Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 750 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg 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.
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $60,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 1,750 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 6,470 people (19.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 370 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $60,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $61,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 180 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 110 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $61,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 730 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 1,750 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 330 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 950 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 350 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 420 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 160 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 870 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 170 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 410 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 2,690 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $64,700
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 2,140 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 4,510 people (13.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 710 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SatawatK // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 250 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $67,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.60
- Total employment: 100 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $68,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $68,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 830 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $70,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 960 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $71,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.60
- Total employment: 400 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 1,180 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 820 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 290 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $78,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,630
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $85,320
- Median hourly wage: $41.02
- Total employment: 1,440 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $89,860
- Median hourly wage: $43.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,250
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,570
- Median hourly wage: $50.76
- Total employment: 560 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $121,950
- Median hourly wage: $58.63
- Total employment: 330 people (1.0 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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