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Careers Requiring a Postsecondary Certificate

Careers requiring a postsecondary nondegree certificate. Includes EMTs, paramedics, dental assistants, massage therapists, HVAC technicians, and CDL drivers. Short-duration training programs with direct-to-workforce employment.

Repit catalogs 51 occupations at this education level, accounting for approximately 10,533,000 jobs in the U.S. workforce and roughly 1,161,100 annual openings. Median salaries range up to $122,670 for the highest-paying roles in this tier.
51
Careers
$58,410
Median Salary
1,161,100
Annual Openings

Commercial pilots

$122,670 +5.1% growth 6,600 annual openings

Ship engineers

$101,320 +1.6% growth 1,100 annual openings

Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

$100,940 +5.5% growth 2,000 annual openings

First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

$92,430 +3.4% growth 6,500 annual openings

Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

$85,540 +0.5% growth 4,300 annual openings

Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

$82,730 +6.1% growth 600 annual openings

Avionics technicians

$81,390 +8.2% growth 1,800 annual openings

Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

$78,680 +4.0% growth 11,300 annual openings

Fire inspectors and investigators

$78,060 +3.8% growth 1,500 annual openings

Insurance appraisers, auto damage

$76,650 -8.2% growth 500 annual openings

Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

$71,300 -0.8% growth 4,700 annual openings

Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

$67,310 -0.3% growth 1,700 annual openings

Sound engineering technicians

$66,430 -1.7% growth 1,200 annual openings

Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

$65,670 +12.8% growth 3,100 annual openings

Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

$64,030 +3.6% growth 2,600 annual openings

Tool and die makers

$63,180 -10.8% growth 4,700 annual openings

Surgical technologists

$62,830 +4.5% growth 7,000 annual openings

Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

$62,630 -4.2% growth 13,200 annual openings

Wind turbine service technicians

$62,580 +49.9% growth 2,300 annual openings

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

$62,340 +2.6% growth 54,400 annual openings

Commercial divers

$61,130 +8.5% growth 400 annual openings

Lighting technicians

$60,560 -4.6% growth 800 annual openings

Surgical assistants

$60,290 +5.1% growth 1,600 annual openings

Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

$59,810 +8.1% growth 40,100 annual openings

Firefighters

$59,530 +3.4% growth 27,100 annual openings

Paramedics

$58,410 +5.0% growth 4,900 annual openings

Massage therapists

$57,950 +15.4% growth 24,700 annual openings

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

$57,440 +4.0% growth 237,600 annual openings

Audio and video technicians

$54,830 +3.3% growth 7,300 annual openings

Motorboat operators

$51,880 +1.4% growth 300 annual openings

Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers

$50,620 +6.6% growth 2,600 annual openings

Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

$50,280 +8.1% growth 1,100 annual openings

Medical records specialists

$50,250 +7.1% growth 14,200 annual openings

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

$49,670 +4.2% growth 70,000 annual openings

Health technologists and technicians, all other

$48,790 +5.2% growth 13,600 annual openings

Prepress technicians and workers

$47,300 -14.6% growth 2,800 annual openings

Dental assistants

$47,300 +6.4% growth 52,900 annual openings

Motorcycle mechanics

$47,200 +5.3% growth 1,500 annual openings

Cooks, private household

$44,530 +5.1% growth 5,300 annual openings

Medical assistants

$44,200 +12.5% growth 112,300 annual openings

Ophthalmic medical technicians

$44,080 +19.8% growth 12,500 annual openings

Phlebotomists

$43,660 +5.6% growth 18,400 annual openings

Psychiatric technicians

$42,590 +20.0% growth 15,900 annual openings

Skincare specialists

$41,560 +6.7% growth 14,500 annual openings

Emergency medical technicians

$41,340 +5.1% growth 14,100 annual openings

Library technicians

$39,970 -6.8% growth 13,000 annual openings

Nursing assistants

$39,530 +2.3% growth 204,100 annual openings

Barbers

$38,960 +4.1% growth 8,400 annual openings

Medical transcriptionists

$37,550 -4.9% growth 7,400 annual openings

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists

$35,250 +5.6% growth 75,800 annual openings

Manicurists and pedicurists

$34,660 +7.0% growth 24,800 annual openings

Other education levels

🎓 Doctoral Degree 📜 Master's Degree 🎓 Bachelor's Degree 📖 Associate's Degree 📓 Some College, No Degree 🏫 High School Diploma 💼 No Formal Educational Credential