Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 740 people (10.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Rapid City 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 Rapid City 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.
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Rapid City?
4 PM production // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $51,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.79
- Total employment: 150 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $51,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Noin90650 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
- Median annual wage: $51,630
- Median hourly wage: $24.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $51,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most common languages spoken at home in Greater Rapid City and surrounding regions
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Medical records specialists
- Median annual wage: $51,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.97
- Total employment: 160 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NIKCOA // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Medical transcriptionists
- Median annual wage: $52,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $52,600
- Median hourly wage: $25.29
- Total employment: 380 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
M2020 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $53,300
- Median hourly wage: $25.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $54,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Rapid City by diners
SatawatK // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $54,800
- Median hourly wage: $26.35
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $55,060
- Median hourly wage: $26.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $55,180
- Median hourly wage: $26.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $55,290
- Median hourly wage: $26.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Rapid City
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $55,930
- Median hourly wage: $26.89
- Total employment: 420 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 760 people (10.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $56,400
- Median hourly wage: $27.12
- Total employment: 310 people (4.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $57,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 90 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $57,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 480 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Rapid City that require a bachelor's degree
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 300 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $58,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 100 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 300 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Rapid City's 2025 housing market year in review
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $59,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 100 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 260 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 70 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 170 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Rapid City by diners
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 240 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $61,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 190 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Rapid City for high school graduates
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rezoff // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $66,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 150 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.03
- Total employment: 170 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Rapid City October 2025
Skycolors // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $72,910
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 730 people (10.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.03
- Total employment: 150 people (2.15 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: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 420 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Rapid City
4 PM production // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 260 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: Not available
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $84,080
- Median hourly wage: $40.43
- Total employment: 170 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $98,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $108,880
- Median hourly wage: $52.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.36 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.
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Rapid City
