
Highest-paying jobs in Erie that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Erie 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 Erie, PA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $46,780
- #383 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- Employment: 367,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($67,140)
#49. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Annual mean salary: $47,470
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,570
- Employment: 151,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,900)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,790)
#48. Massage therapists
- Annual mean salary: $47,550
- #123 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#47. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Annual mean salary: $47,810
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 890
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)

#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $48,170
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
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#45. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $48,730
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#44. Roofers
- Annual mean salary: $48,960
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- Employment: 129,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($81,450)
--- Anchorage, AK ($74,990)
--- Danbury, CT ($73,020)

#43. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $49,590
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

#42. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $49,610
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,410
- Employment: 11,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,480)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($53,630)
--- Erie, PA ($49,610)

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $49,910
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 404,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)
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#40. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Annual mean salary: $50,230
- #260 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,690
- Employment: 356,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,020)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($76,750)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,710)

#39. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $50,420
- #373 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#38. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- #243 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#37. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $51,260
- #458 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)
#36. Tool and die makers
- Annual mean salary: $51,410
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
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#35. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $52,590
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#34. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $52,620
- #460 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)

#33. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $52,900
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,010
- Employment: 112,130
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,060)
#32. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $52,960
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $53,110
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
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#30. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- #349 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $53,790
- #236 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)

#28. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $53,900
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#27. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $54,500
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $54,590
- #350 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)
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#25. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $55,150
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)

#24. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Annual mean salary: $55,580
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,390
- Employment: 28,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,260)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($65,320)
--- Joplin, MO ($65,210)

#23. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $55,630
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)
#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $56,350
- #278 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,120
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)

#21. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $57,290
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
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#20. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- #463 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810
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)

#19. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $58,750
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,260
- Employment: 39,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)

#18. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $59,480
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#16. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $60,320
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
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#15. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- #178 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
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)

#14. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $60,920
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#13. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $62,140
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#12. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $62,590
- #210 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)

#11. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $62,880
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
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#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $64,950
- #410 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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)

#9. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $65,750
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
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)

#8. Computer user support specialists
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
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)

#7. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $68,400
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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)

#6. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Annual mean salary: $68,660
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
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#5. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $70,930
- #195 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $85,070
- #333 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,100
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $92,980
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $93,250
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
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