Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, 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.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis that don't require higher education. 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 are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Minneapolis that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $72,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 8,160 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $72,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.94
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 670 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $73,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 15,710 people (8.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $73,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 450 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Median annual wage: $74,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Sound engineering technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 240 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,000
- Median hourly wage: $36.54
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 170 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $76,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 490 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $77,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 20,730 people (11.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,370
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 530 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 7,380 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#38. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $77,850
- Median hourly wage: $37.43
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,670 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 5,400 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#35. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 730 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#34. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $78,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 2,910 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#33. Tapers
- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 350 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $79,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 470 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#30. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 880 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 570 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#27. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $81,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.97
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 830 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Surgical assistants
- Median annual wage: $81,840
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 300 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $82,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 6,040 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $82,540
- Median hourly wage: $39.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 5,530 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $82,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 360 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $83,390
- Median hourly wage: $40.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,200 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $84,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.77
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $85,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 530 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $85,980
- Median hourly wage: $41.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 520 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Median annual wage: $87,320
- Median hourly wage: $41.98
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 210 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Median annual wage: $89,220
- Median hourly wage: $42.89
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 370 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $89,810
- Median hourly wage: $43.18
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 120 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $91,380
- Median hourly wage: $43.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 7,020 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $91,490
- Median hourly wage: $43.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,080 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $94,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.48
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $95,790
- Median hourly wage: $46.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $99,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $101,720
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 460 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#8. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $103,030
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 720 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#6. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $104,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 500 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $107,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $108,420
- Median hourly wage: $52.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $111,650
- Median hourly wage: $53.68
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $115,080
- Median hourly wage: $55.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $121,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 870 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
