Highest-paying jobs in Houma that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Houma 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 Houma 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 Houma 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. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $47,480
- Median hourly wage: $22.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $47,610
- Median hourly wage: $22.89
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $47,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.96
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $47,820
- Median hourly wage: $22.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $47,960
- Median hourly wage: $23.06
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#45. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $48,060
- Median hourly wage: $23.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $48,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 800 people (10.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $48,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $48,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $48,770
- Median hourly wage: $23.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 510 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $49,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $49,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 680 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#38. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $49,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Production workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $50,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 720 people (9.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $50,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.29
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 590 people (7.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $50,630
- Median hourly wage: $24.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,370 people (17.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $51,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#32. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $52,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.07
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 400 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#31. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $52,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $52,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $52,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 290 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,970
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 230 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#23. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 820 people (10.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 480 people (6.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#21. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 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
#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $62,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 550 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#17. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 700 people (9.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $64,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 570 people (7.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 140 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.59
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 380 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#12. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $68,310
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $73,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $77,520
- Median hourly wage: $37.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 520 people (6.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $81,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.38
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $82,640
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 80 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Ship engineers
- Median annual wage: $83,350
- Median hourly wage: $40.07
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $96,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.32
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $104,010
- Median hourly wage: $50.00
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,740 people (22.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $112,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 240 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $146,160
- Median hourly wage: $70.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
