A four-year degree isn’t the only path to a six-figure salary. These high-paying ‘new collar’ jobs show that with practical skills and the right training, you can go far in 2025.
A new category of employment is emerging in the American workforce—“new-collar careers”—that prioritizes practical skills over traditional four-year college degrees. Unlike white- or blue-collar roles, new-collar jobs focus on specialized training and hands-on expertise.
According to the Harvard Business Review, this shift is opening doors for workers who’ve been held back by the lack of a bachelor’s degree, often stuck in low-wage positions. As more companies emphasize skills over credentials, new-collar workers are gaining traction in the job market—and earning impressive salaries along the way.
Not Blue or White—What Are New-Collar Careers, Anyway?
A report by Accenture highlights degree inflation—where jobs now require a four-year degree even when not necessary—making the U.S. labor market less efficient. Over 60% of employers reject skilled candidates without degrees.
New-collar careers are changing this trend. Unlike blue-collar jobs, they don’t involve physical labor, and unlike white-collar roles, they prioritize skills over degrees. Many companies are removing degree requirements from job listings.
Factory jobs are resurging, some paying over $80K. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2030, 60% of new jobs—many high-paying—will be new-collar and won’t require a college degree. As AI reshapes work, more people are rethinking the value of a degree.
Resume Genius has published its 2025 New-Collar Jobs Report, highlighting ten of the most promising new-collar careers that offer six-figure salaries and strong growth potential. To identify these opportunities, the team analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and other labor market sources using five key criteria.
- A median salary of over $100,000
- No formal degree requirement
- Minimal to no physical labor
- Remote or hybrid work options
- Less than a 50% risk of being automated by AI
