DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 440 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Worcester 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 Worcester 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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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders
- Median annual wage: $70,090
- Median hourly wage: $33.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: Not available
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 1,320 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 3,930 people (11.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Irene Miller // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $73,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.30
- Total employment: 1,270 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 860 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 1,320 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $74,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Joey Chung // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 2,020 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: Not available
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $74,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 2,180 people (6.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 2,200 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 2,640 people (7.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
16 / 50#34. Food service managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 410 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Glaziers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $78,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 350 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 1,460 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $78,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 820 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $78,820
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: Not available
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $79,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 1,490 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $79,710
- Median hourly wage: $38.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 2,080 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $80,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 450 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.03
- Total employment: 730 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Glen Jones // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $81,530
- Median hourly wage: $39.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $83,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 350 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $84,080
- Median hourly wage: $40.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $84,690
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 720 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $85,730
- Median hourly wage: $41.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $86,060
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 420 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ArtSvetlana // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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4 PM production // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,700
- Median hourly wage: $42.65
- Total employment: 1,290 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $89,430
- Median hourly wage: $42.99
- Total employment: 260 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.46
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $95,960
- Median hourly wage: $46.14
- Total employment: 1,860 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $96,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.27
- Total employment: 390 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $97,430
- Median hourly wage: $46.84
- Total employment: 350 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $97,450
- Median hourly wage: $46.85
- Total employment: 480 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,720
- Median hourly wage: $47.46
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 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: $99,420
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 290 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $99,440
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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michaeljung // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $101,800
- Median hourly wage: $48.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $112,610
- Median hourly wage: $54.14
- Total employment: 660 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $124,030
- Median hourly wage: $59.63
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Suwin // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $124,100
- Median hourly wage: $59.67
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $133,820
- Median hourly wage: $64.34
- Total employment: Not available
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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