Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $62,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 620 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,910 people (9.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 330 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 790 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 590 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $64,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 110 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. Tapers
- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 60 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
#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,370 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#40. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $64,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 210 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,840 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#38. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $66,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,640 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $66,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 290 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $66,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 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
#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,740
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,830 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $67,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.37
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,400 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#32. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,360 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $67,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,960 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Sound engineering technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 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. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.04
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 120 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $72,450
- Median hourly wage: $34.83
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 360 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 130 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,520 people (6.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 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
#23. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $75,690
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 650 people (1.25 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: $76,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,510 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,730 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 390 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#17. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $79,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#16. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $79,120
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $81,510
- Median hourly wage: $39.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#14. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.29
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Ship engineers
- Median annual wage: $81,780
- Median hourly wage: $39.32
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $82,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $83,520
- Median hourly wage: $40.15
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 140 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
#10. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $86,440
- Median hourly wage: $41.56
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $86,940
- Median hourly wage: $41.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 970 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $87,110
- Median hourly wage: $41.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $89,070
- Median hourly wage: $42.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,710
- Median hourly wage: $46.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 670 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,830
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 210 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $102,260
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 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
#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $102,870
- Median hourly wage: $49.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $105,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 370 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
