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A four-year degree isn't the only (or even the most efficient) path to six-figure earning potential. Skilled trades and technical roles offer entry paths for applicants with no prior work experience and who rely on paid apprenticeships or employer-sponsored training, and reach wages well above $45 an hour at journeyman level. The 11 jobs below all clear that mark at the median and offer a real way to earn extra money through a hands-on career.
Editor's note: All salary data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
1. Air traffic controller
Median hourly wage: $69.51
Air traffic controllers coordinate the movement of aircraft in and around airports and along altitude sectors, keeping planes separated by safe distances using radar and radio.
The primary entry path is the FAA's Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative, a two-year associate's-degree program, followed by paid FAA Academy training in Oklahoma City. Applicants must be under 31 at the time of hire. Employment is projected to grow 1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from retirements.
2. Nuclear power reactor operator
Median hourly wage: $57.86
Reactor operators run the controls that generate electricity in a nuclear plant, monitor reactor performance, and respond to abnormalities in real time.
Entry requires only a high school diploma. New hires complete several years of paid on-the-job training and pass NRC licensing exams before operating reactor controls independently.
3. Power distributor and dispatcher
Median hourly wage: $49.81
Distributors and dispatchers control the flow of electricity across the grid from substations and control centers, routing power to where demand is highest and isolating faults.
Entry requires only a high school diploma and long-term paid on-the-job training. Employment sits in the same power plant category projected to decline 10% by 2034, though ongoing retirements should continue to drive about 3,800 openings a year across the group.
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4. Elevator and escalator installer
Median hourly wage: $51.24
Elevator mechanics assemble, install, and repair passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, troubleshooting complex electrical and hydraulic systems.
Entry is through a four- or five-year union apprenticeship, most often via the National Elevator Industry Educational Program, pairing paid on-the-job work with classroom study. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
5. Radiation therapist
Median hourly wage: $49.03
Radiation therapists deliver targeted radiation doses to cancer patients, operate linear accelerators, and monitor patient safety throughout each treatment session.
Most enter with an associate's or bachelor's degree from a JRCERT-accredited program, plus certification through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Employment is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 900 openings a year, mostly from replacement.
6. Nuclear medicine technologist
Median hourly wage: $46.64
Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer radioactive drugs, operate gamma cameras and PET scanners, and monitor patients during imaging or treatment.
An associate's degree from a JRCNMT-accredited program is the typical entry point, followed by certification through the NMTCB or ARRT. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, roughly on par with the average for all occupations.
7. Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical repairer
Median hourly wage: $46.44
These workers inspect, test, and repair the high-voltage equipment inside power-generating stations, substations, and switching relays that keep the electric grid running.
Most enter with a postsecondary vocational award or a utility-sponsored apprenticeship, with no prior work experience required. Employment is projected to decline slightly through 2034, though ongoing grid modernization and retirements should continue to generate steady openings.
8. Dental hygienist
Median hourly wage: $45.32
Dental hygienists examine patients for signs of oral disease, clean teeth, apply preventive treatments, take X-rays, and coach patients on daily care.
Entry requires an associate's degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, plus a state license. Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with about 15,300 openings a year.
9. Registered nurse
Median hourly wage: $45
Registered nurses assess patients, administer medications, coordinate care plans, and monitor patient status across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings.
The fastest route in is a two-year associate's degree in nursing from a community college, followed by passing the NCLEX-RN exam for state licensure. Employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average, with about 189,100 openings a year.
10. Diagnostic medical sonographer
Median hourly wage: $46.44
Sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to produce diagnostic images of the abdomen, cardiovascular system, reproductive organs, and other body areas for physicians.
Most enter with an associate's degree, though one-year certificate programs exist for those already holding health care credentials. Employment is projected to grow 13% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
11. First-line supervisor of police and detectives
Median hourly wage: $48.92
These supervisors, often sergeants and lieutenants, oversee patrol officers and detectives, coordinate investigations, and manage day-to-day operations of a shift or unit.
The role is reached by promotion within a police force, so entry to the field itself requires no prior law enforcement experience: candidates start as patrol officers with a high school diploma and completion of a police academy, then promote up.
Bottom line
These 11 careers all clear $45 an hour at the median and welcome applicants without prior work experience. The common thread is a paid or short training path: apprenticeships, two-year associate's degrees, or long-term on-the-job training that pays from day one. For workers weighing a career shift, or looking for ways to make money from home alongside a new role, a technical or trade credential remains one of the most reliable routes to strong pay without four years of tuition.
