

When we think of jobs that bring in real bank, we often think of medical, legal and tech industry gigs. And true, those jobs do pay substantial salaries, but they often require a bachelor's or master's degree. However, believe it or not, there are jobs where you can earn a good amount of money without investing in a four-year degree. Here are the top 15 high-paying jobs for women without a college degree:
Sound Engineer Technician
These professionals are responsible for setting up audio equipment, ensuring sound quality in a studio, performance hall or other venue, working the lights and syncronizing sound. The median annual salary for a sound engineer technician is $52,390 and those interested in pursuing this can either take online courses, get into an associate's program, or learn by trial and error by getting your own equipment and experimenting.
Hearing Aid Specialist
As a hearing aid specialist, you'd be evaluating the quality of hearing for patients, talking them through the best options and managing dispensing and maintenance in this job. The median salary for hearing aid specialists puts you at 52,770 per year, and the only education requirement starting out is a high school diploma. It's a good idea to pursue a trainee position and learn a lot via courses or on-the-job mentorship.
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Electrician
The median salary for an electrian is more than $55,000 per year, and you'd have a wide range of options in terms of duties and environments. Some electricians work independently with real estate developers and construction managers. Others work for major corporations. You can pursue a trade school program or go in as an apprentice with an experienced professional.
Sales Rep
This is a job that can hit various industries and businesses, and the options are almost limitless. The median salary for a sales rep is more than $58,500 and the minimum education requirement is a high school diploma. You can also boost your skills by getting an associate's degree.
Executive Assistant
Extreme attention to detail, great communication skills, ability to multitask, and a knack with project management are the key skills required to be an executive assistant. The median annual salary for an executive assistant is more than $54,000.
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Commercial Pilot
You can start off in this industry with a high school diploma and learn from a certified instructor. (If you're looking to work for an airline, be prepared to invest in a bachelor's degree. The requirements are different for major airlines.) As a commercial pilot, you can fly private jets for independent clients or you can work for a company providing services for their executive or travel needs. The average base pay for a commercial pilot is well over $80,000 per year.
Patrol Officer
This job requires a focus on public service and attention to law, and the median salary for a patrol officer is $61,380. If you're into making a difference, working to protect and serve and want to attempt to change the system, this might be the job for you.
Microblading Artist
You can earn up to $76,000 a year sculpting eyebrows that slay as a microblading artist. Some professionals work on their own, catering to clients via a salon or mobile services, and some work within a professional salon network. If you're looking for an example, check out Love and Hip Hop star Sierra Gates, who swears by the profitability and potential for flexibility with this career path. You can take courses and get experience by apprenticing with a pro.
Food Stylist
The average salary for the job of a food stylist is more than $62,000, and though some firms require a college degree for positions, you can still get your foot in the door at others with just a high school diploma. If you have an eye for aesthetics, don't mind positioning food for photographs, films and other productions, and know a bit about styling techniques, this is for you.
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Licensed Practical or Licensed Vocational Nurse
Not to be confused with a registered nurse (RN), these profesionals support RNs in major functions such as checking vital signs, performing enemas, delivering medicines and massaging muscles--among other duties---and the role of a licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse requires no more than one to two years of education via a state-approved diploma or certificate nursing program. The median annual salary for an LPN or LVN is more than $42,000.
Funeral Service Manager
Compassion, creativity and great people skills are important for the role of funeral service manager, and it can bring in up to $66,666 per year. You'll need an associate's degree in funeral service or mortuary science which can take up to two years, and you'll also have to work as an apprentice or trainee.
Fashion Designer
If you have a natural knack for sewing, pattern making and textile sourcing, you're a perfect fit for fashion design. Though some designers study at top schools in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Italy, you don't necessarily have to have a four-year degree to pursue this job and actually make good money doing it. You can take certifications or other courses to specialize in a certain type of fashion or audience to cater to. The median income for a fashion designer is more than $57,000 per year.
