
Highest-paying jobs in Jackson that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Jackson 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 Jackson, MS that don't require a college degree.
#50. Pest control workers
- Annual mean salary: $44,210
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,640
- Employment: 85,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,450)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($57,980)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($54,130)
#49. Surgical technologists
- Annual mean salary: $44,570
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)
#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $44,890
- #419 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)
#47. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $45,020
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#46. Photographers
- Annual mean salary: $45,260
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,210
- Employment: 38,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,810)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($71,160)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,440)
#45. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Annual mean salary: $45,280
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#44. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $45,880
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,650
- Employment: 194,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($58,620)
#43. Cargo and freight agents
- Annual mean salary: $45,980
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#42. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $46,710
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,740
- Employment: 15,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($78,200)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($69,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,320)
#41. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $47,210
- #175 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,010
- Employment: 112,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,060)
#40. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $47,620
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,450
- Employment: 106,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($88,420)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($76,050)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($71,340)
#39. Meter readers, utilities
- Annual mean salary: $47,630
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,430
- Employment: 24,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($74,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,530)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($67,510)
#38. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $47,780
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,990
- Employment: 629,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,810)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($62,690)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,350)
#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $47,820
- #417 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)
#36. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $48,590
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#35. Tool and die makers
- Annual mean salary: $48,610
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,150
- Employment: 63,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,920)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,510)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($71,910)
#34. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- #426 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080
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)
#33. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $48,860
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,570
- Employment: 57,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($70,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,980)
#32. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $49,050
- #268 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#31. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $49,410
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- Employment: 367,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)
#30. Brokerage clerks
- Annual mean salary: $49,600
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,710
- Employment: 39,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)
#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $50,200
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 261,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)
#27 (tie). Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $50,650
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,660
- Employment: 137,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
--- Ames, IA ($68,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)
#27 (tie). First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $50,650
- #456 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,540
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)
#25 (tie). Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $51,670
- #433 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#25 (tie). Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $51,670
- #300 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- Employment: 79,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)
#24. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $53,310
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,340
- Employment: 1,903,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cape Girardeau, MO-IL ($62,600)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,290)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($61,540)
#23. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $53,520
- #283 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
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)
#22. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $54,630
- #428 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900
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. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $56,500
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#20. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $57,100
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#19. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- Employment: 25,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)
--- Redding, CA ($72,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,740)
#18. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $58,450
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 940
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)
#17. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $59,090
- #461 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,960
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)
#16. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $60,830
- #425 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#15. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $61,200
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)
#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $62,800
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,940
- #395 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
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)
#12. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,150
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)
#11. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $63,310
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $64,040
- #297 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)
#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $64,200
- #280 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $65,670
- #376 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310
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)
#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $66,390
- #325 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $69,140
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
#5. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $71,850
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,410
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
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)
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $81,010
- #383 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)
#2. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $82,380
- #36 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. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $94,620
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)