Highest-paying jobs in Boise 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 Boise 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.

welcomia // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 140 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $60,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 260 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 460 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Boise's 2025 housing market year in review

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 4,220 people (10.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Fallers

- Median annual wage: $61,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: Not available

SritanaN // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 660 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 1,290 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best places to live in the Boise metro area

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 2,560 people (6.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 290 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 540 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 240 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 480 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $64,700
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 570 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $65,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 940 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: 310 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 600 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 420 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $67,310
- Median hourly wage: $32.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $67,380
- Median hourly wage: $32.39
- Total employment: 330 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 180 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.19
- Total employment: 70 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $69,450
- Median hourly wage: $33.39
- Total employment: Not available

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 840 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $70,470
- Median hourly wage: $33.88
- Total employment: 130 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 950 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Boise

BearFotos // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: Not available

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: Not available

sculpies // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 2,910 people (7.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 1,550 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Boise

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 140 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $76,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $77,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 120 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,310
- Median hourly wage: $39.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $84,840
- Median hourly wage: $40.79
- Total employment: 620 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 230 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,720
- Median hourly wage: $45.06
- Total employment: 150 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Top 10 Cities to Rent an Apartment: Boise, Idaho

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $95,880
- Median hourly wage: $46.10
- Total employment: 380 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $102,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $103,420
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 130 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $106,420
- Median hourly wage: $51.16
- Total employment: Not available

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $123,530
- Median hourly wage: $59.39
- Total employment: 340 people (0.87 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.