(Stacker) – Gen Z has figured out that college isn’t the only way to land a high-paying job. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 2 in 5 (38.6%) recent high school graduates opted out of college in 2023, up from 33.8% in 2019.
This shift comes at a good time for high school grads, as companies face labor shortages for many jobs that don’t require a college degree. Baby boomers retiring and a trend to reopen factories in the United States have both driven demand for young talent. A July 2024 Intelligent report found that 1 in 3 companies have already dropped bachelor’s degree requirements across entry-level, mid-tier, and even senior positions to attract more employees.
The need for skilled workers, regardless of educational attainment, means better pay. Median wages for those with a high school degree are at their highest since 1990, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
At $40,000 on average, these wages are still $20,000 lower than those of a college grad. Yet nearly 1 in 5 workers who opt out of college earn more than employees with bachelor’s degrees. Two million high school grads across the U.S. make six-figure annual salaries—without the financial burden of attending a four-year university. As of 2025, the average annual cost of college is more than $38,200 per student, and the average college graduate has more than $39,000 in student debt. It’s little wonder that, according to a May 2024 survey from Pew Research, 29% of Americans think attending college is not worthwhile.
However, not every career field pays high school grads equally well, and understanding what the good jobs are is the first step to landing one. Stacker ranked the 50 highest-paying jobs that don’t require a college degree in Green Bay using annual compensation data from the BLS. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma, a postsecondary nondegree award, or had no formal education requirements for entry-level positions. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
#40. Lodging managersMedian annual wage: $62,350Median hourly wage: $29.98Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#39. Occupational health and safety techniciansMedian annual wage: $62,380Median hourly wage: $29.99Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#38. Cement masons and concrete finishersMedian annual wage: $62,610Median hourly wage: $30.10Total employment: 310 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#37. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsMedian annual wage: $63,140Median hourly wage: $30.36Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#36. Community health workersMedian annual wage: $64,220Median hourly wage: $30.88Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#35. Postal service clerksMedian annual wage: $64,360Median hourly wage: $30.94Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#34. Industrial machinery mechanicsMedian annual wage: $64,620Median hourly wage: $31.07Total employment: 1,070 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operatorsMedian annual wage: $64,860Median hourly wage: $31.18Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#32. Property, real estate, and community association managersMedian annual wage: $64,960Median hourly wage: $31.23Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#31. Computer numerically controlled tool programmersMedian annual wage: $65,430Median hourly wage: $31.46Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workersMedian annual wage: $65,810Median hourly wage: $31.64Total employment: 1,470 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsMedian annual wage: $67,640Median hourly wage: $32.52Total employment: 210 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#28. Brickmasons and blockmasonsMedian annual wage: $68,120Median hourly wage: $32.75Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#27. Correctional officers and jailersMedian annual wage: $70,700Median hourly wage: $33.99Total employment: 320 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operatorsMedian annual wage: $70,910Median hourly wage: $34.09Total employment: 360 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#25. Massage therapistsMedian annual wage: $71,710Median hourly wage: $34.48Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#24. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tilesMedian annual wage: $72,410Median hourly wage: $34.81Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except enginesMedian annual wage: $72,620Median hourly wage: $34.91Total employment: 220 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#22. First-line supervisors of production and operating workersMedian annual wage: $72,800Median hourly wage: $35.00Total employment: 1,830 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#21. Personal care and service workers, all otherMedian annual wage: $73,520Median hourly wage: $35.35Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#20. ElectriciansMedian annual wage: $74,080Median hourly wage: $35.62Total employment: 840 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#19. Insurance sales agentsMedian annual wage: $74,740Median hourly wage: $35.94Total employment: 460 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#18. Sheet metal workersMedian annual wage: $75,010Median hourly wage: $36.06Total employment: 230 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#17. Power plant operatorsMedian annual wage: $77,240Median hourly wage: $37.13Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#16. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentMedian annual wage: $77,750Median hourly wage: $37.38Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#15. PipelayersMedian annual wage: $78,290Median hourly wage: $37.64Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#14. Construction and building inspectorsMedian annual wage: $79,860Median hourly wage: $38.39Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersMedian annual wage: $80,030Median hourly wage: $38.48Total employment: 880 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#12. Police and sheriff’s patrol officersMedian annual wage: $80,220Median hourly wage: $38.57Total employment: 590 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#11. Structural iron and steel workersMedian annual wage: $81,110Median hourly wage: $39.00Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#10. MillwrightsMedian annual wage: $81,710Median hourly wage: $39.28Total employment: 120 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfittersMedian annual wage: $82,190Median hourly wage: $39.51Total employment: 610 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersMedian annual wage: $82,980Median hourly wage: $39.90Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#7. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operatorsMedian annual wage: $83,170Median hourly wage: $39.98Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersMedian annual wage: $83,400Median hourly wage: $40.10Total employment: 740 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#5. Detectives and criminal investigatorsMedian annual wage: $91,410Median hourly wage: $43.95Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managersMedian annual wage: $94,210Median hourly wage: $45.29Total employment: 300 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersMedian annual wage: $95,940Median hourly wage: $46.13Total employment: 380 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectivesMedian annual wage: $97,910Median hourly wage: $47.07Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairersMedian annual wage: $103,610Median hourly wage: $49.81Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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