Highest-paying jobs in Baltimore 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 Baltimore 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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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $71,990
- Median hourly wage: $34.61
- Total employment: 1,750 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 15,660 people (11.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $73,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 2,490 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 3,360 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 210 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 1,310 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $74,150
- Median hourly wage: $35.65
- Total employment: 140 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Parilov // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $74,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.03
- Total employment: Not available

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $75,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: Not available

sculpies // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 7,680 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,860
- Median hourly wage: $36.47
- Total employment: 9,260 people (6.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 4,020 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $77,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 1,890 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 290 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 4,610 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 250 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 130 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $78,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 720 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.76
- Total employment: 2,300 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,710
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 4,730 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wonderlustpicstravel // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Subway and streetcar operators

- Median annual wage: $81,290
- Median hourly wage: $39.08
- Total employment: 160 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,410
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: Not available

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $82,320
- Median hourly wage: $39.58
- Total employment: 580 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mrak.hr // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $82,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Guiderom // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Rail car repairers

- Median annual wage: $84,840
- Median hourly wage: $40.79
- Total employment: 190 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,780
- Median hourly wage: $41.24
- Total employment: 1,560 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $86,980
- Median hourly wage: $41.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $88,920
- Median hourly wage: $42.75
- Total employment: 120 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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motodan // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Hoist and winch operators

- Median annual wage: $90,200
- Median hourly wage: $43.36
- Total employment: 150 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 220 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $91,690
- Median hourly wage: $44.08
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

JL IMAGES // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Transit and railroad police

- Median annual wage: $91,930
- Median hourly wage: $44.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $92,860
- Median hourly wage: $44.64
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SpeedKingz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $93,420
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 230 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $94,450
- Median hourly wage: $45.41
- Total employment: 810 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,740
- Median hourly wage: $45.55
- Total employment: 320 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $95,650
- Median hourly wage: $45.98
- Total employment: 3,360 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $97,310
- Median hourly wage: $46.78
- Total employment: 710 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $101,640
- Median hourly wage: $48.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 140 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $104,080
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 2,140 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $113,990
- Median hourly wage: $54.80
- Total employment: Not available

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45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $119,290
- Median hourly wage: $57.35
- Total employment: 4,280 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $119,300
- Median hourly wage: $57.36
- Total employment: 550 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $123,840
- Median hourly wage: $59.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $125,630
- Median hourly wage: $60.40
- Total employment: 490 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $132,030
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 180 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $133,680
- Median hourly wage: $64.27
- Total employment: 240 people (0.18 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.