DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $47,640
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Athens 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 Athens 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.
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $47,650
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 500 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $47,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.01
- Total employment: 300 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $48,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 120 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $48,180
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 280 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $48,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $48,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 220 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $49,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 960 people (10.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $49,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.77
- Total employment: 470 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $50,380
- Median hourly wage: $24.22
- Total employment: 310 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $50,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $50,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 150 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $52,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Akarawut // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Median annual wage: $52,220
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $52,250
- Median hourly wage: $25.12
- Total employment: 610 people (6.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
18 / 50#32. Postal service mail carriers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 210 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Machinists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $53,230
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 190 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $54,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $54,820
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $54,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 340 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $55,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.87
- Total employment: 90 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 220 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $56,400
- Median hourly wage: $27.11
- Total employment: 130 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $56,920
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 500 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $57,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 530 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yulai Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Surgical assistants
- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $58,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 380 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 760 people (7.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $60,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 100 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 150 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 190 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 520 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 440 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 570 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $66,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 350 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 260 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $71,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.22
- Total employment: 120 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 110 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $82,400
- Median hourly wage: $39.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,590
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $110,350
- Median hourly wage: $53.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 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.
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