Highest-paying jobs in New York City that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in New York City that don't require a college degree
From the moment they first set foot 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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 non-degree 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 2020 annual mean wage. Job descriptions are from O*NET.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in New York that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Costume attendants
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,390
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,780
- Employment: 5,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($78,390)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($64,730)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($61,170)
- Job description: Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
#49. Rail car repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,660
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,250
- Employment: 22,310
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($78,660)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,970)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($73,790)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.
#48. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,740
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,040
- Employment: 128,300
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ($95,680)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,710)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($87,830)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
#47. Tapers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,550
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,140
- Employment: 16,320
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($92,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,080)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($83,860)
- Job description: Seal joints between plasterboard or other wallboard to prepare wall surface for painting or papering.
#46. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,950
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,490
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($95,240)
--- Madison, WI ($90,020)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,650)
- Job description: Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
#45. Food service managers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $81,330
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 197,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,610)
--- Trenton, NJ ($95,640)
--- Waterbury, CT ($88,100)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.
#44. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $81,590
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,700
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($93,060)
--- Salinas, CA ($91,790)
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($89,000)
- Job description: Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.
#43. Signal and track switch repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $81,670
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,970
- Employment: 7,250
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($81,670)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($79,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,810)
- Job description: Install, inspect, test, maintain, or repair electric gate crossings, signals, signal equipment, track switches, section lines, or intercommunications systems within a railroad system.
#42. Millwrights
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $81,770
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 44,400
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Elmira, NY ($94,190)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($90,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,090)
- Job description: Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
#41. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $82,710
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,880
- Employment: 4,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($82,710)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,250)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($62,320)
- Job description: Draw and construct sets of precision master fabric patterns or layouts. May also mark and cut fabrics and apparel.
#40. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $83,660
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,610
- Employment: 40,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($96,510)
--- Billings, MT ($95,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,800)
- Job description: Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.
#39. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 79,090
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,278,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
#38. Electricians
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,190
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 36,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 656,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
--- Trenton, NJ ($90,210)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
- Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
#37. Postmasters and mail superintendents
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,280
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- Employment: 13,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,130)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($95,920)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($92,630)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.
#36. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,380
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,980)
--- Waterbury, CT ($92,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,750)
- Job description: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.
#35. Structural iron and steel workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,880
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,650
- Employment: 71,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,360)
--- Rockford, IL ($90,160)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,740)
- Job description: Raise, place, and unite iron or steel girders, columns, and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. May erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings.
#34. Firefighters
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $85,040
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,360
- Employment: 311,350
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,480)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($105,670)
- Job description: Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk. Duties may include fire prevention, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, search and rescue, and disaster assistance.
#33. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $85,940
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,780
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,740
- Employment: 27,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($122,730)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($111,530)
--- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN ($111,140)
- Job description: Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
#32. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $86,060
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Employment: 475,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.
#31. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $87,300
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- Employment: 24,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($109,710)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,080)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($101,990)
- Job description: Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
#30. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $87,700
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 74,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Employment: 977,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.
#29. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $87,820
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,150
- Employment: 23,070
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($113,410)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($111,660)
--- Anchorage, AK ($111,470)
- Job description: Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
#28. Terrazzo workers and finishers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $89,220
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,440
- Employment: 2,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($89,220)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($83,220)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,600)
- Job description: Apply a mixture of cement, sand, pigment, or marble chips to floors, stairways, and cabinet fixtures to fashion durable and decorative surfaces.
#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $90,880
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- Employment: 29,550
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,970)
--- Springfield, IL ($102,660)
- Job description: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
#26. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $91,560
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,710
- Employment: 13,880
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($118,300)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($109,600)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($92,150)
- Job description: Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.
#25. Gas plant operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $92,160
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,290
- Employment: 14,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($98,230)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($97,370)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,160)
- Job description: Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
#24. Advertising sales agents
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $92,370
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 18,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- Employment: 110,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($112,850)
--- Winston-Salem, NC ($104,930)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,370)
- Job description: Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.
#23. Insurance sales agents
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $92,650
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 409,950
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,540)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($105,840)
--- Fond du Lac, WI ($105,190)
- Job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
#22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($114,820)
--- Redding, CA ($112,850)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,810)
- Job description: Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy duty transmission towers.
#21. Power plant operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $94,960
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- Employment: 32,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,420)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,830)
--- Redding, CA ($106,030)
- Job description: Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
#20. Ship engineers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $95,380
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,110
- Employment: 7,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,170)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($95,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,380)
- Job description: Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
#19. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $96,440
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,370
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,280
- Employment: 402,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,440)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($93,620)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($93,320)
- Job description: Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
#18. Lodging managers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $97,680
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 970
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 31,790
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY ($108,990)
--- Reno, NV ($106,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,560)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations.
#17. Real estate sales agents
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $98,580
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- Employment: 168,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($106,280)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($101,300)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($98,580)
- Job description: Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.
#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $99,410
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Employment: 614,080
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.
#15. Boilermakers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $103,050
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,430
- Employment: 14,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,050)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($87,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,050)
- Job description: Construct, assemble, maintain, and repair stationary steam boilers and boiler house auxiliaries. Align structures or plate sections to assemble boiler frame tanks or vats, following blueprints. Work involves use of hand and power tools, plumb bobs, levels, wedges, dogs, or turnbuckles. Assist in testing assembled vessels. Direct cleaning of boilers and boiler furnaces. Inspect and repair boiler fittings, such as safety valves, regulators, automatic-control mechanisms, water columns, and auxiliary machines.
#14. Detectives and criminal investigators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $104,230
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,300
- Employment: 105,980
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,380)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,090)
--- Anchorage, AK ($126,530)
- Job description: Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
#13. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $105,370
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,810
- Employment: 5,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($128,170)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($118,710)
--- Napa, CA ($116,750)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the management or operation of farms, ranches, greenhouses, aquacultural operations, nurseries, timber tracts, or other agricultural establishments. May hire, train, and supervise farm workers or contract for services to carry out the day-to-day activities of the managed operation. May engage in or supervise planting, cultivating, harvesting, and financial and marketing activities.
#12. Pile driver operators
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $106,160
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,880
- Employment: 3,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($106,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,650)
- Job description: Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
#11. Insulation workers, mechanical
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $106,690
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,470
- Employment: 27,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,690)
--- Syracuse, NY ($90,050)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($81,980)
- Job description: Apply insulating materials to pipes or ductwork, or other mechanical systems in order to help control and maintain temperature.
#10. Power distributors and dispatchers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $107,600
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 9,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($141,200)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($126,870)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,200)
- Job description: Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
#9. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $113,070
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,020)
--- Trenton, NJ ($113,630)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,070)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.
#8. Property, real estate, and community association managers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $113,800
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 219,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($117,770)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,800)
--- Boulder, CO ($107,230)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $115,000
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($124,150)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($122,460)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($119,130)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
#6. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $121,600
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $99,990
- Employment: 2,780
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($114,600)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($105,840)
- Job description: Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
#5. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $128,210
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,170
- Employment: 69,000
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($187,890)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($181,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,050)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $131,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,840
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,100
- Employment: 132,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,680)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($136,410)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $133,880
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,180
- Employment: 122,310
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($200,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,810)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($182,720)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
#2. Real estate brokers
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $134,770
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,990
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($134,770)
--- Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ ($129,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($116,510)
- Job description: Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
#1. Athletes and sports competitors
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $197,690
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $94,740
- Employment: 8,380
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($197,690)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($182,290)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($102,400)
- Job description: Compete in athletic events.
