Highest-paying jobs in Boston that don't require a college degree

Written by:
June 13, 2022
Canva

Highest-paying jobs in Boston 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 Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH that don't require a college degree.

#50. Advertising sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,920
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,520

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)

#49. Carpet installers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,390
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Employment: 19,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($74,390)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($67,250)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($66,330)

#48. Crane and tower operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,510
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#47. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,550
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,590
- Employment: 44,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,380)

#46. Glaziers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,990
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,950
- Employment: 52,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($78,840)
--- Salem, OR ($78,000)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($74,990)

#45. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $75,020
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,010

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)

#44. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $75,030
- #1 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)

#43. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $75,740
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,590

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)

#42. Model makers, metal and plastic

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,210
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 3,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,140)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($76,210)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($74,210)

#41. Occupational health and safety technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,420
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

#40. Electricians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,860
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,990

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)

#39. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $77,340
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 11,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($89,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,970)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($86,050)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $77,350
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,670

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)

#37. Fire inspectors and investigators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $77,380
- #22 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)

#36. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#35. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,650
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- Employment: 186,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Bedford, MA ($90,980)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($82,820)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($79,650)

#34. Sound engineering technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,810
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,780

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)

#32. Insulation workers, mechanical

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $80,580
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,260
- Employment: 28,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,380)
--- Syracuse, NY ($97,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,740)

#31. Real estate brokers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $81,170
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,490
- Employment: 48,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#30. Structural iron and steel workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $83,340
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,270
- Employment: 68,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($83,340)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $84,400
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,100

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $84,430
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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)

#27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $85,340
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,590

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $85,370
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,420

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)

#25. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $86,160
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 10,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($89,080)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($87,130)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($86,160)

#24. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $87,450
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#23. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,110
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,210
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,340

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)

#21. Lodging managers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)

#20. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,350
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,960
- Employment: 16,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($97,000)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($88,350)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($75,440)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $89,560
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,270

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)

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750

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)

#17. Insurance sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $90,410
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,400

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)

#16. Real estate sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $92,480
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,910

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)

#15. Gas plant operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $94,200
- #6 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)

#14. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $95,980
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,430
- Employment: 55,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)

#13. Pile driver operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $96,350
- #4 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)

#12. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $96,850
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

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. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $98,280
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,930

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)

#10. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $98,470
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $99,090
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,380

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $99,230
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,720

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)

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $103,060
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370

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)

#6. Power distributors and dispatchers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $104,470
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

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)

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $112,560
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,140

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. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $115,720
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,520

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)

#2. Commercial pilots

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $122,770
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $139,500
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

Trending Now