Highest-paying jobs in Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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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LuckView // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $50,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 130 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 160 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 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: $50,800
- Median hourly wage: $24.42
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 80 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $51,230
- Median hourly wage: $24.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 60 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $51,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Total employment: 310 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $51,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $51,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 550 people (9.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Food processing workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $52,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $53,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 70 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,110
- Median hourly wage: $26.01
- Total employment: 260 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $54,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 1,460 people (24.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $54,860
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 60 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.98
- Total employment: 220 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $57,390
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 280 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 290 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $58,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 150 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 200 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 120 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 130 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 270 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,790
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 160 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 140 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $60,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 120 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 240 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 120 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $61,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 470 people (7.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 90 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 250 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pixel B // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 50 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 100 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $63,780
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 200 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 670 people (11.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $67,410
- Median hourly wage: $32.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 150 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $72,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 510 people (8.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 190 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 190 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 80 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 320 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $103,120
- Median hourly wage: $49.58
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,490
- Median hourly wage: $52.16
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 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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