Jobs that typically need a postsecondary nondegree award

51 occupations sit at this level, with a typical median wage of $60,600. This is the education the Bureau of Labor Statistics says most workers need to enter the job, not a hard requirement, and pay varies widely inside the level.

51 occupations

Most jobs first
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-3032

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$59k
Grads / yr
18k
Growth
+4.0%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-1131

Nursing Assistants

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$42k
Grads / yr
55k
Growth
+2.3%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-9092

Medical Assistants

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$46k
Grads / yr
57k
Growth
+12.5%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-3023

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$51k
Grads / yr
51k
Growth
+4.2%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2061

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$64k
Grads / yr
61k
Growth
+2.6%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-9021

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$61k
Grads / yr
40k
Growth
+8.1%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-9091

Dental Assistants

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$48k
Grads / yr
16k
Growth
+6.4%
View career
Protective Service Occupations
33-2011

Firefighters

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$59k
Grads / yr
14k
Growth
+3.4%
View career
Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-5012

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$36k
Grads / yr
63k
Growth
+5.6%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2072

Medical Records Specialists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$51k
Grads / yr
25k
Growth
+7.1%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2099

Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$50k
Grads / yr
16k
Growth
+5.2%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2042

Emergency Medical Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$44k
Grads / yr
33k
Growth
+5.1%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2053

Psychiatric Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$45k
Grads / yr
2.8k
Growth
+20.0%
View career
Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-5092

Manicurists and Pedicurists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$36k
Grads / yr
71k
Growth
+7.0%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-9097

Phlebotomists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$45k
Grads / yr
11k
Growth
+5.6%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2022

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$64k
Grads / yr
319
Growth
-4.2%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-3011

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$80k
Grads / yr
14k
Growth
+4.0%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2055

Surgical Technologists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$65k
Grads / yr
11k
Growth
+4.5%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2043

Paramedics

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$61k
Grads / yr
33k
Growth
+5.0%
View career
Protective Service Occupations
33-1021

First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$94k
Grads / yr
16k
Growth
+3.4%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-9011

Massage Therapists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$58k
Grads / yr
11k
Growth
+15.4%
View career
Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-5094

Skincare Specialists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$45k
Grads / yr
100k
Growth
+6.7%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-2057

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$46k
Grads / yr
370
Growth
+19.8%
View career
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
27-4011

Audio and Video Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$58k
Grads / yr
5.5k
Growth
+3.3%
View career
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
25-4031

Library Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$45k
Grads / yr
540
Growth
-6.8%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2094

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$74k
Grads / yr
5.9k
Growth
-0.8%
View career
Production Occupations
51-4111

Tool and Die Makers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$64k
Grads / yr
423
Growth
-10.8%
View career
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-2012

Commercial Pilots

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$123k
Grads / yr
2.6k
Growth
+5.1%
View career
Healthcare Support Occupations
31-9094

Medical Transcriptionists

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$40k
Grads / yr
30
Growth
-4.9%
View career
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-5021

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$92k
Grads / yr
501
Growth
+0.5%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-9099

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$66k
Grads / yr
2.3k
Growth
+3.6%
View career
Production Occupations
51-9162

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$68k
Grads / yr
2.2k
Growth
+12.8%
View career
Production Occupations
51-5111

Prepress Technicians and Workers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$49k
Grads / yr
2.3k
Growth
-14.6%
View career
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
29-9093

Surgical Assistants

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$67k
Grads / yr
8.5k
Growth
+5.1%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2095

Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$103k
Grads / yr
11k
Growth
+5.5%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2097

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$53k
Grads / yr
319
Growth
+6.6%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2091

Avionics Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$82k
Grads / yr
711
Growth
+8.2%
View career
Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-5011

Barbers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$38k
Grads / yr
16k
Growth
+4.1%
View career
Protective Service Occupations
33-2021

Fire Inspectors and Investigators

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$76k
Grads / yr
14k
Growth
+3.8%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-3052

Motorcycle Mechanics

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$49k
Grads / yr
852
Growth
+5.3%
View career
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
27-4014

Sound Engineering Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$73k
Grads / yr
6.9k
Growth
-1.7%
View career
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
27-3092

Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$72k
Grads / yr
446
Growth
-0.3%
View career
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1032

Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$78k
Grads / yr
7.2k
Growth
-8.2%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-9081

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$64k
Grads / yr
9.3k
Growth
+49.9%
View career
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
27-4015

Lighting Technicians

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$68k
Grads / yr
2.8k
Growth
-4.6%
View career
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-5031

Ship Engineers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$110k
Grads / yr
501
Growth
+1.6%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-2093

Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$85k
Grads / yr
46k
Growth
+6.1%
View career
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-9092

Commercial Divers

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$73k
Grads / yr
504
Growth
+8.5%
View career
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
53-5022

Motorboat Operators

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$48k
Grads / yr
584
Growth
+1.4%
View career
Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-5091

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$97k
Grads / yr
57k
Growth
+8.1%
View career
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
35-2013

Cooks, Private Household

Typically needs: Postsecondary nondegree award

Median pay
$48k
Grads / yr
15k
Growth
+5.1%
View career

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · IPEDS Fall 2025–26 provisional · College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Education levels are the BLS Employment Projections typical entry-level education assignment. All sources & release dates →

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