If you do not have a four-year degree but aspire to earn a six-figure salary and enjoy flexible working hours, it is not just a pipe dream. In reality, one can consider the growing trend of “new-collar” jobs.
New-collar jobs refer to positions that do not require a college degree but emphasize practical skills and experience, breaking away from traditional blue-collar and white-collar career distinctions.
According to a report by CNBC, career expert Eva Chan from Resume Genius stated that this job category is “modern and skill-focused,” prioritizing skills and experience over a four-year degree.
Chan mentioned, “I believe new-collar jobs offer what Gen Z job seekers value, which includes flexibility, fair compensation, and opportunities for development based on skills rather than relying solely on qualifications.”
Here are some of the highest-paying “new-collar” jobs for 2025 as listed by Resume Genius. These jobs are in high demand and less likely to be replaced by AI (robots).
Median Salary: $159,660
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 8%
Marketing Manager involves researching, developing, and executing promotional activities to help companies attract and expand their customer base. If you excel in video and photo editing, search engine optimization, and social media, a position as a Marketing Manager is a good choice.
For those interested in this position but lack a four-year degree, Eva Chan suggests creating a portfolio to showcase creative skills to employers, which can include organizing YouTube videos created over the years or displaying your social media platform.
Additionally, she added that learning how to use “Google Analytics” through Google’s free tools can be a valuable asset for employers.
Median Salary: $140,030
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 6%
Human Resources Manager serves as the liaison between a company and its employees, responsible for enforcing workplace policies and establishing employee guidelines. They are also typically involved in recruiting new employees and conducting onboarding training.
Chan mentioned that having a background in administration, recruitment, or customer service makes this position a good choice. While some universities offer human resources programs, a four-year degree is not a mandatory requirement to enter this field.
One can obtain relevant online certifications such as Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) certification or Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification.
Median Salary: $138,060
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 6%
Sales Manager is in charge of setting sales goals, guiding and managing sales teams to help achieve those targets.
According to Resume Genius data, most Sales Managers start as sales representatives or customer managers. Eva Chan emphasized that demonstrating a passion for leading teams, talent in tracking data, and deep product knowledge if successfully driving company sales growth in previous roles and aspiring to advance to higher-paying positions can indicate readiness for this role.
Median Salary: $130,390
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 13%
Computer Network Architect is responsible for designing and building computer communication systems to meet a company’s specific goals.
Chan mentioned that an IT background or experience in computer network setup can help demonstrate readiness for this role, even if the experience is as simple as setting up networks at home or for friends. Resume Genius noted that some aspiring computer network architects start from support specialists or network technicians to enter the field.
Once proficiency in a specific position is acquired, exploring related online certifications like CompTIA Network+ or Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification can lead to advancement to a Computer Network Architect position.
Median Salary: $129,330
Projected Job Growth (2023-2033): 6%
General and Operations Managers are responsible for company operations – managing resources, teams, departments, and projects.
Chan stated that team or project management experience is an excellent way to showcase one’s value. She added that if past jobs have not provided such experience, recording volunteer experiences can help fill this gap.
Chan mentioned that many General and Operations Managers gradually rose to these positions within their respective companies by demonstrating organizational or team management skills. According to data from Resume Genius, some even advanced to these positions from leadership roles in different teams within related fields.