
Highest-paying jobs in Miami that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Miami 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Annual mean salary: $56,420
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,340
- Employment: 2,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)

#49. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,530
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,940
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)

#48. Riggers
- Annual mean salary: $56,690
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,100
- Employment: 17,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($89,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,310)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,160)

#47. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $57,040
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,250
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)
#46. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $57,950
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,030
- Employment: 97,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,790)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($76,950)
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#45. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Annual mean salary: $58,320
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,050
- Employment: 16,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($104,560)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($68,920)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($60,810)

#44. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,370
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- Employment: 25,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)
--- Redding, CA ($72,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,740)

#43. Traffic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,610
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- Employment: 7,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,160)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,500)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($76,460)

#42. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $60,100
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)

#41. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $60,430
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,920
- Employment: 129,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($79,430)
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#40. Flight attendants
- Annual mean salary: $60,460
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,280
- Employment: 96,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($94,320)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($72,130)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($67,620)

#39. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $62,210
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
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)

#38. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Annual mean salary: $62,260
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,710
- Employment: 9,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($73,600)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($63,500)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($62,260)

#37. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Annual mean salary: $62,790
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,080
- Employment: 8,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($79,660)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($72,800)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($71,910)

#36. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,910
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,230
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)
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#35. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $63,290
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 25,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)

#34. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $64,260
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $64,500
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 33,390
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)

#32. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,790
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#31. Brokerage clerks
- Annual mean salary: $65,120
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,710
- Employment: 39,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)
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#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $65,470
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,880
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)

#29. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,480
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,040
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)

#28. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,570
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#27. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $65,650
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
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)

#26. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $66,260
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,800
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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#25. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,440
- #331 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,390
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)

#24. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $67,550
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,280
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)

#23. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,750
- #305 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010
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)

#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $67,930
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,300
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)

#21. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $68,000
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,050
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)
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#20. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $68,220
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,660
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)

#19. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $68,540
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,990
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)

#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,370
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,820
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)

#17. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410
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)
#16. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Annual mean salary: $71,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 10,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($89,080)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($87,130)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($86,160)
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#15. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $75,910
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)

#14. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $82,670
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
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)

#13. Gambling managers
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)

#12. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $86,810
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)

#11. Ship engineers
- Annual mean salary: $87,220
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,910
- Employment: 7,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette, LA ($108,770)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,970)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,670)
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#10. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,070
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)

#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $93,000
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,870
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)

#8. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $94,190
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $96,610
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,220
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)

#6. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $99,720
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,390
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)
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#5. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $101,610
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,420
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,160
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: $115,520
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,720
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: $116,980
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
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: $140,040
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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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