Highest-paying jobs in Santa Maria that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria 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. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#48. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,610 people (7.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#45. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 130 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 370 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 170 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#42. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $64,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 140 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $64,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.78
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 600 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,240 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Farm labor contractors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#38. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 500 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 490 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#35. Semiconductor processing technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,200
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 530 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#33. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $65,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#31. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.50
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#30. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $68,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 360 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $69,990
- Median hourly wage: $33.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $71,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $72,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $73,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#25. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $75,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,370
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 660 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 630 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $78,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $78,850
- Median hourly wage: $37.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 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
#17. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $78,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#16. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $80,210
- Median hourly wage: $38.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 510 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 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
#12. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $85,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#11. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $85,580
- Median hourly wage: $41.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 440 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $90,380
- Median hourly wage: $43.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $93,840
- Median hourly wage: $45.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $96,430
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $97,160
- Median hourly wage: $46.71
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $103,460
- Median hourly wage: $49.74
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 400 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $108,490
- Median hourly wage: $52.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 660 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $109,560
- Median hourly wage: $52.67
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $129,270
- Median hourly wage: $62.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $133,260
- Median hourly wage: $64.07
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 170 people (0.81 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: $168,710
- Median hourly wage: $81.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 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
