Where to work without a degree? Texas makes Top 10

DALLAS (KDAF) — In today’s evolving job market, a four-year degree is no longer the only path to financial stability. As more Americans seek roles that prioritize skills over academic credentials, some states are stepping up with promising job opportunities—especially for those ready to work, learn, and grow without the burden of student debt.

A new study from University of Technology Sydney Online ranks Texas as the 7th best state in the U.S. for finding solid employment without a college degree. The research analyzed eight key categories—including wages, job growth, cost of living, and unemployment—to determine where high school graduates have the best chance to thrive.

While Texas ranks last among the top 10 in average wages for non-degree holders ($41,640), it makes up for it with the highest job growth in the nation (611.4) and a low cost of living index of 92.7. That means your paycheck stretches farther, especially in sectors like energy, logistics, and construction, which are booming across the Lone Star State.

Texas also stands out for its support of small business development, making it an ideal place not just to land a job, but to launch a career or even a company. Whether you’re fresh out of high school, shifting careers, or skipping college altogether, Texas is proving you don’t need a degree to succeed.

Find the full list of states ranked best to worst for non-degree job prospects below:

Rank	State	Annual wage for high school graduates (dollars)	Job Availability for non-college Workers per 100,000 labor force	Job growth rate	Cost of living Index	Unemployment rate	Opportunities for small businesses	Non-degree holders per non-degree entry-level role	Share of non-degree workers	Total Score
1	Washington	51,860	192.95	122.5	114.2	4.4	48.24	17.19	13.81	66.02
2	Rhode Island	47,720	196.02	9.4	112.2	4.9	40.73	47.84	15.67	64.27
3	California	47,410	201.57	486.5	144.8	5.3	41.69	17.02	16.35	63.08
4	Delaware	46,000	169.11	10.8	100.8	3.9	45.33	44.83	15.18	62.09
5	South Dakota	42,410	164.54	10.5	92.2	1.8	50.56	42.24	14.79	61.96
6	Wyoming	47,650	147.11	6	95.5	3.3	44.25	29.40	14.97	59.47
7	Texas	41,640	128.57	611.4	92.7	4.1	49.90	12.28	17.41	59.27
8	New York	47,600	179.60	269.4	123.3	4.2	43.90	13.25	14.47	58.70
9	North Dakota	48,400	143.30	10.5	91.9	2.6	38.71	32.62	12.58	58.20
10	Utah	44,600	184.74	52.6	104.9	3.1	46.77	22.74	14.21	57.62
11	Montana	44,760	143.86	12.6	94.9	2.7	47.43	27.13	14.00	55.40
12	Idaho	41,290	202.43	24.9	102	3.7	42.96	32.62	15.09	55.29
13	New Jersey	47,730	168.96	105.4	114.6	4.8	41.67	12.37	15.13	54.00
14	Minnesota	47,330	150.16	73.6	95.1	3.2	44.29	11.80	12.42	53.48
15	Oregon	46,890	169.87	58.8	112	4.7	47.62	16.34	13.63	53.46
16	Florida	42,100	130.27	427.4	102.8	3.7	48.90	10.25	15.41	53.04
17	Nevada	44,140	152.25	74.7	101.3	5.6	44.81	16.85	18.96	52.51
18	Vermont	46,440	118.48	6.5	114.4	2.7	47.05	28.52	13.34	52.31
19	Illinois	45,770	150.77	144.9	94.4	4.8	42.22	12.62	14.66	51.52
20	Colorado	48,850	136.81	46.7	102	4.8	49.04	11.25	12.63	51.35
21	Connecticut	47,830	140.01	28.7	112.3	3.7	41.33	12.10	14.75	51.27
22	Indiana	44,570	116.13	73.6	90.5	3.9	44.64	12.57	17.24	50.59
23	Iowa	45,760	132.90	22.8	89.7	3.5	40.01	12.98	15.35	50.52
24	Maryland	47,150	134.79	18.2	115.3	3.1	40.74	11.35	14.92	50.21
25	Pennsylvania	44,300	116.94	164.8	95.1	3.9	44.20	10.75	16.26	49.77
26	Wisconsin	46,030	126.80	50.3	97	3.3	40.22	11.27	14.90	49.53
27	Massachusetts	49,380	136.00	91.7	145.9	4.6	46.86	10.50	13.44	48.78
28	Nebraska	44,200	135.29	21.7	93.1	3	41.88	14.07	13.95	48.22
29	New Hampshire	46,850	111.02	18.4	112.6	3.1	43.61	10.92	14.39	47.52
30	Maine	45,530	117.93	12.5	112.1	3.5	45.64	13.31	14.17	46.35
31	Arizona	45,320	126.24	78.8	111.5	4.1	42.39	12.72	14.37	46.11
32	Oklahoma	39,260	142.66	45.4	85.7	3.2	36.44	18.43	16.95	45.25
33	Virginia	45,150	111.69	96.1	100.7	3.3	39.89	9.47	13.82	45.09
34	Georgia	42,080	114.47	135.1	91.3	3.6	36.83	12.11	15.59	43.64
35	Kansas	42,910	119.61	41.3	87	3.8	41.43	12.19	13.97	43.23
36	Alaska	51,180	26.04	9.7	123.8	4.7	47.83	3.53	17.32	42.97
37	Tennessee	41,330	108.09	103.3	90.5	3.5	38.69	10.13	16.72	42.93
38	Michigan	43,670	130.70	91.7	90.4	5.5	41.89	12.06	13.91	42.75
39	North Carolina	42,550	101.82	144.1	97.8	3.7	42.07	9.67	13.79	41.10
40	Missouri	40,830	116.87	58	88.7	3.9	39.68	10.96	15.29	40.40
41	Arkansas	37,970	129.33	32.5	88.7	3.7	33.12	16.52	17.40	39.12
42	Hawaii	48,730	98.33	24.4	186.9	2.9	35.55	12.11	14.25	39.07
43	Kentucky	40,860	124.61	43	93	5.2	37.07	14.08	16.02	38.62
44	Alabama	39,170	113.34	41.5	88	3.3	34.29	12.31	15.37	37.12
45	Louisiana	39,210	114.97	35.5	92.2	4.4	29.07	12.71	17.50	35.48
46	Ohio	43,670	33.30	77.8	94.2	4.9	49.43	3.04	16.16	35.28
47	South Carolina	40,570	94.63	53.9	95.9	4.2	36.63	10.00	15.19	34.63
48	West Virginia	37,380	97.52	2.5	84.1	3.8	32.44	14.50	17.18	33.31
49	Mississippi	36,940	117.81	17.6	87.9	4	30.62	15.27	15.31	31.71
50	New Mexico	38,790	99.01	22.1	93.3	4.3	33.53	13.54	14.90	31.32