Highest-paying jobs in Tucson that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Tucson that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Tucson that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Tucson that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 840 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $49,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $50,230
- Median hourly wage: $24.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,380 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $50,240
- Median hourly wage: $24.16
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 350 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $52,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $53,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.50
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $53,180
- Median hourly wage: $25.57
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $53,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $53,740
- Median hourly wage: $25.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,660 people (9.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,810 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#39. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#38. Woodworkers, all other
- Median annual wage: $56,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.06
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $56,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 890 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#35. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $57,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 590 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#34. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 290 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $58,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 290 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#31. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Median annual wage: $58,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#30. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 240 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,930 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 470 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $59,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 340 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $59,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 700 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 740 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,420 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $61,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,200 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#16. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,500 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 930 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $62,680
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $66,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $66,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,750 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $68,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.04
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 190 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $73,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.50
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 430 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 300 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#2. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $82,620
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 110 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 410 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
