Highest-paying jobs in Las Vegas that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas 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: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,500 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 2,510 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 680 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,150 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,670 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $62,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,150 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 580 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 790 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Lighting technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,680
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 110 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#40. Airfield operations specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#39. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 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
#38. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $63,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.61
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 800 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $64,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 520 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#34. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#33. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,830 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#32. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Median annual wage: $65,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 60 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
#31. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,270
- Median hourly wage: $31.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,370 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#29. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $67,110
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 150 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#28. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Median annual wage: $67,470
- Median hourly wage: $32.44
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 310 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. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 780 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $69,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 5,560 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $70,150
- Median hourly wage: $33.73
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $72,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $73,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $73,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.49
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 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
#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,910 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $75,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,180
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,410 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,320 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#17. Carpet installers
- Median annual wage: $77,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 1,040 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#16. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $77,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $79,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 690 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $79,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,240
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 460 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $80,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.93
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,210 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $82,640
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 720 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $85,790
- Median hourly wage: $41.25
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 450 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
#7. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,190 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $92,700
- Median hourly wage: $44.57
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $97,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,460
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $102,440
- Median hourly wage: $49.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 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
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $121,470
- Median hourly wage: $58.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 800 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $148,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 910 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
