Highest-paying jobs in Pittsburgh that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Pittsburgh that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, 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.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Pittsburgh that don't require higher education. 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 are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Pittsburgh that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 130 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,500 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,210 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#46. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 160 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Sound engineering technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $63,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 970 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining
- Median annual wage: $63,780
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#41. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $63,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#40. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 450 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#39. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#38. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,400 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Median annual wage: $65,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $67,790
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 760 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $68,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,360 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $69,500
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 470 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#31. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Median annual wage: $69,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.58
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 160 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 8,480 people (8.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $73,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,530 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $73,770
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $74,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,690 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#25. Wind turbine service technicians
- Median annual wage: $74,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $74,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 300 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 620 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,730 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 470 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#20. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $76,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#19. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 6,340 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Derrick operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $78,900
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#16. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $79,340
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $79,650
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#14. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $82,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#12. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $82,960
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $84,010
- Median hourly wage: $40.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 720 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $86,510
- Median hourly wage: $41.59
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $86,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $87,400
- Median hourly wage: $42.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $92,630
- Median hourly wage: $44.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 200 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $97,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.81
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 260 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,760
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 920 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $99,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 800 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,230
- Median hourly wage: $48.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 770 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $103,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 200 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
