
Highest-paying jobs in New Orleans that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in New Orleans 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $54,720
- #255 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030
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)

#49. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)

#47 (tie). Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $55,230
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)

#47 (tie). Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $55,230
- #414 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,840
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)

#46. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
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)
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#45. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $55,560
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#44. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $55,810
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,060
- Employment: 48,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($92,800)
--- Napa, CA ($68,470)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($63,240)

#43. Pile driver operators
- Annual mean salary: $56,570
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#42. Sound engineering technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,630
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,360
- Employment: 10,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($84,930)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($84,620)

#41. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $56,700
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
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#40. Sailors and marine oilers
- Annual mean salary: $56,830
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,610
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)

#39. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $56,990
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)

#38. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $57,040
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)

#37. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $58,260
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,250
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)

#36. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $58,600
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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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#35. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $58,820
- #233 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#34. Boilermakers
- Annual mean salary: $61,490
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)

#33. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $63,650
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,880
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)

#32. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,500
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)

#31. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $65,000
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
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#30. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $65,300
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)

#29. Commercial divers
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 2,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($155,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,130)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,100)

#28. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $66,410
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)

#27. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $66,570
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
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)

#26. Chemical plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $66,670
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
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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#25. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $69,890
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,890
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)

#24. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $70,410
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,510
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)
#23. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $70,440
- #357 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
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)

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $70,710
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840
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)

#21. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $71,560
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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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#20. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $72,120
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,360
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)
#19. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $72,450
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)

#18. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $72,880
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)

#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $72,900
- #174 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,300
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)

#16. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,660
- Employment: 32,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($79,050)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($73,100)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($65,030)
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#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $75,490
- #307 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)

#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $76,240
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)

#13. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $77,890
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)

#12. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $79,610
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)

#11. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $81,500
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
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#10. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $81,560
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
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)

#9. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $83,110
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#8. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,520
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,050
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)

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $83,920
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $86,970
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
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#5. Ship engineers
- Annual mean salary: $95,690
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $96,910
- Employment: 7,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette, LA ($108,770)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,970)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,670)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $97,700
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)

#3. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $110,750
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,620
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)

#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $119,460
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $126,040
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)
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