3 jobs that pay $100K (no degree required 🙅‍♀️)

No degree, no problem

August 13, 2024

Hey! It’s been a busy summer here at Salary Transparent Street HQ. James and I are deep in the weeds on a secret project. We’ve hidden the announcement somewhere in this newsletter. 👀 Keep reading to find out!

3 Jobs That Pay $100,000–Without a College Degree

Has anyone ever told you that you have to go to college to get a high-paying job? Or that college is a must if you want to succeed in your career? 

Here’s what I have to say about that…

While certain careers (such as law and medicine) require advanced degrees, plenty of lucrative paths don’t. And with college tuition expected to hit six figures by 2026—and already at over $90,000 a year at schools such as USC and UPenn—exploring alternatives is more important than ever. 

So we pulled data from our Salary Database and more sources to surface three six-figure careers that don’t require you to pay the college price tag. 💸

1. Real Estate Broker

Are you obsessed with scrolling Zillow before bed? Do you attend open houses “just for fun?”

Then being a real estate broker could be up your alley. These professionals help people buy, sell, and rent properties. Unlike real estate agents, brokers have an extra license to run their own business and manage other agents. 

Total potential pay: $132,000–$236,000 a year on average

Education required: High school diploma (or equivalent), real estate agent license, real estate broker license, and any state-specific licensing requirements.

2. Software Engineer 

Every digital experience you have—from reading this newsletter to ordering a Lyft to watching YouTube—exists because someone wrote code. The architects behind that code are software engineers. 

They’re responsible for designing, developing, and building software using programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, and more.

Total potential pay: $113,000–$176,000 annually

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent. To learn the language of coding, there are lots of affordable coding bootcamps, online courses (we’re big fans of Space Coders), or community college programs available.

3. Ethical Hacker 

Can hackers be used for good instead of evil? Definitely.  

Ethical hackers—also known as white-hat hackers—are professionals who legally breach computer systems to uncover vulnerabilities and strengthen cybersecurity defenses. 

This field is projected to grow 32% over the next decade. If you’ve always wanted to be a hacker (minus the illegal aspect 🙃), you’re sure to be high in demand.

Total potential pay: $101,000–$184,000 a year

Education required: High school diploma or equivalent. While some companies may require cybersecurity certificates, you can easily enroll in programs online.

There are plenty more high-paying jobs that don’t require a pricey college education. You can find those 17 jobs (all of which pay over $60,000!) right here. 

While we’re on the topic of software engineers…

…meet Sidney Buckner! She’s a self-taught software engineer who earns $135,000 a year. Like many of her peers, Sidney entered the tech scene without a relevant degree (bootcamps FTW)!

We interviewed Sidney—and dozens of other tech professionals—at RenderATL to get the scoop on their six-figure salaries and best career advice.

  • 15 new Starbucks stores have joined the Starbucks Workers United union, which now has over 10,500 union partners fighting for better working conditions. Don’t you just love a hot union summer?

  • Mechanic Chris Pyle started a side hustle answering strangers’ questions about their car engines on JustAnswer…and made over $170,500 in 2023. 🚙

  • Bloomberg Philanthropies donated $600 million to four historically Black medical schools. 👏

  • Meta is allegedly offering Hollywood celebrities millions of dollars to clone their voices for future AI projects. How much would someone have to pay you to use your voice? 🤔

Thanks for being here! And about that secret project? It’s (drumroll please)…our new podcast, Two Cents! 🎙️

James and I wanted to get transparent with you and our community like never before. We’ll be sharing our unfiltered opinions about it all: the financial and career topics in the news, our experience as creators, and so much more.

Keep an eye out for updates here in the newsletter so you don’t miss the first episode coming next Wednesday!