11 Jobs That Pay at Least $70,000 a Year (No 4-Year Degree Needed)

Worried about securing a high-paying job without a four-year degree? Fortunately, there are plenty of lucrative jobs out there that you can land without a bachelor's.

These days, companies and industries are looking for hard-working individuals and often value experience over education. And one of the best ways to get ahead financially is to work a stable and high-paying gig, without having to pay for the education.

Here are 11 jobs that pay at least $70,000 per year. All data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Median annual salary: $70,760

This job is at the cutting edge of robotics, mechanics, and computer systems. As a technician, you will help install, operate, and maintain electromechanical equipment for a variety of programmable machines, robots, and large mechanical apparatuses like conveyor belts.

While many positions offer on-the-job training, you will need at least an associate's degree in a related field to get started, and a certification from an accredited organization such as the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) can be helpful.

Median annual salary: $71,270

As an electrical installer, you will work in various situations as you install, repair, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical equipment.

A high school degree is required to get started, although you may need to attend a vocational school or community college to obtain a certification. Depending on your specialization, there may be a chance for on-the-job training as well.

Median annual salary: $73,340

In this role, you will repair, assemble, and install large metal containers, such as boilers, vats, and tanks. This is a labor-intensive job that requires a high level of specialized knowledge and expertise to perform.

A high school diploma is all you need to get started, though there is a four-year apprenticeship program to get you up to speed on the skills required to succeed.

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Median annual salary: $80,030

As a chemical plant system operator, you will control and monitor equipment that processes chemicals into fuels, fertilizers, plastics, or pharmaceuticals. You'll be in charge of overseeing the systems that keep the production line moving along.

This role requires a lot of on-the-job training, but you only need a high school diploma to get started. However, an associate's degree in chemical processing or a related field could greatly help your chances of getting hired.

Median annual salary: $82,570

Medical sonographers use specialized sonography equipment to perform patient ultrasounds. They help patients analyze the ultrasound images and are the go-to person to help them prepare for the process.

You may need a certification from an accredited program, and an associate's degree from a community college is required to get started.

Median annual salary: $94,260

Cleaning teeth and assessing a patient's oral health are the two main things you'll do in this job. Get ready to become a master of the plaque scraper and flossing as you help clean off tartar and bacteria.

An associate's degree, along with a state licensure, is what you need to get started.

Median annual salary: $101,990

In this job, you will administer radiation treatment to cancer patients. That means using specialized equipment to deliver the radiation to targeted areas of the body in order to kill cancer cells.

An associate's degree in radiation therapy and additional certifications are usually required to get started.

Median annual salary: $104,240

Nuclear technicians assist with the operation of nuclear reactors, including monitoring radiation levels. Considering the dangers associated with operating a nuclear power plant, this role requires an associate's degree in nuclear technology and extensive on-the-job training.

Median annual salary: $104,750

In this role, you will manage the flow of electricity from power plants to substations and then to homes and businesses. That means monitoring electrical grids, operating electrical switches and circuit breakers, and responding quickly to outages or emergencies to maintain a stable power supply.

This is an intense job that's not for the faint of heart, but it does not require more than a high school diploma to get started. There's extensive on-the-job training as well, so prepare for an intensive learning experience.

Median annual salary: $106,580

These workers are responsible for fixing and installing escalators, elevators, and other lifting systems. This job has an intensive learning curve and many years of apprenticeship, but it pays well for all of the work you'll put in.

You only need a high school diploma, a solid work ethic, and plenty of bodily mobility to squeeze into tight spaces to get the job done.

Median annual salary: $144,580

This is another intense and high-stress job, where you are compensated handsomely. Working with air traffic control, you will coordinate aircraft movement on the ground and in the air to prevent collisions and minimize delays.

Typically, you'll spend your shift in the control tower, coordinating everything. An associate's degree and Federal Aviation Administration training are required, but there's room for growth in an industry looking for competent workers.

A bachelor's degree isn't the only path to financial success. You can enter a stable, high-paying field without years spent in the lecture hall with the right training and certifications. That means less money spent on continuing education, which can help lower your financial stress in the long term.

And according to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent data, 37.7% of adults aged 25 and older had attained a bachelor's degree or higher. That means that going to college is by no means the only way to attain stable employment and a stable career path.