
Highest-paying jobs in Baton Rouge that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge, LA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,240
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)

#49. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,710
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- Employment: 25,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)
--- Redding, CA ($72,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,740)
#48. Travel agents
- Annual mean salary: $54,790
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,580
- Employment: 37,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,110)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($57,990)
#46 (tie). First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $55,850
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,880
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)

#46 (tie). Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $55,850
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
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#45. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $55,950
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)

#44. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $56,000
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

#43. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Annual mean salary: $56,370
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)

#42. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $56,380
- #313 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)

#41. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $56,770
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570
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)
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#40. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $56,900
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)

#39. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $57,220
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
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)

#38. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Annual mean salary: $57,240
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,810
- Employment: 551,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($70,950)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($66,260)
--- Bismarck, ND ($64,940)

#37. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $57,250
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)

#36. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $57,520
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,220
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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#35. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $57,530
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

#34. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $58,400
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,020
- Employment: 333,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)
--- Monroe, MI ($66,560)

#33. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $58,620
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)

#32. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $59,660
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,020
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,290
- Employment: 397,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($72,500)
--- Anchorage, AK ($71,840)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($66,920)

#31. Pile driver operators
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,950
- Employment: 3,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,620)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($106,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,880)
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#30. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $61,740
- #260 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
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)

#29. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $62,020
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $63,030
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,810
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)

#27. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $64,550
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#26. Sailors and marine oilers
- Annual mean salary: $64,720
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,800
- Employment: 26,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($73,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,930)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($67,820)
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#25. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $64,840
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320
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)

#24. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $65,070
- #172 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
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)

#23. Boilermakers
- Annual mean salary: $65,950
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- Employment: 12,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,660)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($96,080)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($90,620)

#22. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $66,360
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)

#21. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $67,050
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
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#20. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $67,410
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)

#19. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $67,960
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
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. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $68,530
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $68,590
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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)

#16. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $68,860
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)
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#15. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $69,420
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)
#14. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $70,760
- #354 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
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)

#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $70,830
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,390
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)

#12. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $71,930
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)

#11. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $73,170
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,880
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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#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $75,850
- #208 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
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)

#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $76,050
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,450
- Employment: 106,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($88,420)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($76,050)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($71,340)

#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $77,170
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
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)

#7. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $85,740
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#6. Chemical plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $86,550
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,020
- Employment: 21,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lima, OH ($92,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($91,210)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($90,170)
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#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $88,590
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)

#4. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $90,970
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,430
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)

#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $97,430
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#1. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $98,170
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,830
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)
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