Highest-paying jobs in Oxnard 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 Oxnard 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.

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 660 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 770 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#47. Riggers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Industrial machinery mechanics (tie)

- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 400 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 530 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 130 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $67,490
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $69,500
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 510 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 90 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 3,140 people (9.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $69,870
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 2,050 people (6.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $70,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.03
- Total employment: 390 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,690
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Total employment: 340 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $72,210
- Median hourly wage: $34.72
- Total employment: 1,200 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $72,350
- Median hourly wage: $34.78
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,470
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 1,090 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 100 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $74,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 610 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Total employment: 2,750 people (8.6 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: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 280 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Total employment: 220 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $76,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 300 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $76,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: 210 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 130 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $80,700
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 790 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 800 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $81,420
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: 160 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $82,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.48
- Total employment: 350 people (1.11 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: $83,940
- Median hourly wage: $40.36
- Total employment: 910 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $84,480
- Median hourly wage: $40.62
- Total employment: 330 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $85,550
- Median hourly wage: $41.13
- Total employment: 90 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $85,570
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: 340 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $87,670
- Median hourly wage: $42.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $91,090
- Median hourly wage: $43.79
- Total employment: 1,310 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Skycolors // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $91,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,800
- Median hourly wage: $47.50
- Total employment: 230 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $99,310
- Median hourly wage: $47.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $104,420
- Median hourly wage: $50.20
- Total employment: 390 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Suwin // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $106,320
- Median hourly wage: $51.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $121,050
- Median hourly wage: $58.20
- Total employment: 1,320 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $127,000
- Median hourly wage: $61.06
- Total employment: 280 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $143,250
- Median hourly wage: $68.87
- Total employment: 70 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $151,230
- Median hourly wage: $72.71
- Total employment: 260 people (0.82 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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