Fastest-Growing Jobs Without a Degree
Growing careers you can start without a college degree.
The 50 jobs below have a median salary of $51,140 — 0% above the $50,980 median for all U.S. workers. 100% of them are projected to grow faster than the 3.5% average through 2035, and together they are expected to have about 2,618,600 openings a year. The most common entry requirement on this list is: high school diploma or equivalent (28 jobs).
| # | Job | Median salary | Take-home* | Education | Growth 2025–35 | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solar Photovoltaic Installer | $53,140 | $44,878 | High school diploma or equivalent | +36.5% | 4,200 |
| 2 | Wind Turbine Service Technician | $64,120 | $53,700 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +29.5% | 1,500 |
| 3 | Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | $38,442 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +22.3% | 17,000 |
| 4 | Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | $38,795 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +21.4% | 11,800 |
| 5 | Occupational Health and Safety Technician | $61,560 | $51,643 | High school diploma or equivalent | +19.4% | 3,800 |
| 6 | Hearing Aid Specialist | $65,160 | $54,536 | High school diploma or equivalent | +19.4% | 900 |
| 7 | Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $35,800 | $30,945 | High school diploma or equivalent | +18.1% | 760,500 |
| 8 | Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 | $54,022 | High school diploma or equivalent | +17.8% | 44,400 |
| 9 | Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $49,145 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +15.3% | 20,400 |
| 10 | Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $38,892 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +12.9% | 109,700 |
| 11 | Community Health Worker | $51,850 | $43,841 | High school diploma or equivalent | +12.7% | 7,000 |
| 12 | Cooks, Restaurant | $37,390 | $32,223 | No formal educational credential | +12.1% | 218,600 |
| 13 | Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $30,592 | High school diploma or equivalent | +12.1% | 62,800 |
| 14 | Taxi Driver | $42,100 | $36,007 | No formal educational credential | +11.5% | 20,400 |
| 15 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,010 | $51,202 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +10.9% | 40,600 |
| 16 | Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $40,507 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.8% | 10,700 |
| 17 | Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician | $56,550 | $47,618 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.7% | 3,700 |
| 18 | Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer | $95,320 | $75,888 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.3% | 10,900 |
| 19 | Tile and Stone Setter | $55,690 | $46,927 | No formal educational credential | +9.8% | 3,300 |
| 20 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | $103,020 | $81,305 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.7% | 1,800 |
| 21 | Recreational Vehicle Service Technician | $52,000 | $43,962 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.7% | 2,200 |
| 22 | Avionics Technician | $82,280 | $66,714 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.4% | 1,700 |
| 23 | Manicurist and Pedicurist | $35,760 | $30,913 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +9.2% | 21,900 |
| 24 | Electrician | $63,190 | $52,953 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.2% | 72,700 |
| 25 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $58,170 | $48,920 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.2% | 900 |
| 26 | Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 | $32,834 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.1% | 23,200 |
| 27 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $56,460 | $47,546 | No formal educational credential | +9.0% | 2,200 |
| 28 | Stocker and Order Filler | $37,330 | $32,175 | No formal educational credential | +8.9% | 430,700 |
| 29 | Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $38,603 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +8.8% | 14,200 |
| 30 | Flight Attendant | $63,580 | $53,267 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.8% | 18,500 |
| 31 | Agricultural Equipment Operator | $41,730 | $35,710 | No formal educational credential | +8.6% | 10,100 |
| 32 | Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | $43,504 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.2% | 3,400 |
| 33 | Courier and Messenger | $39,200 | $33,677 | High school diploma or equivalent | +8.0% | 23,800 |
| 34 | Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $33,332 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.9% | 45,500 |
| 35 | Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | $43,271 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.8% | 14,000 |
| 36 | Septic Tank Servicer and Sewer Pipe Cleaner | $49,880 | $42,259 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.8% | 2,800 |
| 37 | Airfield Operations Specialist | $56,850 | $47,859 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.8% | 1,500 |
| 38 | Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $30,937 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.7% | 73,400 |
| 39 | Social and Human Service Assistant | $45,930 | $39,085 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.4% | 48,900 |
| 40 | Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $40,804 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% | 53,000 |
| 41 | Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor | $47,160 | $40,073 | High school diploma or equivalent | +7.3% | 68,000 |
| 42 | Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $40,041 | No formal educational credential | +7.3% | 120,000 |
| 43 | Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur | $37,290 | $32,143 | No formal educational credential | +7.1% | 35,500 |
| 44 | Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $38,522 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% | 18,000 |
| 45 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $63,800 | $53,443 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.8% | 42,000 |
| 46 | Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer | $60,070 | $50,446 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.8% | 8,500 |
| 47 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $65,510 | $54,817 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.7% | 15,000 |
| 48 | Chef and Head Cook | $62,470 | $52,375 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.6% | 25,200 |
| 49 | Food Batchmaker | $42,290 | $36,160 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.5% | 23,100 |
| 50 | Pharmacy Technician | $45,750 | $38,940 | High school diploma or equivalent | +6.4% | 44,700 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal tax and FICA, no state income tax. Pick your state in the calculator below to see your own number. Average growth for all jobs: 3.5%.
What would #1 take home in your state?
Your take-home pay
$44,878
per year · effective tax rate 15.5%
$3,740Monthly
$1,870Twice a month
$1,726Every 2 weeks
$21.58Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,197
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,295
- Medicare (1.45%)$771
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$44,878
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest-growing job?
Solar Photovoltaic Installers are projected to grow 36.5% from 2025 to 2035 — versus 3.5% for all jobs — with a median salary of $53,140.
Where does this data come from?
Salaries are U.S. median wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). Education, openings and growth come from BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Take-home pay uses 2026 federal tax rules for a single filer in a state with no income tax.