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 Grand Junction 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 Grand Junction 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.
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Vitpho // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,110
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 870 people (13.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
David Spates // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,240
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 250 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,830
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 190 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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Peakstock // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
VH-studio // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 260 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Philip Lange // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 230 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,580
- Median hourly wage: $25.28
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $53,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,520
- Median hourly wage: $26.21
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Canva
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,340
- Median hourly wage: $26.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 350 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
John Leung // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,630
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 180 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Kot500 // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 210 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.08
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 200 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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welcomia // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 550 people (8.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 630 people (9.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 380 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 690 people (10.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
SatawatK // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $71,560
- Median hourly wage: $34.40
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 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
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,140
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $93,380
- Median hourly wage: $44.89
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 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
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $97,770
- Median hourly wage: $47.01
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $102,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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