While nearly all of the highest paying jobs in America require a bachelor's degree or higher, good-paying occupations still exist that require only work experience or on-the-job-training.
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Download NowAir traffic controllers had median hourly wages of $51.73 and median annual wages of $107,600 in 2005, making it the highest paid occupation that requires only work experience or on-the-job-training, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Air traffic controllers have seen their wages rise from 2005 to 2007. In July 2007, air traffic controllers earned a median of $120,842 in annual wages, according to HR.BLR.com's Salary Center.
Among the 25 highest paid occupations overall, air traffic controller is the only one with no requirement for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Among occupations requiring only work experience or on-the-job-training, managers and industrial production managers are the second and third highest paying jobs.
The following are the 25 highest paying occupations requiring only work experience or on-the-job training:
|
|
| |
| |
Occupation |
Median Wages 2005 |
| |
|
Hourly |
Annual |
| 1 |
Air Traffic Controllers |
$51.73 |
$107,600 |
| 2 |
Managers, All Other |
$38.06 |
$79,200 |
| 3 |
Industrial Production Managers |
$36.34 |
$75,600 |
| 4 |
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers |
$33.23 |
$69,100 |
| 5 |
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators |
$31.84 |
$66,200 |
| 6 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives |
$31.52 |
$65,600 |
| 7 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Non-Retail Sales Workers |
$29.79 |
$62,000 |
| 8 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers |
$29.25 |
$60,800 |
| 9 |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products |
$29.21 |
$60,800 |
| 10 |
Gaming Managers |
$28.82 |
$59,900 |
| 11 |
Elevator Installers and Repairers |
$28.46 |
$59,200 |
| 12 |
Power Distributors and Dispatchers |
$28.44 |
$59,200 |
| 13 |
Real Estate Brokers |
$27.49 |
$57,200 |
| 14 |
Detectives and Criminal Investigators |
$26.82 |
$55,800 |
| 15 |
Locomotive Engineers |
$26.69 |
$55,500 |
| 16 |
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters |
$25.98 |
$54,000 |
| 17 |
Power Plant Operators |
$25.56 |
$53,200 |
| 18 |
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents |
$25.34 |
$52,700 |
| 19 |
Cost Estimators |
$25.01 |
$52,000 |
| 20 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers |
$24.99 |
$52,000 |
| 21 |
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers |
$24.98 |
$52,000 |
| 22 |
Gas Plant Operators |
$24.96 |
$51,900 |
| 23 |
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers |
$24.55 |
$51,100 |
| 24 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels |
$24.49 |
$50,900 |
| 25 |
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers |
$24.33 |
$50,600
|
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