
Highest-paying jobs in Madera that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Madera that don't require a college degree
From the moment they arrive on campus, 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.
To find the highest paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don’t require higher education. All 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 that didn’t list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Madera, CA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $46,260
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,020
- Employment: 333,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)
--- Monroe, MI ($66,560)

#49. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $46,680
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,790
- Employment: 31,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($59,170)
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($57,420)
--- Amarillo, TX ($55,250)

#48. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $46,690
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,650
- Employment: 194,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($58,620)
#47. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Annual mean salary: $46,950
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,780
- Employment: 126,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,470)
--- Napa, CA ($60,830)

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $47,100
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,290
- Employment: 397,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($72,500)
--- Anchorage, AK ($71,840)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($66,920)
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#45. Pharmacy technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,260
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,970
- Employment: 436,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,340)
--- Napa, CA ($58,620)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($58,390)
#44. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,530
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,100
- Employment: 153,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)

#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $47,740
- #288 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,340
- Employment: 1,903,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cape Girardeau, MO-IL ($62,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,290)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($61,540)

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $47,820
- #340 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- Employment: 367,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)
#41. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $48,680
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,250
- Employment: 35,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,910)
--- Bellingham, WA ($61,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,760)
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#40. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Annual mean salary: $48,770
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,920
- Employment: 1,416,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,230)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,870)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($56,650)
#39. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $49,540
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,900
- Employment: 145,410
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, MI ($60,190)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,790)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($58,480)
#38. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $49,690
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,990
- Employment: 629,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,810)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($62,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,350)

#37. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Annual mean salary: $49,720
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,870
- Employment: 221,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,140)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,980)

#36. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $49,760
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- Employment: 25,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)
--- Redding, CA ($72,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,740)
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#35. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Annual mean salary: $50,940
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,570
- Employment: 151,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,900)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,790)
#34. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $51,250
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,560
- Employment: 149,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)
#33. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Annual mean salary: $51,670
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,140
- Employment: 214,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($62,490)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,380)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($62,380)
#32. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Annual mean salary: $51,830
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,810
- Employment: 97,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,560)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($81,460)

#31. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $53,140
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)
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#30. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Annual mean salary: $53,260
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,690
- Employment: 356,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,020)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($76,750)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,710)

#29. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,070
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,370
- Employment: 335,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)
#28. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $55,530
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,030
- Employment: 97,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,790)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($76,950)

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $56,680
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,280
- Employment: 145,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#25 (tie). Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $56,810
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,920
- Employment: 129,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($79,430)
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#25 (tie). Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $56,810
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 668,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)

#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $57,660
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- Employment: 373,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

#23. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $58,090
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)
#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,380
- Employment: 1,443,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $59,810
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,350
- Employment: 172,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($88,140)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($84,690)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($80,570)
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#20. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $59,840
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)
#19. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $61,570
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 641,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($76,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,410)

#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $62,430
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,350
- Employment: 417,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

#17. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $62,560
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 261,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

#16. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $65,030
- #454 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
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#15. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $66,630
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 404,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)
#14. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Annual mean salary: $69,290
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- Employment: 186,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Bedford, MA ($90,980)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($82,820)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($79,650)

#13. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $69,350
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 121,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

#12. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,360
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 629,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)
#11. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $71,710
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)
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#10. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $71,910
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,026,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

#9. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $72,830
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,310
- Employment: 650,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

#8. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $74,020
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)

#7. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,040
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,270
- Employment: 116,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($76,040)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,100
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)
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#5. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $78,500
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#4. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $81,050
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#3. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $81,590
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)

#2. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $89,780
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,480
- Employment: 117,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $102,210
- #129 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
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