By Vivian Giang (Yahoo Finance)
When the economy started to show troubling signs, many decided to skip college and join the workforce earlier.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 60 percent of U.S. workers don’t have a bachelor’s degree, but if you have an associate’s degree, a post-secondary non-degree award, or a high school diploma, you can still get a high-paying job.
The BLS provided a list of 80 high-paying occupations that don’t require a college degree. The median annual wages listed include hourly, weekly, annual pay, sales commissions, and production bonuses. Overtime wages are not included in the data.
We also included the expected job openings through 2020 and what kind of work experience or on-the-job training are needed for a particular job.
1. Air traffic controllers
Median annual wage (May 2010): $108,040
Degree required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (Through 2020): 10,200
Work experience: None
Description: Monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. Median annual wages of air traffic controllers are the highest of any occupation in which workers typically do not need a bachelor’s degree.
On-the-job training: Long-term or on-the-job training
2. General and operations managers
Median annual wage (May 2010): $94,400
Degree required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (Through 2020): 410,100
Work experience: 1-5 years
Description: Coordinating an organization’s daily activities, these managers might develop policies, oversee budget activities, or review sales reports.
On-the-job training: None
3. Construction manager
Median annual wage (May 2010): $83,860
Degree required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (Through 2020): 120,400
Work experience: More than 5 years
Description: Oversee a construction project from start to finish. They set timelines, prepare contracts, and manage budgets.
On-the-job training: None
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