Highest-paying jobs in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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.

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $98,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $99,300
- Median hourly wage: $47.74
- Total employment: 26,820 people (11.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $99,350
- Median hourly wage: $47.76
- Total employment: 160 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $99,420
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 2,840 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $100,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 6,250 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $100,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.20
- Total employment: 3,040 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $100,320
- Median hourly wage: $48.23
- Total employment: 1,030 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $100,540
- Median hourly wage: $48.34
- Total employment: 1,620 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $101,130
- Median hourly wage: $48.62
- Total employment: 11,920 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $102,090
- Median hourly wage: $49.08
- Total employment: 2,460 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Model makers, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $102,130
- Median hourly wage: $49.10
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $103,090
- Median hourly wage: $49.56
- Total employment: 10,110 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $103,110
- Median hourly wage: $49.57
- Total employment: 1,130 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,560
- Median hourly wage: $49.79
- Total employment: 1,210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $105,350
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 240 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $105,800
- Median hourly wage: $50.87
- Total employment: 410 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $108,370
- Median hourly wage: $52.10
- Total employment: 250 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $109,900
- Median hourly wage: $52.84
- Total employment: 540 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $110,250
- Median hourly wage: $53.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $110,810
- Median hourly wage: $53.28
- Total employment: 400 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.29
- Total employment: 410 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $110,990
- Median hourly wage: $53.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $115,980
- Median hourly wage: $55.76
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $117,350
- Median hourly wage: $56.42
- Total employment: 4,560 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Suwin // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $117,420
- Median hourly wage: $56.45
- Total employment: 140 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $118,520
- Median hourly wage: $56.98
- Total employment: 290 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $119,470
- Median hourly wage: $57.44
- Total employment: 300 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $121,270
- Median hourly wage: $58.30
- Total employment: 3,410 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $121,790
- Median hourly wage: $58.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NancyS // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

- Median annual wage: $122,760
- Median hourly wage: $59.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $123,390
- Median hourly wage: $59.32
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $124,120
- Median hourly wage: $59.67
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $125,150
- Median hourly wage: $60.17
- Total employment: 2,430 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $125,300
- Median hourly wage: $60.24
- Total employment: 690 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $127,010
- Median hourly wage: $61.06
- Total employment: 310 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,850
- Median hourly wage: $61.47
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $128,470
- Median hourly wage: $61.77
- Total employment: 750 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $130,940
- Median hourly wage: $62.95
- Total employment: 4,070 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Fire inspectors and investigators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $130,940
- Median hourly wage: $62.95
- Total employment: 250 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Parilov // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $133,080
- Median hourly wage: $63.98
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $133,190
- Median hourly wage: $64.03
- Total employment: 7,860 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $135,990
- Median hourly wage: $65.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

prochasson frederic // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $138,790
- Median hourly wage: $66.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $143,600
- Median hourly wage: $69.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $145,830
- Median hourly wage: $70.11
- Total employment: 190 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $161,700
- Median hourly wage: $77.74
- Total employment: 850 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $164,020
- Median hourly wage: $78.86
- Total employment: 390 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $170,000
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 530 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $173,900
- Median hourly wage: $83.61
- Total employment: 1,720 people (0.72 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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