15 High-Paying Jobs — No Degree Necessary

5. Dental hygienist

Average wage: $42.08 per hour ($87,530 per year)

Median age: 43.1 years

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While you don’t need a degree to become a dental hygienist, you will need to earn a state or regional license to work. Earning a license usually requires completing an accredited dental hygiene program and passing a national exam. Demand for dental hygienists is high and many positions offer flexible hours, which means that earning a license could quickly pay off for some older adults.

6. Electrical power-line installer and repairer

Average wage: $41.07 per hour ($85,420 per year)

Median age: 35.7 years

This job has the youngest median age of all the professions on the list, so it’s probably not ideal for a midlife career switch. Working on power lines is physically demanding and often involves heights or other challenging conditions. Nevertheless, for those who are good with their hands, physically able and eager to earn a higher income, this could be an intriguing path to a higher salary. Power-line repair jobs can be found in the careers section of your regional power company or through larger job boards such as Indeed.

7. Subway or streetcar operator

Average wage: $40.51 per hour ($84,270 per year)

Median age: Not available

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In many transit associations, before you can become a subway conductor, you first must work as one of their bus drivers. Driving a bus can help workers gain experience dealing with passengers while operating a large vehicle. After completing the required amount of time as a bus driver, candidates can then start an on-the-job training program to become a subway operator.

8. Medical sonographer

Average wage: $38.87 per hour ($80,850 per year)

Median age: 41.6 years

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In addition to taking the images that are a common part of pregnancy checkups, medical sonographers help nurses and doctors identify a variety of illnesses using ultrasound equipment. It’s a role that requires a mix of personal skills to interact with patients and doctors along with technical skills to use the equipment effectively. While some sonographers do opt to enter the field by earning an associate’s degree in diagnostic sonography, a degree is not required so long as you have a certificate from an accredited sonography program, with prices starting at roughly $6,000 for a one- or two-year program.

9. Police officer or detective

Average wage: $36.02 per hour ($74,910 per year)

Median age: 42.4 years

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According to a nationwide survey of 214 law enforcement agencies conducted by Police Executive Research Forum, police departments have been on a hiring spree. In 2023, more officers were hired than in any of the previous four years. To become a police officer, in addition to having a high school diploma or its equivalent, you will need to pass a police examination and complete training at a police academy, which typically takes about nine months. You also will need to pass a physical examination and a thorough background check. Strong on-the-job performance can lead to promotion to detective.  

10. Flight attendant

Average wage: $32.87 per hour ($68,370 per year)

Median age: 44.8 years

According to an AARP story on how to become a flight attendant after 50, some airlines value older applicants for these jobs because their life experience can help them manage a variety of passengers and situations. The training process to become a flight attendant varies, ranging from a few months to more than a year. Keep in mind that flight attendants, instead of receiving a typical salary, essentially are paid on a per-flight basis. That means that some newer flight attendants who work less frequently can struggle to earn as much money as they would like, The Washington Post reports. Flight attendant jobs are best found through the careers sections of airlines.

11. Lodging manager

Average wage: $31.42 per hour ($65,360 per year)

Median age: 46 years

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If you’ve ever stayed at a really great — or really bad — hotel, the lodging manager probably played an unseen role in that experience. In addition to making sure that the guest rooms and other facilities are clean and well-maintained, lodging managers oversee a variety of staff and sometimes play a role in planning renovations and other upgrades.  And it’s a job you can enter from different backgrounds, whether you’ve worked in a business office or home renovations.

12. Property, real estate and community association manager

Average wage: $30.22 per hour ($62,850 per year)

Median age: 50.1 years

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Recent changes to how real estate agents are paid have added some uncertainty to a profession that previously had been a popular career switch option for older adults. Those changes might make the related professions of property or community association manager a more appealing option now. There’s less flexibility as an association manager than there is as a real estate agent, but there’s overlap in the skill sets of understanding perks and problems of a particular neighborhood.

13. Industrial machinery mechanic

Average wage: $29.41 per hour ($61,170 per year)

Median age: 45.5 years

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When manufacturing equipment breaks, industrial mechanics are the people who get the call to fix it. While you might not have heard of this job before, it’s one of the fastest growing professions in the nation. The BLS projects that the number of jobs in this field will expand by 15 percent by 2033. While there are associate’s degrees available for industrial maintenance, many workers in this field got their start through on-the-job training programs or apprenticeships.

14. Computer support specialist

Average wage: $29.24 per hour ($60,180 per year)

Median age: 41.8 years

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If you’ve ever called tech support to help you with a computer or technology problem, these workers play a similar role but on a bigger scale. Instead of focusing on fixing a laptop, computer support specialists solve issues with computer networks for businesses. Whether it’s internal networks to help employees do their jobs better or external networks for customers and clients, computer support specialists help businesses stay online.

15. Electrician

Average wage: $27.01 per hour ($56,180 per year)

Median age: 39.9 years

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The rise of electric vehicles, solar panels and smart homes are keeping electricians busy. Many households and communities are using electricians to upgrade their home so they can use technologies that can save them money down the road. For these reasons, the field is projected to add jobs over the next decade. You can train to become an electrician at a trade school, with programs typically lasting from nine months to two years.