Highest-paying jobs in Riverside 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 Riverside 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: Coat drives near Riverside

Pixel B // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $72,210
- Median hourly wage: $34.72
- Total employment: 180 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $72,740
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 400 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $72,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.02
- Total employment: Not available

BearFotos // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $73,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 750 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Riverside

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $73,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.56
- Total employment: 7,570 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $74,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.74
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#42. Firefighters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 2,720 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 460 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $75,560
- Median hourly wage: $36.33
- Total employment: 8,460 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 250 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $76,030
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 280 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $76,120
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 310 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 850 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Riverside

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $76,410
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 3,520 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 650 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $76,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: Not available

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $76,990
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.76
- Total employment: 310 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 4,750 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 540 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 1,580 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,640
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,540 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $82,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.85
- Total employment: 170 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $83,830
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,920
- Median hourly wage: $40.35
- Total employment: 8,720 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 200 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Riverside

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,310
- Median hourly wage: $41.01
- Total employment: 200 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 1,330 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $93,690
- Median hourly wage: $45.04
- Total employment: 4,920 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $94,510
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 270 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,720
- Median hourly wage: $45.54
- Total employment: 240 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-paying science jobs for people in Riverside

goodluz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,080
- Median hourly wage: $46.19
- Total employment: 4,420 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $96,720
- Median hourly wage: $46.50
- Total employment: 140 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $98,460
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $105,340
- Median hourly wage: $50.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $106,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.37
- Total employment: 5,920 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Top 25 songs in Riverside on Shazam in the past week

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.29
- Total employment: 1,820 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $118,250
- Median hourly wage: $56.85
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $123,470
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 360 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $123,480
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 570 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $125,250
- Median hourly wage: $60.22
- Total employment: 280 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $126,380
- Median hourly wage: $60.76
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $126,640
- Median hourly wage: $60.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $127,310
- Median hourly wage: $61.21
- Total employment: 220 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,380
- Median hourly wage: $61.24
- Total employment: 620 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $159,820
- Median hourly wage: $76.84
- Total employment: 1,260 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.