Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Felons Without a Degree

A felony conviction and no college degree can feel like a doubly narrow starting point, but the skilled trades and technical fields on this list tell a different story. These careers pay well above the national median wage, rely on apprenticeships, certifications, and hands-on training rather than a degree, and are widely documented as more open to hiring people with a record than white-collar or licensed professional fields tend to be.

This article breaks down 10 of those high-paying careers, ranked from highest to lowest pay. It leaves out a few fields that might otherwise top a general "highest-paying, no-degree" list, most notably nuclear power reactor operator, since that role requires federal security clearance and unescorted access authorization at a nuclear facility, one of the strictest background check processes that exists. This list focuses instead on careers where individual employers, unions, and state licensing boards are documented as reviewing records case-by-case rather than imposing something close to an automatic bar.

Salary Disclaimer: The salary ranges provided in this article are estimates based on national averages. Actual earnings may vary depending on location, employer, level of experience, and industry demand.

Why These Careers Are More Accessible With a Felony Record

Skilled trades and technical fields reward hands-on competence that employers and apprenticeship programs can evaluate directly, often through a certification, a demonstrated skill, or a probationary work period, rather than relying primarily on a background check to screen candidates. Persistent labor shortages in construction, manufacturing, and transportation have also pushed many employers toward genuinely fair-chance hiring practices, since the cost of leaving a position unfilled often outweighs the perceived risk of hiring someone with a record.

That said, accessibility still varies by field, and this list is upfront about it. Union-run apprenticeships, like those for elevator installers and linemen, generally review applicants case-by-case, with waiting periods that depend on the offense, while fields like commercial truck driving are governed by federal rules that don't disqualify someone based on a felony alone. Facilities involving nuclear materials, airport secure areas, or other federally regulated security zones are the clear exception, which is why this list steers away from those roles even when they pay well.

Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs for Felons Without a Degree

The careers below are ranked from highest to lowest pay. Each entry notes the typical training path and any relevant background check considerations specific to that field.

1. Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer

Entry into this career is almost always through a formal, multi-year apprenticeship administered through a union, typically the International Union of Elevator Constructors, following a high school diploma. Apprenticeship programs generally review applicants on a case-by-case basis, with waiting periods that depend on the nature and timing of the offense.

Elevator and escalator installers and repairers assemble, install, and maintain the elevators, escalators, and moving walkways found in buildings across the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, elevator and escalator installers and repairers earned a mean annual wage of $109,820, the highest figure on this list. Apprenticeship slots are competitive even without a record, so building relevant mechanical or electrical experience beforehand can meaningfully improve your chances of acceptance.

2. Power Plant Operator, Distributor, or Dispatcher

A high school diploma combined with extensive on-the-job training is the typical path into this career, which controls the systems that generate and distribute electricity at conventional power plants and across the grid. It's worth being specific here: this entry covers conventional power generation and grid operations, not the nuclear power reactor operator role, which involves a much stricter federal security clearance process that this list intentionally avoids recommending.

Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers monitor equipment and respond to changes in electricity demand across the power grid. Power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers earned a median annual wage of $105,080, according to the most recent data. Most operators work their way up through a structured, utility-specific training program, which typically involves the same individualized background review as other utility jobs.

3. Electrical Power-Line Installer

Also known as linemen, electrical power-line installers typically enter the field through a paid apprenticeship after a high school diploma, combining classroom instruction with hands-on fieldwork under experienced linemen. Utility companies and the unions that run many lineman apprenticeships generally review criminal history case-by-case, with more scrutiny applied to offenses involving theft or safety violations given the nature of the work.

Electrical power-line installers and repairers install and repair the power lines that carry electricity across the grid. Electrical power-line installers and repairers earned a median annual wage of $95,320, according to the most recent data. This physically demanding, safety-critical work also includes well-paid storm response opportunities after hurricanes and major storms.

