Highest-paying jobs in San Diego 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 San Diego 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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1 / 50

#50. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.62
- Total employment: 300 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 540 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 160 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 6,640 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#45. Media and communication workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 390 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 1,370 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 690 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $78,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.87
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,830
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Total employment: 900 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,620
- Median hourly wage: $38.28
- Total employment: 480 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $79,770
- Median hourly wage: $38.35
- Total employment: 250 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 4,030 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $82,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.63
- Total employment: 960 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,820 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $82,740
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,810 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 2,700 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $83,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $83,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 170 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $85,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.92
- Total employment: 1,860 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $86,920
- Median hourly wage: $41.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,390
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 790 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $90,270
- Median hourly wage: $43.40
- Total employment: 240 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 590 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $93,670
- Median hourly wage: $45.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 7,720 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 910 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,180
- Median hourly wage: $46.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $98,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,580
- Median hourly wage: $47.88
- Total employment: 500 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $102,780
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $102,960
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 490 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $106,720
- Median hourly wage: $51.31
- Total employment: 920 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $109,000
- Median hourly wage: $52.40
- Total employment: 2,180 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $109,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.49
- Total employment: 4,990 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $114,050
- Median hourly wage: $54.83
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $116,160
- Median hourly wage: $55.85
- Total employment: Not available

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47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $118,830
- Median hourly wage: $57.13
- Total employment: 2,780 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $136,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $147,340
- Median hourly wage: $70.84
- Total employment: 890 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $166,600
- Median hourly wage: $80.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 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.