In short
Outdoor jobs without a degree include electrical power line installers, construction equipment operators, roofers, ironworkers, landscapers, wind turbine technicians and forest and conservation technicians. Power line installers earned a median of $95,320 in May 2025, while landscaping workers earned $39,150. Higher pay usually means longer training or more risk.
Outdoor jobs, ranked by pay
| # | Job | Median pay | Typical way in | Growth 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers (BLS) | $95,320 | High school or GED | 10.3% | 10,900 |
| 2 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers (BLS) | $74,330 | High school or GED | a decline of 3.4% | 8,000 |
| 3 | Wind turbine service technicians (BLS) | $64,120 | Certificate | 29.5% | 1,500 |
| 4 | Structural iron and steel workers (BLS) | $62,780 | High school or GED | 3.1% | 5,900 |
| 5 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (BLS) | $59,850 | High school or GED | 4.6% | 39,200 |
| 6 | Firefighters | $59,280 | Certificate | 3.7% | 26,800 |
| 7 | Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $58,640 | Certificate | 3.8% | 214,500 |
| 8 | Cement masons and concrete finishers (BLS) | $57,020 | No diploma needed | 1.6% | 13,600 |
| 9 | Roofers (BLS) | $55,440 | No diploma needed | 5.3% | 12,000 |
| 10 | Forest and conservation technicians | $54,560 | Associate degree | a decline of 2.1% | 3,800 |
| 11 | Solar photovoltaic installers (BLS) | $53,140 | High school or GED | 36.5% | 4,200 |
| 12 | Highway maintenance workers | $50,260 | High school or GED | 3.4% | 11,800 |
| 13 | Construction laborers (BLS) | $47,120 | No diploma needed | 7.3% | 120,000 |
| 14 | Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (BLS) | $39,150 | No diploma needed | 4.7% | 149,500 |
| 15 | Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse (BLS) | $35,660 | No diploma needed | a decline of 2.4% | 72,500 |
| 16 | Lifeguards, ski patrol, and other recreational protective service workers (BLS) | $33,580 | No diploma needed | 5.5% | 45,400 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 (Table 1.2), May 2025 median wages, retrieved 2026-10-09. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or switch fields.
Think about the weather
Outdoor work means summers in the sun and winters in the cold, and some jobs slow down seasonally. Ask employers how weather affects hours and pay.
Questions people ask
What is the highest-paying outdoor job without a degree?
Power line installers and repairers are among the best paid on this list.
Are outdoor jobs seasonal?
Some are, like landscaping and roofing in cold climates.
Are outdoor jobs dangerous?
Some carry real risk, especially at heights or near power. Training and safety rules matter.