
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $69,190
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 121,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)
#49. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Annual mean salary: $69,590
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,810
- Employment: 97,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,560)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($81,460)

#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $69,990
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#47. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $70,400
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,470
- Employment: 125,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,470)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($86,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,860)

#46. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $70,850
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,760
- Employment: 122,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)
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#45. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $71,400
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 43,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#44. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $71,700
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 29,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)

#43. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $72,270
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,420
- Employment: 392,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)
#42. Sailors and marine oilers
- Annual mean salary: $73,580
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,800
- Employment: 26,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($73,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,930)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($67,820)

#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $74,040
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,430
- Employment: 55,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)
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#40. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,080
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)
#38 (tie). Tapers
- Annual mean salary: $74,300
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,140
- Employment: 14,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($93,010)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($87,750)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($86,880)

#38 (tie). Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $74,300
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,420
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)

#37. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $74,830
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,340
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)

#36. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Annual mean salary: $74,840
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 11,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($89,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,970)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($86,050)
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#35. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $75,290
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#34. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $76,690
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)

#33. Structural iron and steel workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,930
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,270
- Employment: 68,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($83,340)

#32. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $77,170
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,930
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)

#31. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $77,680
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,120
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)
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#30. Pile driver operators
- Annual mean salary: $78,120
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,950
- Employment: 3,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,620)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($106,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,880)
#29. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $78,180
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,590
- Employment: 44,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,380)

#28. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $78,550
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)

#27. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $78,850
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#26. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $78,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)
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#25. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $79,870
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)

#24. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $80,820
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,490
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)

#23. Fallers
- Annual mean salary: $82,250
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,760
- Employment: 4,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Redding, CA ($91,830)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($82,250)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($44,030)

#22. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $83,310
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,930
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)

#21. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $83,880
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)
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#20. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $84,450
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,290
- Employment: 317,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,150)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,470)

#19. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $84,860
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,870
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)

#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,860
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,100
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)

#17. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $87,570
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#16. Riggers
- Annual mean salary: $89,080
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,100
- Employment: 17,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($89,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,310)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,160)
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#15. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Annual mean salary: $89,330
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,260
- Employment: 28,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,380)
--- Syracuse, NY ($97,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,740)

#14. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $92,870
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#13. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $96,600
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)

#12. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $96,700
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
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)

#11. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $99,010
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)
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#10. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $99,720
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $100,380
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
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)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $101,120
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)

#7. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $105,640
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#6. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $107,220
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)
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#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $120,210
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#4. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $120,700
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $121,960
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
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)
#2. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $128,900
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)
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