BLS May 2025 wages + 2025–35 employment projections
No-Degree Opportunity Finder
Find career paths whose typical BLS entry education stays below a bachelor’s degree, then compare state salary, modeled take-home pay, national growth and annual openings.
choose the education ceiling and sort the official measures that matter to you.
Official-data career filter
Compare accessible career paths in your state.
Filter 23 occupations by BLS entry education, state median wage and national 2025–35 outlook. Results use published data—not an AI recommendation score.
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| Occupation | State median | Est. annual take-home | US growth, 2025–35 | Annual openings | Typical entry education | Typical training | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers33-3051 | $75,900 | $62,226 | +3.5% | 51.5K | High school diploma or equivalent | Moderate-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Electricians47-2111 | $58,570 | $49,241 | +9.2% | 72.7K | High school diploma or equivalent | Apprenticeship | View wage detail |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers53-3032 | $56,290 | $47,409 | +3.8% | 214.5K | Postsecondary nondegree award | Short-term on-the-job training | View wage detail |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers51-4121 | $53,340 | $45,039 | +2.4% | 40.3K | High school diploma or equivalent | Moderate-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Carpenters47-2031 | $48,900 | $41,471 | +3.9% | 62.8K | High school diploma or equivalent | Apprenticeship | Open state calculator |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics49-3023 | $48,310 | $40,997 | +5.0% | 66.2K | Postsecondary nondegree award | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive43-6014 | $45,140 | $38,450 | -6.0% | 163.9K | High school diploma or equivalent | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Construction Laborers47-2061 | $40,620 | $34,818 | +7.3% | 120K | No formal educational credential | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Customer Service Representatives43-4051 | $40,420 | $34,657 | -5.3% | 289.5K | High school diploma or equivalent | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Medical Assistants31-9092 | $39,520 | $33,934 | +12.9% | 109.7K | Postsecondary nondegree award | None | Open state calculator |
| Stockers and Order Fillers53-7065 | $36,840 | $31,781 | +8.9% | 430.7K | No formal educational credential | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Cooks, Restaurant35-2014 | $34,760 | $30,110 | +12.1% | 218.6K | No formal educational credential | Moderate-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners37-2011 | $33,010 | $28,704 | +2.2% | 321.8K | No formal educational credential | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Retail Salespersons41-2031 | $30,800 | $26,928 | -0.3% | 520.6K | No formal educational credential | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Cashiers41-2011 | $29,230 | $25,666 | -6.5% | 521.3K | No formal educational credential | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides31-1120 | $24,230 | $21,563 | +18.1% | 760.5K | High school diploma or equivalent | Short-term on-the-job training | Open state calculator |
Lower the salary floor, allow another education level, or include declining occupations.
Coverage boundary: this is a comparison of PaycheckForge's current 23 occupations, not a ranking of every US career. “Typical education” is a BLS occupation-level classification—not a promise that every employer will use the same hiring requirement. Estimated take-home assumes single filing, no 401(k), no pre-tax deductions and the selected state's modeled 2026 taxes.
How to use the evidence
A path can be accessible without being easy.
BLS “typical education needed for entry” describes an occupation nationally. Employers, unions and licensing boards may require more. Apprenticeships and certificates can take meaningful time and money even when a bachelor’s degree is not typical.
Use salary and modeled take-home for financial comparison, growth for national direction, and annual openings for market scale. Then investigate local licensing, physical demands, schedules and actual postings before changing careers.
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Frequently asked questions
Does “no degree” mean no training is required?
No. Many occupations that do not typically require a bachelor’s degree still require a high school diploma, certificate, license, apprenticeship or substantial on-the-job training. The tool shows the BLS education and training classifications separately.
Are these the best no-degree jobs in America?
No. The results cover only the 23 occupations in PaycheckForge’s current official-data pilot. They are sortable comparisons, not a complete national ranking or a recommendation score.
Why can a declining occupation still show many openings?
BLS annual openings include replacement needs when workers retire or leave an occupation, as well as openings caused by growth. A negative ten-year employment change does not mean there will be zero hiring.
Is the state salary a starting salary?
No. It is the BLS statewide annual median for the occupation. It is not an entry wage, guaranteed offer, minimum or ceiling.