Highest-paying Jobs in Portland, Maine That Don't Require a College Degree

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Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine 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 Portland-South Portland, ME that don't require a college degree.

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $53,940
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

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)

#49. Tax preparers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,000
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,080
- Employment: 83,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)

#48. Postal service mail carriers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,290
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#47. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

#46. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,070
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 641,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($76,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,410)

#45. Community health workers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,310
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,780
- Employment: 61,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,530)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($61,820)

#44. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,500
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,540
- Employment: 155,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($72,760)

#43. Computer user support specialists

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,590
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)

#42. Advertising sales agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,760
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,950
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

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)

#40. Private detectives and investigators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,030
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

#39. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,680
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,400
- Employment: 10,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($75,030)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($69,840)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($68,630)

#37 (tie). Surgical technologists

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,780
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,590
- Employment: 109,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($80,170)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($77,460)

#37 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,780
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

#36. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,840
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,270
- Employment: 116,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($76,040)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,910
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970

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)

#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,290
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,360
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

#32. Electricians

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,730
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660

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)

#31. Occupational health and safety technicians

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,820
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- Employment: 21,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)

#30. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,880
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#29. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,990
- #170 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)

#28. Real estate sales agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $58,980
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#27. Food service managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $59,270
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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)

#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $60,730
- #82 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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $60,990
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470

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)

#24. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $61,070
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,390
- Employment: 51,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,460)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($73,070)

#23. Cargo and freight agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,420
- Employment: 85,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($80,300)
--- Yakima, WA ($68,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($64,030)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $63,430
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,200

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)

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,690
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160

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)

#20. Lodging managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,740
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#19. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- #97 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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $65,480
- #339 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $65,610
- #234 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

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)

#16. Construction and building inspectors

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $66,430
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#15. Crane and tower operators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $66,740
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $66,910
- #344 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740

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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $67,020
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#12. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $67,150
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#11. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $71,200
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $71,390
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,620

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)

#9. Insurance sales agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $73,530
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

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)

#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $79,030
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $81,420
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $89,910
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $95,040
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $102,110
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $108,220
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#2. Transportation inspectors

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $112,260
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $129,860
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

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)