For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.
According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.
With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.
Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Redding for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. 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: Highest-rated Italian restaurants in Redding by diners
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.12
- Total employment: 220 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 130 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Redding
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 80 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 560 people (7.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 120 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Redding metro area
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 100 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 180 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 140 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 220 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Redding area by diners
4 PM production // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,720
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 90 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 90 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 170 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 120 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in the Redding area by diners
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 330 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 350 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 620 people (8.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Redding this year
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,420
- Median hourly wage: $31.45
- Total employment: 230 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.25
- Total employment: 100 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 170 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $70,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.03
- Total employment: 70 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $71,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.14
- Total employment: 100 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Redding
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $71,820
- Median hourly wage: $34.53
- Total employment: 330 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $72,400
- Median hourly wage: $34.81
- Total employment: 70 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 150 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 90 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Redding October 2025
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.11
- Total employment: 130 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 260 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,700
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Total employment: 270 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 30 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best high schools in the Redding metro area
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 400 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $81,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.96
- Total employment: 250 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $85,580
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: Not available
sculpies // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $86,630
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 340 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Redding's 2025 housing market year in review
Prath // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $96,880
- Median hourly wage: $46.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $99,210
- Median hourly wage: $47.70
- Total employment: 80 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $104,980
- Median hourly wage: $50.47
- Total employment: 420 people (6.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $138,230
- Median hourly wage: $66.46
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $157,510
- Median hourly wage: $75.73
- Total employment: 100 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
You may also like: Coat drives near Redding