4. First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades

Reaching this supervisory role typically comes after years of hands-on experience in a specific trade, like carpentry, electrical work, or general construction labor, rather than through a formal degree or license. Construction is one of the most consistently cited industries in reentry employment research for being open to hiring people with a record, particularly for physically demanding, skills-based roles.

First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers oversee the daily work of construction crews, coordinating schedules, safety, and quality on a job site. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers earned a mean annual wage of $86,450, according to the most recent data. Starting as a laborer or in an entry-level trade position and building a track record of reliability is generally the most realistic path into this supervisory role.

5. Industrial Machinery Mechanic

On-the-job training, sometimes combined with a postsecondary certificate, prepares graduates for this career maintaining and repairing the equipment used in factories and industrial facilities. Manufacturing has a well-documented history of fair-chance hiring, driven partly by persistent demand for reliable workers willing to do hands-on maintenance work.

Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights keep manufacturing equipment running through routine maintenance and repair. Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights earned a median annual wage of $64,100, according to recent data. This field also shows strong projected growth, among the fastest of any career on this list.

6. Diesel Service Technician

Many diesel technicians learn on the job after a high school education, though employers increasingly prefer candidates who complete a postsecondary training program at a trade school or community college. Fleet maintenance companies and trucking operations, facing persistent demand for qualified technicians, are generally documented as open to hiring candidates with a record who can demonstrate mechanical skill.

Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair diesel engines in trucks, buses, and other heavy equipment. Diesel service technicians and mechanics earned a median annual wage of $61,770, according to the latest data. This role doesn't typically require a professional license, which keeps hiring decisions in the hands of individual employers.

7. HVAC and Refrigeration Technician

A postsecondary certificate program, combined with the federally required EPA Section 608 certification for handling refrigerants, is the standard path into this career. The EPA certification itself doesn't involve a criminal background check, and HVAC has a strong, well-documented reputation as one of the more accessible skilled trades for people with a record.

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers work on the systems that heat, cool, and ventilate buildings. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earned a median annual wage of $61,010, according to recent data. Steady demand for both new installations and system replacements supports consistent hiring across residential and commercial HVAC companies.

8. Chef or Head Cook

Most chefs and head cooks build their skills through a combination of on-the-job experience and, in some cases, a postsecondary culinary certificate, rather than a formal degree. The restaurant and food service industry is widely cited in reentry employment resources as one of the more consistently accessible fields, since kitchen work rarely involves the kind of formal background check common in office settings.

Chefs and head cooks oversee the daily food preparation at restaurants and other places where food is served. Chefs and head cooks earned a median annual wage of $60,990, according to the most recent data. Starting as a line cook and working up through a kitchen's ranks is the standard path toward this role.

9. Heavy or Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

A commercial driver's license (CDL), earned through a training program and a series of skills tests, is the credential required for this career, and federal rules governing CDL eligibility don't disqualify someone based on a felony conviction alone. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reviews driving records nationally, but a felony that isn't specifically driving-related generally doesn't bar someone from obtaining a CDL.

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods over long distances, a role in persistent demand across nearly every region of the country. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a median annual wage of $58,640, according to the most recent data. This is one of the more consistently cited entry points in reentry employment resources, since many trucking companies actively recruit drivers regardless of a non-driving-related record.

10. Welder

Welding programs at trade schools and community colleges typically run a few months to a year, preparing graduates for certification exams through the American Welding Society. Welding is one of the most frequently cited fields in reentry employment resources, since shops and manufacturers generally weigh demonstrated skill and reliability over a background check.

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earned a median annual wage of $53,750, the lowest figure on this list. Pay varies considerably by specialization, and pipeline, underwater, and other specialized welding roles commonly pay well above this median once a welder builds experience and certifications.

How We Rank These Careers

To create this list, we review current occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics alongside documented hiring practices for each field. Because accessibility matters as much as pay for this list, we specifically excluded fields involving federal security clearance requirements or a well-documented history of restrictive background screening.