YouTube Personality
When you see the title, you might think it's a long shot. Think again. Top earners on YouTube can get from $50,000 up into the millions yearly. If you're great at video editing, engaging with an audience, offering content people love, and connecting with sponsors, the YouTube personality route might be a great path to pursue.
Insurance Sales Agent
Insurance sales agents earn a median salary of $50,600 and are responsible for selling auto, health, home or life insurance to consumers. Once you've passed the required tests, you can either work for a particular company or start your own.
Surgical Technologist
Surgery support professionals are a vital part of the success of medical procedures, and they are often responsible for tasks like sterilizing the operating room, setting out tools for the doctor, or prepping a patient. The median salary for a surgical technologist is $47,300.
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From '106 & Park' To Prime Time, Rocsi Diaz Is Still That Girl
Rocsi Diaz is no stranger to the camera. From her iconic run on 106 & Park to interviewing Hollywood heavyweights on Entertainment Tonight, she’s been at the center of culture for years. Now, she’s back in the hosting chair alongside none other than Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders for We Got Time Today, a fresh talk show exclusive to Tubi.
The show is exactly what you’d expect when you put a media pro and a sports legend together—a mix of real talk, unfiltered moments, and guest interviews that feel like family kickbacks. As the duo wraps up their first season, Rocsi sat down with xoNecole to talk about teaming up with Deion, the wildest moments on set, and why streaming platforms like Tubi are shaking up the talk show world.
Scoring the Gig & Clicking Instantly with Deion
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence
Deion Sanders had been dreaming of hosting a talk show, and when Tubi came calling, it was only right he made it happen. But before he found the perfect co-host, he held auditions with different women for the spot.
Lucky for us, Rocsi threw her hat in the ring, and the connection was instant. “You just can’t buy chemistry like we have,” she tells us. “We are legit like big brother, little sister—fighting, cracking jokes, telling each other off. When you watch the show, it’s like watching family.”
Mixing News, Culture & Sports—Minus the Snooze
With We Got Time Today, Rocsi and Deion cover everything from the latest headlines to celebrity tea and, of course, sports. But instead of stiff, rehearsed segments, the show keeps it loose and unpredictable.
“We’re not breaking the mold—it’s not rocket science,” Rocsi jokes. “We just bring our own flair, our authenticity, and our personalities to it. Deion has firsthand experience in sports, so when we talk about athletes, he brings a different perspective.”
And the best part? Unlike traditional talk shows that rush through quick interviews, We Got Time Today actually takes its time. “A lot of shows might give you one or two segments with a guest,” Rocsi says. “With us, we actually sit down and have real-life conversations.”
Her Top Guests (So Far!)
From music icons to relationship experts, the show has already had some unforgettable guests—but a few stand out for Rocsi.
“Ice Cube was our first guest, and he’s just legendary,” she says. “Kirk Franklin had us cracking up when he broke into a full choir freestyle for our Christmas special. And anytime we get Dr. Bryant on to put Deion in the hot seat? That’s my favorite!”
And of course, there’s Nick Cannon. “Nick was amazing,” she adds. “You already know he’s going to bring the energy and say something wild.”
Tag-Team Hosting with Deion: The Inside Scoop
While Deion Sanders is best known for his football greatness, Rocsi says he’s also one of the funniest people she’s ever worked with.
“He’s goofy—like, really goofy,” she laughs. “A lot of people didn’t know that side of him, but now they do. He can crack a joke, and if you’re too sensitive, good luck, because he will go in. But the best part? I throw it right back at him! Sometimes we just look at each other like, ‘Okay, that was a good one.’”
But beyond the laughs, she admires his insane work ethic. “Watching him juggle everything he does is just super admirable,” she says.
How "We Got Time Today" Brings That "106 & Park" Energy
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images
For those wondering if We Got Time Today feels like 106 & Park 2.0, Rocsi says it’s a whole different vibe.
