Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon that don't require a college degree

Gen Z has figured out that college isn't the only way to land a high-paying job. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 2 in 5 (38.6%) of recent high school graduates opted out of college in 2023, up from 33.8% in 2019.

This shift comes at a good time for high school grads, as companies face labor shortages for many jobs that don't require a college degree. Baby boomers retiring and a trend to reopen factories in the United States have both driven demand for young talent. A July 2024 Intelligent report found that 1 in 3 companies have already dropped bachelor's degree requirements across entry-level, mid-tier, and even senior positions to attract more employees.

The need for skilled workers, regardless of educational attainment, means better pay. Median wages for those with a high school degree are at their highest since 1990, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

At $40,000 on average, these wages are still $20,000 lower than those of a college grad. Yet nearly 1 in 5 workers who opt out of college earn more than employees with bachelor's degrees. Two million high school grads across the U.S. make six-figure annual salaries—without the financial burden of attending a four-year university. As of 2025, the average annual cost of college is more than $38,200 per student, and the average college graduate has more than $39,000 in student debt. It's little wonder that, according to a May 2024 survey from Pew Research, 29% of Americans think attending college is not worthwhile.

However, not every career field pays high school grads equally well, and understanding what the good jobs are is the first step to landing one. Stacker ranked the 50 highest-paying jobs that don't require a college degree in Portland using annual compensation data from the BLS. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma, a postsecondary nondegree award, or had no formal education requirements for entry-level positions. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $78,710
- Median hourly wage: $37.84
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $78,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 2,340 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Tree trimmers and pruners

- Median annual wage: $78,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 800 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Total employment: 230 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $79,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: 650 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 450 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $80,010
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 690 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

APChanel // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Locomotive engineers

- Median annual wage: $80,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 150 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 340 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $81,580
- Median hourly wage: $39.22
- Total employment: 1,680 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 170 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Total employment: 610 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $83,510
- Median hourly wage: $40.15
- Total employment: 4,410 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $83,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $83,990
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 1,680 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $84,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.51
- Total employment: 160 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Fallers

- Median annual wage: $84,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $85,300
- Median hourly wage: $41.01
- Total employment: 1,670 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Guiderom // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Rail car repairers

- Median annual wage: $85,380
- Median hourly wage: $41.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $85,580
- Median hourly wage: $41.15
- Total employment: 170 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $87,590
- Median hourly wage: $42.11
- Total employment: 1,370 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $91,420
- Median hourly wage: $43.95
- Total employment: 340 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Onk-Q // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $93,280
- Median hourly wage: $44.85
- Total employment: 390 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $93,360
- Median hourly wage: $44.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $93,800
- Median hourly wage: $45.10
- Total employment: 250 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $94,090
- Median hourly wage: $45.24
- Total employment: 240 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $95,590
- Median hourly wage: $45.96
- Total employment: 470 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $95,730
- Median hourly wage: $46.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 2,250 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $100,110
- Median hourly wage: $48.13
- Total employment: 4,920 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 7,290 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $104,120
- Median hourly wage: $50.06
- Total employment: 340 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $104,500
- Median hourly wage: $50.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $104,630
- Median hourly wage: $50.30
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,770
- Median hourly wage: $50.85
- Total employment: 1,780 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $107,920
- Median hourly wage: $51.89
- Total employment: 7,110 people (5.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $110,280
- Median hourly wage: $53.02
- Total employment: 320 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $113,090
- Median hourly wage: $54.37
- Total employment: 550 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $113,380
- Median hourly wage: $54.51
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Washburn HM // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $114,940
- Median hourly wage: $55.26
- Total employment: 130 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $121,120
- Median hourly wage: $58.23
- Total employment: 100 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $121,530
- Median hourly wage: $58.43
- Total employment: 290 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $123,560
- Median hourly wage: $59.40
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $125,160
- Median hourly wage: $60.18
- Total employment: 700 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $126,460
- Median hourly wage: $60.80
- Total employment: 90 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $127,090
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 620 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $131,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 350 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $134,010
- Median hourly wage: $64.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $136,300
- Median hourly wage: $65.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

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