Highest-paying jobs in El Centro 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 El Centro 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: The most expensive homes sold in El Centro this year

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Dental assistants

- Median annual wage: $54,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 120 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $55,540
- Median hourly wage: $26.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,940
- Median hourly wage: $26.90
- Total employment: 110 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 120 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $56,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the El Centro area by diners

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 90 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 110 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Goldsithney // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Psychiatric technicians

- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $58,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.15
- Total employment: 110 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $59,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 70 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 80 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 110 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 230 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in El Centro by diners

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 160 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 110 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 220 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 480 people (7.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.07
- Total employment: 230 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 120 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 130 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 80 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $68,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.11
- Total employment: 110 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $69,370
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 170 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,280
- Median hourly wage: $34.27
- Total employment: 340 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 140 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $73,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 310 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,580
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 160 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $75,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 100 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,320
- Median hourly wage: $36.69
- Total employment: 80 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 280 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,290
- Median hourly wage: $38.12
- Total employment: 90 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $81,480
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Total employment: 170 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to El Centro

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 180 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,270
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 180 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $87,490
- Median hourly wage: $42.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $94,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $104,090
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 1,320 people (20.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $116,600
- Median hourly wage: $56.06
- Total employment: 30 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $121,330
- Median hourly wage: $58.33
- Total employment: 730 people (11.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,920
- Median hourly wage: $61.50
- Total employment: 210 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $131,420
- Median hourly wage: $63.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $177,610
- Median hourly wage: $85.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 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.