
Highest-paying jobs in Denver that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Denver 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 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $65,430
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,540
- Employment: 155,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($72,760)

#49. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,180
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)

#48. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $66,320
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
#47. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,390
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,660
- Employment: 23,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($66,390)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,930)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($57,210)

#46. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $66,520
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,600
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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#45. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $68,410
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,910
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)
#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,730
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,620
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)

#43. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $69,790
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 29,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)

#42. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $71,650
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,060
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)

#41. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $72,590
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030
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)
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#40. Tax preparers
- Annual mean salary: $73,170
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,080
- Employment: 83,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)

#39. Airfield operations specialists
- Annual mean salary: $74,830
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,360
- Employment: 12,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($88,510)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($80,230)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,230)

#38. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $75,090
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,180
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
#37. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Annual mean salary: $75,610
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,240
- Employment: 12,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,910)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($100,060)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,120)
#36. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Annual mean salary: $75,750
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,840
- Employment: 11,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($84,210)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($75,750)
--- Lafayette, LA ($75,710)
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#35. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $75,800
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- Employment: 21,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)

#34. Rail car repairers
- Annual mean salary: $76,530
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,400
- Employment: 22,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,690)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($76,530)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($74,740)

#33. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $76,700
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 43,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#32. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $77,080
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,320
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)

#31. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,890
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,470
- Employment: 125,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,470)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($86,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,860)
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#30. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $77,900
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,090
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)

#29. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $77,940
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,290
- Employment: 317,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,150)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,470)

#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)

#27. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $79,960
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,290
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)

#26. Real estate brokers
- Annual mean salary: $80,020
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,490
- Employment: 48,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)
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#25. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $80,200
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#23. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $80,250
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#22. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $81,430
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)

#21. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $81,860
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)
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#20. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $83,310
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,440
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)
#19. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $83,760
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)

#18. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $83,830
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- Employment: 54,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

#17. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $87,020
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

#16. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $90,500
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
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#15. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $91,430
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#14. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $92,210
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#13. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Annual mean salary: $92,260
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,130
- Employment: 2,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($92,260)
--- Charleston, WV ($67,600)
--- Pittsburgh, PA ($63,110)

#12. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $94,570
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)

#11. Gambling managers
- Annual mean salary: $95,440
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,190
- Employment: 3,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($106,830)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($104,140)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($103,210)
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#10. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $96,950
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#9. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $97,360
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $101,330
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#7. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $101,900
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)

#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $102,550
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,600
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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#5. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $106,420
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,350
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)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $115,860
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
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)
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $120,540
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 960
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $130,160
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#1. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $186,990
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)
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