• Salary potential: Careers are ranked using the median or mean annual wage for the role, based on the latest available data.
• Licensing and clearance accessibility: We prioritize careers that don't require federal security clearance, or where unions and employers are documented as reviewing felony convictions case-by-case.
• Industry hiring practices: We weigh documented industry trends around fair-chance hiring, drawing on reentry employment research and industry-specific reporting.
• Career alignment: Each career is matched to a realistic path for someone without a degree and with a record, rather than a best-case scenario.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Understanding Background Checks and Licensing Barriers

How a criminal record affects a job search in the skilled trades depends heavily on three factors: the specific offense, how much time has passed, and whether the role involves a union apprenticeship, a state license, or federal security requirements. Offenses involving theft, fraud, or violence tend to draw more scrutiny across nearly every field, particularly in roles involving access to customers' homes or high-value equipment, while older, non-violent convictions are generally viewed more favorably.

Union-run apprenticeships, common in fields like elevator installation and line work, typically conduct their own case-by-case review rather than following a state licensing board's rules, which means outcomes can vary considerably between different union locals. Federally regulated fields, most notably anything involving nuclear materials, airport secure areas, or federal facilities, involve a fundamentally different, more restrictive process, which is why this list steers clear of those roles even when they pay well. Researching a specific union local's or employer's actual track record, rather than assuming an entire trade is uniformly open or closed, will give you a more realistic picture.

How Long Does It Take to Enter One of These Careers

Timelines vary considerably across this list. Careers like elevator installation and line work require formal apprenticeships that typically run three to five years, combining paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction, while careers like welding, HVAC, and diesel technology can be entered after a certificate program lasting a few months to about a year.

Careers like truck driving and food service offer some of the fastest entry points on this list, sometimes requiring only weeks of training before a person can start working. Reaching the higher salary figures at the top of this list, particularly for elevator installation and supervisory construction roles, typically requires additional years of experience beyond initial training or certification.

How Much Does Training for These Careers Cost

Training costs for these careers run dramatically lower than a bachelor's degree, since most rely on paid apprenticeships, employer-provided training, or short certificate programs rather than years of tuition. Union apprenticeships, like those for elevator installers and linemen, typically pay an hourly wage from day one, meaning trainees earn income throughout their training rather than paying for it.

Where costs do exist, such as for a welding or HVAC certificate program, they generally total a few thousand dollars, and many community colleges offer these programs at a lower cost than a four-year degree by a wide margin. Comparing this cost structure to a traditional degree, which often leaves graduates with significant debt before their first paycheck, is part of what makes these careers a practical starting point for many people rebuilding financial stability after a conviction.

Funding and Support for Entering These Careers

People pursuing these careers, including those currently incarcerated or recently released, have access to a range of financial and training support built around short-term credentials rather than a degree. Understanding what's available can meaningfully speed up the path to full-time, well-paying work.

• Registered apprenticeships: Programs registered with the U.S. Department of Labor pay a wage during training and often lead directly to a job with the sponsoring employer or union.
• Short-term Pell Grants: Federal Pell Grant eligibility now extends to some short-term certificate programs, including certain welding, HVAC, and diesel technology programs, for eligible students.
• Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding: This federal program funds job training for eligible workers, including many people with a criminal record, through local American Job Centers.
• Reentry-focused training grants: The U.S. Department of Labor's RESTART initiative and similar state programs specifically fund training in skilled trades and manufacturing for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Second Chance Pell: For people currently incarcerated, the Second Chance Pell funds degree and certificate programs completed during incarceration at participating institutions.

How to Choose the Right Career for You

With 10 accessible, well-paying trade careers to choose from, narrowing down the right one comes down to matching the career to your interests, your specific record, and how quickly you want to start earning. The considerations below can help guide that decision.

