Careers: No formal educational credential
100 occupations requiring no formal educational credential, sorted by median salary.
This page lists the 100 BLS-tracked occupations assigned No formal educational credential in the BLS “typical education needed for entry” category, ranked by national median salary from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. Leading the list is Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining at $74,500/year, projected to decline 22% through 2034. The equal-weighted mean of the published occupation medians in this category is $44,840. It is a comparison of occupation medians, not a worker-level wage or the return from obtaining a credential.
67 occupations in this list are projected to grow through 2034 per BLS Employment Projections, while 33 are flat or declining. Summing the published projected annual openings across the list gives approximately 5,060,200. This is an occupation-level projection sum, not a live vacancy count or an individual entry probability. Workplace safety grades shown on each row derive from BLS CFOI fatality rates and SOII injury rates, useful for roles involving fieldwork, construction, transportation, or healthcare where physical hazard matters alongside compensation.
“Typical education needed for entry” is the BLS category describing the education workers typically need to enter an occupation. It is not a legal or employer-specific requirement and does not describe every worker. Many roles on this list have alternative pathways through experience, certifications, portfolio-based entry, or higher credentials. Those pathways are context for further research; this ranking does not measure their effect on pay. Use this ranking to compare occupations that share the same BLS entry-education assignment, then open a national profile to inspect its published percentile boundaries, state and local-area variation, and employment projections. The assignment does not measure your current credential, a program's cost, or the best route for an individual. OEWS percentiles are wage boundaries, not entry or senior work-level estimates. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. Employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses are excluded, so compare those parts of an offer separately.
| # | Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining Construction and Extraction Occupations | $74,500 |
| 2 | Artists and Related Workers, All Other Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations | $71,240 |
| 3 | Underground Mining Machine Operators, All Other Construction and Extraction Occupations | $70,130 |
| 4 | Tapers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $68,270 |
| 5 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Construction and Extraction Occupations | $67,890 |
| 6 | Athletes and Sports Competitors Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations | $66,710 |
| 7 | Postal Service Clerks Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $62,130 |
| 8 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators Construction and Extraction Occupations | $61,810 |
| 9 | Postal Service Mail Carriers Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $60,550 |
| 10 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $58,930 |
| 11 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $58,870 |
| 12 | Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas Construction and Extraction Occupations | $58,620 |
| 13 | Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $58,470 |
| 14 | Farm Labor Contractors Business and Financial Operations Occupations | $58,460 |
| 15 | Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas Construction and Extraction Occupations | $58,160 |
| 16 | Plasterers and Stucco Masons Construction and Extraction Occupations | $57,660 |
| 17 | Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $57,020 |
| 18 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles Construction and Extraction Occupations | $56,460 |
| 19 | Hoist and Winch Operators Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $56,450 |
| 20 | Tile and Stone Setters Construction and Extraction Occupations | $55,690 |
| 21 | Roofers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $55,440 |
| 22 | Paperhangers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $52,140 |
| 23 | Sailors and Marine Oilers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $51,520 |
| 24 | Floor Sanders and Finishers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $50,440 |
| 25 | Carpet Installers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $50,340 |
| 26 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $49,690 |
| 27 | Painters, Construction and Maintenance Construction and Extraction Occupations | $49,400 |
| 28 | Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall Construction and Extraction Occupations | $49,120 |
| 29 | Pipelayers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $49,000 |
| 30 | Rock Splitters, Quarry Construction and Extraction Occupations | $48,740 |
| 31 | Models Sales and Related Occupations | $48,470 |
| 32 | Fence Erectors Construction and Extraction Occupations | $47,980 |
| 33 | Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters Construction and Extraction Occupations | $47,550 |
| 34 | Construction Laborers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $47,120 |
| 35 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas Construction and Extraction Occupations | $46,960 |
| 36 | Grounds Maintenance Workers, All Other Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $46,860 |
| 37 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $46,420 |
| 38 | Craft Artists Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations | $46,080 |
| 39 | Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Production Occupations | $44,810 |
| 40 | Helpers--Roofers Construction and Extraction Occupations | $44,160 |
| 41 | Building Cleaning Workers, All Other Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $44,040 |
| 42 | Helpers--Carpenters Construction and Extraction Occupations | $43,780 |
| 43 | Helpers, Construction Trades, All Other Construction and Extraction Occupations | $42,670 |
| 44 | Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand Production Occupations | $42,660 |
| 45 | Conveyor Operators and Tenders Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $42,420 |
| 46 | Taxi Drivers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $42,100 |
| 47 | Material Moving Workers, All Other Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $41,800 |
| 48 | Agricultural Equipment Operators Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $41,730 |
| 49 | Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers Production Occupations | $41,640 |
| 50 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Production Occupations | $41,600 |
| 51 | Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers Sales and Related Occupations | $41,380 |
| 52 | Counter and Rental Clerks Sales and Related Occupations | $41,300 |
| 53 | Machine Feeders and Offbearers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $41,220 |
| 54 | Helpers--Painters, Paperhangers, Plasterers, and Stucco Masons Construction and Extraction Occupations | $40,470 |
| 55 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $40,240 |
| 56 | Butchers and Meat Cutters Production Occupations | $40,140 |
| 57 | Slaughterers and Meat Packers Production Occupations | $40,130 |
| 58 | Agricultural Workers, All Other Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $39,850 |
| 59 | Food Processing Workers, All Other Production Occupations | $39,680 |
| 60 | Demonstrators and Product Promoters Sales and Related Occupations | $39,320 |
| 61 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $39,150 |
| 62 | Parts Salespersons Sales and Related Occupations | $38,630 |
| 63 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers Production Occupations | $38,300 |
| 64 | Motion Picture Projectionists Personal Care and Service Occupations | $38,270 |
| 65 | Crossing Guards and Flaggers Protective Service Occupations | $38,100 |
| 66 | Cutters and Trimmers, Hand Production Occupations | $38,020 |
| 67 | Cooks, All Other Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $37,690 |
| 68 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $37,450 |
| 69 | Cooks, Restaurant Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $37,390 |
| 70 | Stockers and Order Fillers Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $37,330 |
| 71 | Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $37,290 |
| 72 | Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $37,180 |
| 73 | Bakers Production Occupations | $37,160 |
| 74 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $36,840 |
| 75 | Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $36,670 |
| 76 | Sewing Machine Operators Production Occupations | $36,670 |
| 77 | Sewers, Hand Production Occupations | $36,480 |
| 78 | Packers and Packagers, Hand Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $36,280 |
| 79 | Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers Sales and Related Occupations | $36,220 |
| 80 | Cooks, Short Order Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $35,880 |
| 81 | Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $35,840 |
| 82 | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $35,830 |
| 83 | Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $35,730 |
| 84 | Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $35,670 |
| 85 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | $35,660 |
| 86 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $35,510 |
| 87 | Telemarketers Sales and Related Occupations | $35,450 |
| 88 | Retail Salespersons Sales and Related Occupations | $35,410 |
| 89 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $35,360 |
| 90 | Food Preparation Workers Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $35,320 |
| 91 | Waiters and Waitresses Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $35,230 |
| 92 | Parking Attendants Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $35,150 |
| 93 | Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials Production Occupations | $35,060 |
| 94 | Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers Production Occupations | $34,890 |
| 95 | Dishwashers Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $34,810 |
| 96 | Bartenders Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $34,340 |
| 97 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $33,980 |
| 98 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers Protective Service Occupations | $33,580 |
| 99 | Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers Personal Care and Service Occupations | $32,910 |
| 100 | Cashiers Sales and Related Occupations | $32,880 |
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Education, growth, and openings use BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII where present. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.