“The only comparison I’d make is that it’s a destination for the culture,” she explains. “It’s a platform where our people can come, feel safe, and have real conversations. But other than that, this is Deion’s world—we’re just having fun in it.”
The Talk Show Shake-Up: Why This Show Hits Different
Unlike traditional networks, We Got Time Today lives exclusively on Tubi, proving that streaming platforms are changing how we watch talk shows.
“Tubi is giving more people opportunities and making content more accessible,” Rocsi says. “Deion is a huge Tubi fan—he literally loves Black cinema—so it just made sense for him. And honestly? He’s got me watching it too!”
Real Ones Only: Women Holding Each Other Down
Rocsi credits her best friend, Chantelle, for always keeping her grounded. “She kept pouring into me, reminding me of who I am,” she shares. Even Deion Sanders makes sure to give her flowers, often calling her “the hostess with the most.”
In the industry, she’s built lasting bonds with women like Julissa Bermundez, Angie Martinez, and Angela Yee. “Julissa and I still kick it—her house is basically Sephora, so I just shop there,” she jokes. She also cherishes her friendships with Melyssa Ford and Robin Roberts, who have offered unwavering support. “Robin has always been there for me,” Rocsi says, reflecting on the wisdom she’s gained from the legendary journalist.
With the show’s first season wrapping up, Rocsi is grateful for the experience and excited for what’s next. “We’re having a good time, and the audience can feel that,” she says.
And if you haven’t tuned in yet? Well, Rocsi and Deion got time—so you might as well make some too.
Catch We Got Time Today now streaming on Tubi!
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'Dandy Land' Just Dropped & It’s a Celebration Of Black Style, Swagger, And Statement-Making
The first Monday in May is always a moment, but this year? It’s giving Blackity Black Black Black in the most intentional and celebratory way. On May 5, the MET Gala will unveil its latest exhibition titled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which is a tribute to Black dandyism and identity. The exhibition honors the power of clothing within the Black diaspora, spotlighting how style has long served as a tool for Black resistance, reinvention, and radical self-expression.
Centering designers of color and curated by scholar Monica L. Miller, the exhibition draws from her 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity and the enduring legacy of Black fashion and self-styling. As she explains, the Black dandy “reimagines the self in a different context” and challenges “who and what counts as human, even.”
- YouTubeyoutu.be
This year marks the Costume Institute’s first menswear-focused show in over 20 years and the first to exclusively highlight designers of color. The co-chairs for the 2025 Gala include Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton, alongside honorary co-chair LeBron James.
To further build anticipation for the Gala, GQ and Voguecollaborated on a stunning fashion portfolio called Dandy Land, styled by image architect Law Roach and shot by Tyler Mitchell. The spread features over 30 Black trailblazers who embody the elegance and edge of Black dandyism.
In the words of Janelle Monáe:
“I consider myself a free-ass motherfucker. And when I’m in my suit, that is exactly how I feel… I feel like I am showing you a new way to think about clothing and to think about values and to think about what you stand for.”
Ayo Edebiri added:
“I’m half Nigerian. There’s nothing more dandy than an African man dressed to the nines, really showing out, going to a party or a wedding.”
Actress Danielle Deadwyler shared:
“Black dandyism is essentially a bucking of systems, a bucking of oppression, and saying we are inherently beautiful.”
And in the words of Dapper Dan, the Godfather of Harlem:
“The way I came into dandyism is through this process of transformation. I’m from the poorest neighborhood in Harlem, right by the banks of the Harlem River. Everybody in my little enclave was all poor. We had rats and roaches. Goodwill was our Macy’s. Whenever I was lucky and fortunate enough to have something to wear, I went to 125th Street. Nobody went there who wasn’t dressed. At 125th Street, nobody knew I had rats, nobody knew I had roaches, and that for me was the birth of dandyism because I saw the power of transformation that could take place with your clothes.”
To see the full Dandy Land editorial and explore the stories behind each image, check out the full spread on GQand get ready for the MET stairs to turn into a Black fashion masterclass next month.
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