The Rise of "New-Collar" Jobs: How to Earn Six Figures Without a Four-Year Degree

In today’s economy, many workers feel uneasy. With layoffs increasing in traditional office roles—like technology, government, and journalism—more people are looking for career paths that offer both stability and high pay.

This has led to the rise of "new-collar" jobs. These roles sit right in the middle of "blue-collar" (manual labor) and "white-collar" (office roles requiring a degree). Here is what you need to know about this growing career category and the top jobs available now.
 

What are "New-Collar" Jobs?

The term "new-collar" was created by former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty. These jobs require specialized technical skills but do not require a four-year college degree.

Instead of spending years at a university, "new-collar" workers get their training through:
 

1. On-the-job training and apprenticeships.
2. Community colleges or vocational schools.
3. "Boot camps" (such as those for coding or cybersecurity).
4. Professional certification programs.

 

10 High-Paying Jobs Without a Degree Requirement

A recent report from Resume Genius highlighted ten roles where you can earn a high salary by focusing on skills and certifications rather than a diploma.

Below are the median annual salaries for these positions:
 

• Marketing Manager ($159,660): Planning and leading campaigns to help a company sell its products.
• Human Resource Manager ($140,000): Handling employee relations, hiring, and office policies.
• Sales Manager ($138,060): Leading a team of salespeople to meet company goals.
• Computer Network Architect ($130,390): Designing and building data communication networks, like local area networks (LANs) and Intranets.
• General and Operations Manager ($129,330): Overseeing the daily operations of a business or department.
• Information Security Analyst ($124,910): Protecting a company’s computer networks and systems from hackers and cyberattacks.
• Sales Engineer ($121,520): Using technical knowledge to help sell complex scientific or technological products.
• Health Services Manager ($117,960): Organizing and managing the business side of healthcare facilities, like hospitals or clinics.
• Art Director ($111,040): Creating the visual style and images for magazines, advertisements, or movie productions.
• Construction Manager ($106,980): Planning and supervising building projects from start to finish.

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