Highest-paying jobs in Ames that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Ames that don't require a college degree
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 Ames 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 Ames 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.
#50. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $46,510
- Median hourly wage: $22.36
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 430 people (9.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#49. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $46,810
- Median hourly wage: $22.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $46,890
- Median hourly wage: $22.55
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 160 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $46,920
- Median hourly wage: $22.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $47,050
- Median hourly wage: $22.62
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $47,390
- Median hourly wage: $22.78
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $47,640
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Carpenters (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#41. Loan interviewers and clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#40. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $47,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#39. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $48,270
- Median hourly wage: $23.21
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 200 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $49,070
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $49,330
- Median hourly wage: $23.71
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $49,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $49,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $49,870
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 160 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#30. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
- Median annual wage: $50,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#28. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $50,550
- Median hourly wage: $24.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $50,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $51,800
- Median hourly wage: $24.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $52,810
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $52,920
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#22. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,900
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#21. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $54,190
- Median hourly wage: $26.06
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $54,950
- Median hourly wage: $26.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $57,250
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#17. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#16. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $58,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#15. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#14. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (5.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 350 people (7.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $66,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 240 people (5.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $67,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#4. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $68,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.07
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $77,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $79,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $85,340
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
