Highest-paying jobs in Youngstown that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Youngstown 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 Youngstown 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 Youngstown 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. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $48,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 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
#49. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $48,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 230 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#48. Mechanical door repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#46. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $50,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 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
#45. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $50,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $50,510
- Median hourly wage: $24.29
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 290 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $50,600
- Median hourly wage: $24.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,700 people (8.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $51,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $51,220
- Median hourly wage: $24.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#39. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $51,390
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#38. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $51,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 580 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $51,870
- Median hourly wage: $24.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 970 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $52,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 50 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
#34. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $53,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#33. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $53,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 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
#32. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,680
- Median hourly wage: $25.81
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 710 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#31. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $54,950
- Median hourly wage: $26.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 800 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $55,530
- Median hourly wage: $26.70
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#29. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $55,730
- Median hourly wage: $26.79
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 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
#28. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $55,990
- Median hourly wage: $26.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 730 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $56,830
- Median hourly wage: $27.32
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $57,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,930
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $58,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 440 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#23. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#22. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $59,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,120 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,330 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,010 people (10.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $59,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 110 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $60,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#15. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $62,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 770 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 640 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $67,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $68,940
- Median hourly wage: $33.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $77,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $81,700
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $81,870
- Median hourly wage: $39.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $83,660
- Median hourly wage: $40.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $86,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
