By RACHEL GILLETT/BUSINESS INSIDER July 17, 2017 - TIME ( Business Insider )

By RACHEL GILLETT/BUSINESS INSIDER July 17, 2017
Don’t have the time or money to get a bachelor’s degree?

Don’t fret. There are plenty of high-paying jobs that require only a two-year associate degree, postsecondary non-degree certificate, or even just a high-school diploma.

According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 25 highest-paying jobs that you don’t need a four-year degree to pursue.

Each has a median annual salary of at least $68,000.

25. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
They operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.

Median annual wage (2016): $68,020

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

24. Magnetic-resonance-imaging technologists
They monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of areas being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.


Median annual wage (2016): $68,420

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 9,800

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

23. Gaming managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino.

Median annual wage (2016): $69,180

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 800

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

22. Diagnostic medical sonographers
They use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.

Median annual wage (2016): $69,650

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,500

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

21. Ship engineers
They supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.

Median annual wage (2016): $70,570

Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,500

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

20. Postmasters and mail superintendents
They plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in an assigned post office.

Median annual wage (2016): $71,670

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,800

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

19. Transportation inspectors
They inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people.

Median annual wage (2016): $72,220

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
They command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.

Median annual wage (2016): $72,680

Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award (Required to hold license issued by US Coast Guard.)

Projected job openings (through 2024): 17,200

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

17. Dental hygienists
They clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.

Median annual wage (2016): $72,910

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 70,300

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

16. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers.

Median annual wage (2016): $73,150

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 69,900

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

15. Funeral-service managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes.

Median annual wage (2016): $73,830

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,400

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: None

14. Nuclear medicine technologists
They use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.

Median annual wage (2016): $74,350

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 4,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

13. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in fire fighting and fire prevention and control.

Median annual wage (2016): $74,540

Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award

Projected job openings (through 2024): 33,400

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

12. Power-plant operators
They control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

Median annual wage (2016): $74,690

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 14,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

11. Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers
They inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

Median annual wage (2016): $75,670

Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,900

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

10. Commercial pilots
They pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air-carrier routes or helicopters. Requires commercial-pilot certificate.

Median annual wage (2016): $77,200

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 15,100

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

9. Detectives and criminal investigators
They conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

Median annual wage (2016): $78,120

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 28,300

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

8. Elevator installers and repairers
They assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

Median annual wage (2016): $78,890

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 5,900

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

7. Nuclear technicians
They assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production.

Median annual wage (2016): $79,140

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,800

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

6. Radiation therapists
They check equipment, observe patients’ reactions to treatment, and document sessions.

Median annual wage (2016): $80,160

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 6,200

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: None

5. Power distributors and dispatchers
They coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

Median annual wage (2016): $81,900

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,900

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of a police force.

Median annual wage (2016): $84,840

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 43,000

Work experience: Less than five years

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
They coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.

Median annual wage (2016): $89,190

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,100

Work experience: Five years or more

On-the-job training: None

2. Nuclear-power-reactor operators
They operate or control nuclear reactors, move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, record data in logs, and implement emergency procedures when needed.

Median annual wage (2016): $91,170

Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent

Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,600

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

1. Air-traffic controller
They 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.

Median annual wage (2016): $122,410

Education required: Associate’s degree

Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,500

Work experience: None

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

This story originally appeared on Business Insider.