Highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma City that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City 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. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $51,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,030 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $52,320
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,290 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $52,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.37
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $52,840
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,050 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#46. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $53,390
- Median hourly wage: $25.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 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
#44. Wind turbine service technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 150 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Maintenance workers, machinery (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 730 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,360 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#42. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#41. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 600 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $58,080
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,800 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 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
#38. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $58,690
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 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
#36. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,200 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,430 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $59,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 8,390 people (13.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#30. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 2,020 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Derrick operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 140 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#28. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,010 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,360 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 570 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment (tie)
- Median annual wage: $63,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 440 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
#23. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $63,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $63,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,510 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#21. Aircraft service attendants
- Median annual wage: $64,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 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
#20. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 230 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $64,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#18. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 480 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
#16. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,850
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 480 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $68,070
- Median hourly wage: $32.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,450 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $70,010
- Median hourly wage: $33.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,650 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,630 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $73,270
- Median hourly wage: $35.23
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,470 people (5.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $77,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 760 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 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
#7. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $78,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $80,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 400 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $81,420
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 370 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $87,710
- Median hourly wage: $42.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 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
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $91,810
- Median hourly wage: $44.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 430 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $103,660
- Median hourly wage: $49.84
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 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
#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $106,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 80 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
