10 Jobs Offering Big Pay Without a College Degree

Think you need a college degree to net a solid paycheck? Think again. There are plenty of high-paying jobs out there for job seekers without a bachelor’s—and we’ve got the data to back it up.

Monster consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ research on occupational outlook (which includes the median pay for thousands of careers), and identified the ten highest-paying jobs requiring only a high school diploma. With student debt adding up to about $1.3 trillion nationally—yes, trillion—it’s surprising how little attention is paid to the fact that you can still earn a substantial wage without shackling yourself to a crippling college loan.

In fact, all of the jobs we’ve collected here take home over $55,000, well above the national average wage index of around $46,000. Curious if one of them is right for you? Take a look at the full list:

10. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Median salary: $58,530
Job outlook, 2014-24: 1%
Openings on Monster: 213

9. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives

Median salary: $59,080
Job outlook, 2014-24: 7%
Openings on Monster: 1000+

8. Boilermakers

Median salary: $60,120
Job outlook, 2014-24: 9%
Openings on Monster: 23

7. Police and detectives

Median salary: $60,270
Job outlook, 2014-24: 4%
Openings on Monster: 1000+

Read more from Fortune: You’d Be Surprised How Many Billionaires Don’t Have a College Degree

6. Electric power line installers and repairers

Median salary: $61,430
Job outlook, 2014-24: 6%
Openings on Monster: 97

5. Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators

Median salary: $63,060
Job outlook, 2014-24: 3%
Openings on Monster: 1000+

4. Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers

Median salary: $64,170
Job outlook, 2014-24: -2%
Openings on Monster: 1000+

Read more from Fortune: Udacity Chief Says He Would Send His Son to a Traditional University

3. Power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers

Median salary: $75,660
Job outlook, 2014-24: -6%
Openings on Monster: 1000+

2. Elevator installers and repairers

Median salary: $80,870
Job outlook, 2014-24: 13%
Openings on Monster: 93

More from Monster:
•This technology can type three times faster than humans—and could be a tech job creator
•20 of the fastest-growing private companies in America that are hiring
•9 tips that could help you land a job abroad

1. Airline and commercial pilots

Median salary: $102,520
Job outlook, 2014-24: 5%
Openings on Monster: 916