10 High-Paying Jobs That Don't Need a College Degree

Good news for anyone worried about the rising cost of college: some of the fastest-growing, highest-paying careers don't require a four-year degree at all.

They're called "new-collar" jobs, and they're creating a fresh path to financial security. These positions fall somewhere between traditional white-collar and blue-collar work, requiring specialized technical skills that can be learned through community colleges, vocational schools, boot camps, or certification programs.

The timing couldn't be better. With layoffs hitting white-collar sectors like tech, government, and journalism harder than at any time since 2009, workers are looking for stable alternatives that don't come with crushing student debt.

Resume Genius just released data on 10 new-collar roles with eye-opening salaries. Marketing managers top the list at $159,660 annually, followed by human resource managers at $140,000 and sales managers at $138,060. Computer network architects earn a median of $130,390, while general and operations managers bring in $129,330.

The tech-focused roles are particularly promising. Information security analysts earn $124,910, and sales engineers make $121,520. Both fields are expanding rapidly as companies prioritize cybersecurity and digital infrastructure.

Healthcare and creative fields are also hiring. Health services managers earn $117,960, art directors make $111,040, and construction managers pull in $106,980. All without the price tag of a traditional bachelor's degree.

The concept isn't actually new. Former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty coined the term "new-collar" back in 2016, recognizing that skills matter more than pedigree for many technical roles. IBM began hiring for cybersecurity and cloud computing positions based on demonstrated abilities rather than diplomas.

The Bright Side

This shift is democratizing access to high-paying careers. Students can enter these fields faster and cheaper through focused training programs, often landing jobs within months instead of years. Community colleges and trade schools are responding by expanding programs in these exact areas.

For workers facing uncertainty in traditional white-collar jobs, these roles offer a genuine second act. The skills are learnable, the demand is real, and the pay proves you don't need a mountain of student debt to build a comfortable life.

The message is clear: the path to a six-figure salary is wider than we thought.