
Highest-paying jobs in Hickory that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Hickory 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that don’t require a college degree.
You may also like: Metros where people in Hickory are getting new jobs
#50. Cutters and trimmers, hand
- Annual mean salary: $44,360
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $34,330
- Employment: 7,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC ($44,360)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($44,160)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($41,880)
#49. Loan interviewers and clerks
- Annual mean salary: $44,860
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,910
- Employment: 238,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($59,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,710)
#48. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $45,100
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
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)

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $45,270
- #419 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)

#46. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $45,320
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,890
- Employment: 1,143,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($57,830)
--- Boulder, CO ($56,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,930)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Hickory
#45. Upholsterers
- Annual mean salary: $45,340
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,220
- Employment: 28,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($61,810)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,790)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($51,300)

#44. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $45,590
- #484 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)

#43. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $45,800
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,020
- Employment: 333,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)
--- Monroe, MI ($66,560)
#42. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,030
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,660
- Employment: 23,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($66,390)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,930)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($57,210)

#41. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $46,690
- #247 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
You may also like: Where people in Hickory are moving to most

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $47,100
- #420 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,350
- Employment: 417,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)
#39. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,500
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,810
- Employment: 56,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)
#38. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $47,850
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,060
- Employment: 73,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,300)
--- New Haven, CT ($69,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($65,010)
#37. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Annual mean salary: $47,880
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,070
- Employment: 3,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($84,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,260)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($74,480)
#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $47,920
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 641,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($76,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,410)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Hickory metro area
#35. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $48,200
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,260
- Employment: 81,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($96,260)
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($74,980)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($74,850)

#34. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $48,900
- #391 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#33. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $49,070
- #485 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)

#32. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $49,880
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
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)

#31. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $50,180
- #294 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,650
- Employment: 654,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)
You may also like: Highest-earning zip codes in Hickory metro area

#30. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $50,370
- #396 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#29. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $50,800
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#28. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $51,020
- #335 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)

#27. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $51,240
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,240
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)

#26. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $51,280
- #223 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
You may also like: How Hickory feels about climate change

#25. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#24. Cargo and freight agents
- Annual mean salary: $53,110
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#23. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $53,230
- #402 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)

#22. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $53,250
- #232 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#21. Tool and die makers
- Annual mean salary: $53,590
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Hickory metro area
#20. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,880
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
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)
#19. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $55,420
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 25,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)

#18. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $55,610
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)

#17. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $55,840
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,920
- Employment: 129,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($79,430)

#15 (tie). First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,100
- #486 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,680
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)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Hickory in the last week

#15 (tie). Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $57,100
- #261 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $57,460
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#13. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $57,470
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $60,180
- #453 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620
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)

#11. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $60,460
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680
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)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Hickory

#10. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $61,720
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#9. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $63,510
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $65,280
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $65,450
- #396 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)

#6. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $66,060
- #275 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580
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)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Hickory

#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $68,970
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
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)

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $92,480
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)

#2. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $92,690
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $97,520
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest growing home prices in Hickory metro area