Highest-paying jobs in New Haven 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 New Haven 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.

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the New Haven area by diners

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $66,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Total employment: 1,560 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $66,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $66,910
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 160 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $68,010
- Median hourly wage: $32.70
- Total employment: 1,580 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 460 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $68,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 810 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $70,240
- Median hourly wage: $33.77
- Total employment: 410 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $70,380
- Median hourly wage: $33.84
- Total employment: 1,100 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $71,420
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 170 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#37. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 640 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Locksmiths and safe repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $73,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 2,120 people (7.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 580 people (2.05 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: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.40
- Total employment: 980 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $76,370
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 250 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in New Haven October 2025

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 170 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 4,280 people (15.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 500 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $77,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.11
- Total employment: 470 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in New Haven

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 260 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $77,500
- Median hourly wage: $37.26
- Total employment: 1,100 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $77,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 330 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $77,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.40
- Total employment: 250 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $78,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 550 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 210 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,740
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.98
- Total employment: 920 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 140 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $80,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $80,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,260
- Median hourly wage: $39.07
- Total employment: 330 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $81,840
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Total employment: 1,330 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.94
- Total employment: 1,200 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in New Haven

John Leung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $85,390
- Median hourly wage: $41.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 940 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $93,040
- Median hourly wage: $44.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,020
- Median hourly wage: $45.20
- Total employment: 240 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $94,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.60
- Total employment: 140 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated delis in New Haven by diners

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,700
- Median hourly wage: $46.49
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.54
- Total employment: 450 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $104,380
- Median hourly wage: $50.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $104,610
- Median hourly wage: $50.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $105,230
- Median hourly wage: $50.59
- Total employment: 460 people (1.61 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.

You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in New Haven