Highest-paying jobs in Sacramento that don't require a college degree

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%) of 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 Sacramento 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.

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kojala // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

- Median annual wage: $77,760
- Median hourly wage: $37.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $78,400
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 320 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $78,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 130 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $78,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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fizkes // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 670 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.87
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $79,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 890 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $79,460
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 4,350 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $79,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.41
- Total employment: 3,400 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

- Median annual wage: $80,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 190 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $81,330
- Median hourly wage: $39.10
- Total employment: 2,940 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $81,340
- Median hourly wage: $39.11
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santi lumubol // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.85
- Total employment: 480 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $83,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 690 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $84,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 890 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,360
- Median hourly wage: $41.04
- Total employment: 2,420 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $86,930
- Median hourly wage: $41.79
- Total employment: 1,970 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $87,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.96
- Total employment: 3,090 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $90,900
- Median hourly wage: $43.70
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $91,800
- Median hourly wage: $44.14
- Total employment: 610 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $95,010
- Median hourly wage: $45.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $95,210
- Median hourly wage: $45.77
- Total employment: 600 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $98,800
- Median hourly wage: $47.50
- Total employment: 6,070 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $102,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 1,060 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $102,430
- Median hourly wage: $49.25
- Total employment: 13,690 people (12.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $102,500
- Median hourly wage: $49.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $102,810
- Median hourly wage: $49.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Skycolors // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $103,300
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $104,300
- Median hourly wage: $50.15
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $104,720
- Median hourly wage: $50.35
- Total employment: 1,480 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $105,760
- Median hourly wage: $50.85
- Total employment: 270 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $108,320
- Median hourly wage: $52.08
- Total employment: 2,140 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $108,340
- Median hourly wage: $52.09
- Total employment: 920 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NancyS // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

- Median annual wage: $108,400
- Median hourly wage: $52.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $108,490
- Median hourly wage: $52.16
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $109,830
- Median hourly wage: $52.80
- Total employment: 1,540 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $112,630
- Median hourly wage: $54.15
- Total employment: 5,590 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Parilov // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $114,470
- Median hourly wage: $55.03
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $115,960
- Median hourly wage: $55.75
- Total employment: 250 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $119,700
- Median hourly wage: $57.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $130,830
- Median hourly wage: $62.90
- Total employment: 580 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $139,310
- Median hourly wage: $66.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $139,690
- Median hourly wage: $67.16
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $156,260
- Median hourly wage: $75.13
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $158,230
- Median hourly wage: $76.07
- Total employment: 900 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $160,630
- Median hourly wage: $77.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $167,080
- Median hourly wage: $80.33
- Total employment: 650 people (0.61 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.