Highest-paying jobs in Tucson 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 Tucson 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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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $58,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 1,080 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 3,480 people (9.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $59,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 1,240 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#45. Chefs and head cooks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 470 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Earth drillers, except oil and gas (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 200 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 910 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 1,330 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $60,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 530 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,760
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 570 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

emirhankaramuk // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Medical appliance technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: Not available

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $61,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 180 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

grivet // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Gambling change persons and booth cashiers

- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 150 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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LStockStudio // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 200 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 450 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 2,030 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Postal service clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 180 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $61,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Total employment: 1,070 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $62,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 340 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $62,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 650 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 330 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Median annual wage: $64,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Total employment: 110 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 1,740 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 960 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $66,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.85
- Total employment: 800 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $70,890
- Median hourly wage: $34.08
- Total employment: 840 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,370
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 1,890 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,430
- Median hourly wage: $34.82
- Total employment: 270 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,230
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 1,150 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 290 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 100 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $75,030
- Median hourly wage: $36.07
- Total employment: 110 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.32
- Total employment: 170 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ITisha // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $75,580
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $76,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,250
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $78,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 1,700 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 190 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $80,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 410 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $83,930
- Median hourly wage: $40.35
- Total employment: 170 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $102,280
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 140 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $102,770
- Median hourly wage: $49.41
- Total employment: 440 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $106,230
- Median hourly wage: $51.07
- Total employment: 1,580 people (4.08 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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