These Workers Make Six Figures Without College Degrees. One High School Dropout Is Pulling in $157K. Have They 'Cracked the Code?'

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For generations, college has been sold as one of the surest paths to a high-paying career. But a recent Reddit discussion suggests there are plenty of workers earning six figures without ever collecting a college diploma – although some are making significant sacrifices to get there.

The conversation started when someone on the r/Salary subreddit asked people earning more than $100,000 without a degree what they do for a living. The responses ranged from plumbers and power plant operators to salespeople, truck drivers and even a pet groomer.

Have these workers really "cracked the code," as one commenter suggested?

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One of the more eye-catching responses came from a 34-year-old high school dropout who said he made $157,000 last year as a petroleum truck driver. That income comes with a demanding schedule as he typically works six days and between 65 and 70 hours a week.

Another worker said they make between $140,000 and $150,000 as a field service technician. The catch is that they travel more than 250 days a year.

"I have a wife and 2 dogs at home, it would be much harder if I had kids," they wrote. "Still, it sucks and I've been ready to find something with less travel for a while now."

Others reported big salaries in jobs that don't necessarily come to mind when people think of six-figure careers . A self-employed pet groomer said they make between $125,000 and $150,000 a year, although it took years to build specialized skills and earn multiple certifications. A mechanic reported making $141,000 last year while working 40 to 50 hours a week with no weekends.

One self-taught 3D artist and game designer said they earn $165,000 after about seven years in the industry. They started in motion design, learned 3D and eventually picked up Unity and Unreal Engine.

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"YouTube university baby!" they wrote, encouraging others not to underestimate free tutorials and expert content.

Of course, earning more is only part of building wealth. What workers do with the money they earn can matter just as much. Accredited investors looking beyond stocks and traditional savings products can consider EquityMultiple , which offers access to commercial real estate investments without requiring investors to manage properties themselves.