
Highest-paying jobs in Punta Gorda that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Punta Gorda 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 Punta Gorda, FL that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Annual mean salary: $40,090
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,780
- Employment: 126,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($70,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,470)
--- Napa, CA ($60,830)

#49. Light truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,630
- Employment: 1,010,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,560)
--- Waterbury, CT ($50,100)
#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $41,410
- #380 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,560
- Employment: 149,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)
#47. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Annual mean salary: $41,970
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,100
- Employment: 153,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)

#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $42,410
- #406 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 404,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)
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#45. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $42,570
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,420
- Employment: 392,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $42,750
- #480 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,340
- Employment: 1,903,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cape Girardeau, MO-IL ($62,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,290)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($61,540)

#43. Tile and stone setters
- Annual mean salary: $42,850
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,330
- Employment: 41,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($83,400)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,330)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($76,980)
#42. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Annual mean salary: $42,920
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,630
- Employment: 100,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($58,060)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,720)
--- Columbus, OH ($53,800)

#41. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Annual mean salary: $43,220
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,870
- Employment: 221,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,140)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,980)
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#40. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $43,580
- #338 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 668,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)

#39. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $44,320
- #344 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 121,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

#38. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $44,430
- #499 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,310
- Employment: 650,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)
#37. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $44,490
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,060
- Employment: 73,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,300)
--- New Haven, CT ($69,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($65,010)
#36. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,660
- Employment: 137,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
--- Ames, IA ($68,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)
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#35. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $44,870
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#34. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $44,940
- #273 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,990
- Employment: 629,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,810)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($62,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,350)

#33. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $45,480
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,270
- Employment: 116,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($76,040)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

#32. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Annual mean salary: $45,820
- #389 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,690
- Employment: 356,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,020)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($76,750)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,710)

#31. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $46,440
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,890
- Employment: 1,143,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($57,830)
--- Boulder, CO ($56,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,930)
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#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $46,860
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 641,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($76,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,410)
#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $46,940
- #483 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $47,620
- #326 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 261,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

#27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $47,980
- #401 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,350
- Employment: 417,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)
#26. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $48,100
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,590
- Employment: 109,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($80,170)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($77,460)
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#25. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $48,540
- #357 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#24. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $48,610
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- Employment: 367,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)
#23. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $49,940
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#22. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $50,810
- #251 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $52,260
- #366 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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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#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- #386 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,780
- Employment: 373,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

#19. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,290
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- Employment: 79,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)

#18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#17. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $55,130
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,370
- Employment: 335,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

#16. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $55,270
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
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#15. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,510
- #317 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $57,130
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#13. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,140
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
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)

#12. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,670
- #473 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#11. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $58,430
- #346 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)
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#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $58,900
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#9. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $61,810
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#8. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,370
- #408 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 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)

#7. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $63,270
- #454 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)

#6. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $64,130
- #343 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
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#5. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $69,940
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)

#4. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $74,770
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $81,960
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,280
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $91,730
- #270 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
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