Top 10 Highest-Paying ‘New Collar’ Jobs That Focus on Skills Over Degrees

“New collar” jobs prioritize practical skills, certifications, and hands-on experience over traditional four-year degrees. These roles, often high-paying and less susceptible to automation, are becoming increasingly popular. According to a recent report, the following positions offer lucrative salaries and opportunities for those without a bachelor’s degree, demonstrating that success doesn’t always require a degree.

IBM first coined the term “new collar jobs” in 2018 to describe roles where skills and certifications matter more than formal education. Resume Genius, using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, automation risk analysis, and job listings, has identified the top-paying new-collar jobs for 2025. These positions offer a median salary of at least $100,000, have minimal risk of AI automation, and often allow for remote or hybrid work.

Eva Chan, career expert at Resume Genius, notes that new-collar roles challenge the conventional path to success, showing that people can build meaningful careers without accumulating student debt or spending years in school. To land these jobs, candidates are advised to gain relevant certifications, build a strong portfolio through freelancing, and network within the industry.

Here are the top 10 best-paying new-collar jobs for 2025:

1. Marketing Manager
   • Median Salary: $159,660
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 8%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 39%
2. Human Resources Manager
   • Median Salary: $140,030
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 6%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 24%
3. Sales Manager
   • Median Salary: $138,060
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 6%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 33%
4. Computer Network Architect
   • Median Salary: $130,390
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 13%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 39%
5. General and Operations Manager
   • Median Salary: $129,330
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 6%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 36%
6. Information Security Analyst
   • Median Salary: $124,910
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 33%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 49%
7. Sales Engineer
   • Median Salary: $121,520
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 6%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 38%
8. Health Services Manager
   • Median Salary: $117,960
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 29%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 26%
9. Art Director
   • Median Salary: $111,040
   • Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 5%
   • AI Job Takeover Risk: 34%
10. Construction Manager

• Median Salary: $106,980
• Estimated Job Growth (2023–2033): 9%
• AI Job Takeover Risk: 13%

These roles prove that with the right skill set and a focus on hands-on experience, new-collar jobs offer a promising and financially rewarding career path.