Your Specific Conviction and the Role's Requirements

Some careers on this list involve customers' homes, high-value equipment, or safety-sensitive systems, which can draw more scrutiny depending on the nature of a conviction, while others, like welding or diesel technology, generally involve less individualized review. Being realistic about how your specific record might be viewed in a specific field, rather than assuming uniform accessibility across this whole list, will help you plan more effectively.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Careers like line work and elevator installation involve real physical demands, including working at heights or in confined spaces, while careers like food service or truck driving involve a different kind of physical and schedule demand. Being honest with yourself about the kind of physical work you're willing to take on, and for how many years, will help narrow this list quickly.

Training Path and Timeline

Some careers on this list, like elevator installation, require a lengthy, competitive apprenticeship before you're fully qualified, while others, like truck driving or food service, offer a much faster path to full-time work. Consider how quickly you need to start earning against how much you're willing to invest in a longer, more structured training path.

Union Membership and Employer Reputation

Several of the highest-paying careers on this list, particularly elevator installation and line work, are heavily union-organized, and individual union locals can have meaningfully different track records on hiring people with a record. Reaching out to a specific local union or training program directly, rather than assuming a trade is uniformly open or closed, is often the most reliable way to get an accurate picture.

Job Growth for These Careers

Job growth varies considerably across this list, and it's worth weighing alongside pay since strong wages mean less if a field isn't adding new positions. Industrial machinery mechanics show the strongest projected growth on this list, followed by HVAC and diesel technology, both driven by steady demand for equipment maintenance and repair.

Welding and truck driving show more modest projected growth nationally, though both fields also see substantial demand simply to replace workers who retire or leave the field, which keeps openings steady even without dramatic growth. It's worth researching both the national trend and the specific regional demand for any career on this list before committing to a training path.

FAQs About High-Paying Jobs for Felons Without a Degree

These are some of the questions people ask most often when researching high-paying, no-degree careers with a felony record. Use them as a starting point for your own research into the careers that interest you most.

Why Isn't Nuclear Power Reactor Operator on This List?

This role requires passing a federal background investigation and psychological evaluation to obtain unescorted access authorization at a nuclear facility, a process that's considerably more restrictive than the background checks most other careers on this list involve. While not every felony automatically disqualifies someone, the process is uncertain enough, and the consequences of pursuing training for a role you may not ultimately be cleared for are significant enough, that this list doesn't recommend it as a realistic first choice.

Do Any of These Careers Require a License?

Elevator installation is typically governed by union apprenticeship standards rather than a state professional license, while HVAC work requires the federally administered EPA Section 608 certification, which doesn't involve a criminal background check. Truck driving requires a commercial driver's license through your state's motor vehicle agency, governed by federal rules that generally don't disqualify someone based on a felony alone.

How Do I Find Out if a Specific Union or Employer Is Open to Hiring Someone With My Record?

Reaching out directly to a specific union local, apprenticeship coordinator, or employer's HR department is generally more reliable than relying on general industry reputation, since practices can vary considerably even within the same trade. Local reentry employment organizations often maintain more current, specific information about which employers and apprenticeship programs in your area have a real track record of fair-chance hiring.

Can I Start Training for These Careers While Still Incarcerated?

Often, yes, particularly for certificate-based trades like welding, HVAC, and culinary arts, since many correctional facilities partner with community colleges or trade schools to offer vocational training programs. Asking about available vocational programs and whether any employers or unions in your area have direct hiring partnerships with your facility is worth doing well before your release date.

Is It Worth Pursuing a Degree Later If I Start in One of These Trades First?

For some people, yes, particularly if you're drawn toward a supervisory or management-track role down the road, since a degree in construction management or a related field can open doors that trade experience alone doesn't. Many of these fields also offer a genuine, well-paying career on their own without ever requiring a degree, so it's worth weighing your own goals rather than assuming further education is always the next step.

Explore Training Programs for These High-Paying Careers

Browse resources through Learn.org to learn more about apprenticeships, certifications, and training programs that can help you get started in these fields. Whichever career you choose from this list, a felony conviction and no degree don't have to mean a limited career.