	Police officers
24	Los Angeles, CA	10.7%	Other managers
24	Chicago, IL	10.7%	Other managers
24	Albany, NY	10.7%	Other managers
27	Provo, UT	10.2%	Software developers
28	Providence, RI	10.1%	Other managers
29	Houston, TX	9.9%	Other managers
29	Detroit, MI	9.9%	Other managers
29	Bakersfield, CA	9.9%	Other managers
32	Raleigh, NC	9.8%	Other managers
33	Phoenix, AZ	9.4%	Other managers
34	Dallas, TX	9.2%	Other managers
34	Colorado Springs, CO	9.2%	Other managers
36	Allentown, PA	9.1%	Other managers
36	Portland, ME	9.1%	Other managers
38	Atlanta, GA	9.0%	Other managers
38	Las Vegas, NV	9.0%	Other managers
40	Richmond, VA	8.9%	Other managers
40	North Port, FL	8.9%	Other managers
40	Spokane, WA	8.9%	Other managers
40	Reno, NV	8.9%	General and operations managers
44	Salt Lake City, UT	8.8%	Software developers
45	Fresno, CA	8.7%	Registered nurses
46	New Orleans, LA	8.5%	Other managers
47	Omaha, NE	8.4%	Other managers
47	Boise, ID	8.4%	Other managers
47	Ogden, UT	8.4%	Other managers
47	Augusta, GA	8.4%	Other managers
51	Kansas City, MO	8.3%	Other managers
52	St. Louis, MO	8.2%	Other managers
52	Pittsburgh, PA	8.2%	Other managers
54	Virginia Beach, VA	8.1%	Other managers
54	Jacksonville, FL	8.1%	Other managers
54	Charleston, SC	8.1%	Other managers
57	Nashville, TN	7.9%	Other managers
57	Buffalo, NY	7.9%	Other managers
59	Tampa, FL	7.8%	Other managers
59	Syracuse, NY	7.8%	Other managers
61	Charlotte, NC	7.7%	Other managers
61	Columbus, OH	7.7%	Other managers
61	Milwaukee, WI	7.7%	Other managers
61	Tulsa, OK	7.7%	Other managers
61	Des Moines, IA	7.7%	Software developers
66	Cincinnati, OH	7.6%	Other managers
66	Indianapolis, IN	7.6%	Other managers
68	Palm Bay, FL	7.5%	Other managers
69	Louisville, KY	7.4%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
69	Birmingham, AL	7.4%	Other managers
71	Cleveland, OH	7.3%	Other managers
71	Chattanooga, TN	7.3%	Sales representatives of services
73	Oklahoma City, OK	7.2%	Other managers
73	Fayetteville, AR	7.2%	Other managers
75	Orlando, FL	7.1%	Other managers
75	Rochester, NY	7.1%	Other managers
75	Knoxville, TN	7.1%	Other managers
75	Deltona, FL	7.1%	Other managers
79	Miami, FL	6.9%	Other managers
79	Dayton, OH	6.9%	Software developers
79	Toledo, OH	6.9%	Other managers
82	Grand Rapids, MI	6.8%	Other managers
83	San Antonio, TX	6.7%	Other managers
83	Memphis, TN	6.7%	Other managers
83	Harrisburg, PA	6.7%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
86	Albuquerque, NM	6.6%	Other managers
86	Columbia, SC	6.6%	Other managers
86	Little Rock, AR	6.6%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
89	Tucson, AZ	6.5%	Other managers
90	Akron, OH	6.4%	Chief executives and legislators
91	Wichita, KS	6.3%	General and operations managers
92	Greenville, SC	6.2%	Other managers
92	Cape Coral, FL	6.2%	Other managers
92	Jackson, MS	6.2%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
95	McAllen, TX	5.8%	Police officers
96	Winston-Salem, NC	5.4%	Driver/sales workers and truck drivers
96	Scranton, PA	5.4%	Other managers
98	Lakeland, FL	5.2%	Other managers
99	El Paso, TX	4.9%	Police officers
99	Greensboro, NC	4.9%	Other managers

Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Census Bureau 2023 ACS five-year estimates microdata, hosted on IPUMS. Note: Data for Durham, N.C., Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Madison, Wis., were unavailable.

Aiming for six figures without a degree: Expert tips

Earning six figures is a great goal for improving your financial situation, and it can be attainable regardless of whether you have a degree. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, we offer the following advice:

Keep learning. “Successful people never stop learning,” Schulz says. “That doesn’t mean you need a college degree, of course. What you need more than anything is intellectual curiosity, a willingness to learn new things and a strong work ethic. People who don’t go out and learn new things are often the ones who find themselves struggling to navigate a changing business landscape, while those constantly learning and adapting are often those who keep moving forward.”
Build your network. “Whether you’ve got multiple post-graduate degrees or you’ve never set foot in a college class, what matters most is your network,” he says. “The best way to have your resume stick out is to have someone you know in the company sing your praises. Connect with people on sites like LinkedIn. Attend job events and take the risk of introducing yourself to as many people as possible. Discuss your friends’ and family’s jobs with them. You never know when that one person that you took the chance to say hello to might be someone who’ll change your life for the better forever.”
Manage your debt strategically. If you’re aiming to boost your income, the last thing you want is high-interest debt eating into your progress. A personal loan with a lower interest rate can be a smart way to consolidate credit card balances and make your payments more predictable. Being proactive about your debt can free up more cash for investing in yourself and your career growth.

Methodology

LendingTree analysts used U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates microdata, hosted on IPUMS, to identify occupations where workers without a bachelor’s degree earn $100,000 or more annually. The analysis focuses on individuals meeting these criteria:

In the labor force
Worked full time year-round (defined as working 35-plus hours a week and 50 to 52 weeks a year)
Earned wage or salary income (excluding self-employment income)
Educational attainment is less than a bachelor’s degree, which includes less than a high school diploma, high school diplomas, some college and associate degrees

Wages include pretax salary, bonuses, tips and commissions earned in the prior year. All occupation-level analysis only includes occupations where at least 10.0% of their workforce doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree.

The analysis calculates:

The percentage and number of nonbachelor’s degree workers in each occupation earning $100,000 or more
The percentage of all workers in each occupation who earn $100,000 or more without a bachelor’s degree
The percentage of nonbachelor’s degree workers in each occupation

Researchers also used the U.S. Census Bureau 2023 ACS with five-year estimates to identify the 100 largest metros with available data to calculate these metros’ percentage of workers without a bachelor’s degree earning six figures.

Get debt consolidation loan offers from up to 5 lenders in minutes

Debt Consolidation Resources

On this page

Jump to