Highest-paying jobs in Davenport that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Davenport 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $51,900
- #190 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#49. Tool and die makers
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,150
- Employment: 63,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,920)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,510)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($71,910)

#48. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $52,230
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,010
- Employment: 112,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,060)

#47. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $52,610
- #404 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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)
#46. Pipelayers
- Annual mean salary: $52,650
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,510
- Employment: 33,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,310)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($75,510)
--- Madison, WI ($70,810)
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#45. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Annual mean salary: $53,120
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#44. Recreational vehicle service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,930
- Employment: 16,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($59,830)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($59,220)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($57,770)

#43. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- #380 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,990
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
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)
#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $55,110
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450
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)
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#40. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
- Annual mean salary: $55,140
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,810
- Employment: 30,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- St. Cloud, MN ($70,180)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($61,160)

#39. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $56,240
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,650
- Employment: 194,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($58,620)

#38. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $56,670
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,570
- Employment: 57,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($70,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,980)

#37. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $57,530
- #243 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)

#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $57,620
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,430
- Employment: 55,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)
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#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $57,840
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,280
- Employment: 145,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#34. Structural iron and steel workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,020
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,270
- Employment: 68,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($83,340)

#33. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)
#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,220
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
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)

#31. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,550
- #108 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,760
- Employment: 122,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)
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#30. Bridge and lock tenders
- Annual mean salary: $58,580
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,760
- Employment: 4,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,560)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($64,590)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($62,140)

#29. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $59,380
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#28. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $60,670
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,310
- Employment: 44,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

#27. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $61,040
- #275 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
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)

#26. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $61,090
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220
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)
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#25. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#24. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $61,150
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
#23. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $62,090
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $62,290
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
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)

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $62,340
- #314 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
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#20. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $62,380
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#19. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $62,610
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,260
- Employment: 39,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)

#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $65,090
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
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)

#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $65,790
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $66,420
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,640
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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#15. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,230
- Employment: 50,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,890)
--- Fresno, CA ($86,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,640)

#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $67,010
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180
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)

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,850
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,250
- Employment: 101,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
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)

#11. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $68,740
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
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#10. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $70,430
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
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)

#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $71,270
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)

#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $72,960
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)

#7. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $80,540
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)

#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,490
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
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#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $87,710
- #204 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $87,800
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $90,940
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $94,090
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $96,860
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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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