Highest-paying jobs in Stockton 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 Stockton 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.

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $67,880
- Median hourly wage: $32.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Stonemasons

- Median annual wage: $68,360
- Median hourly wage: $32.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $68,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.88
- Total employment: 2,380 people (8.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $69,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.50
- Total employment: 600 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $70,010
- Median hourly wage: $33.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorgev // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $71,230
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $71,340
- Median hourly wage: $34.30
- Total employment: 510 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 190 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.67
- Total employment: 190 people (0.67 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: $72,340
- Median hourly wage: $34.78
- Total employment: 2,440 people (8.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,580
- Median hourly wage: $35.38
- Total employment: 1,080 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.74
- Total employment: 2,110 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 1,160 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $75,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $75,560
- Median hourly wage: $36.33
- Total employment: 1,390 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $75,650
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 90 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $75,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $76,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 840 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $77,100
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 310 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $77,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.27
- Total employment: 130 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $77,810
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 160 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 160 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $78,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 770 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 630 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

- Median annual wage: $79,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.24
- Total employment: 160 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 240 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $79,970
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $80,280
- Median hourly wage: $38.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $82,960
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.50
- Total employment: 1,160 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,870
- Median hourly wage: $40.81
- Total employment: 150 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $89,190
- Median hourly wage: $42.88
- Total employment: 150 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,810
- Median hourly wage: $43.18
- Total employment: 130 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,890
- Median hourly wage: $43.22
- Total employment: 990 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Goldsithney // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Psychiatric technicians

- Median annual wage: $91,910
- Median hourly wage: $44.19
- Total employment: 370 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,500
- Median hourly wage: $46.40
- Total employment: 1,000 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $97,200
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 280 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,580
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 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: $101,610
- Median hourly wage: $48.85
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $102,720
- Median hourly wage: $49.39
- Total employment: 1,000 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $103,100
- Median hourly wage: $49.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $111,630
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $112,690
- Median hourly wage: $54.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $114,420
- Median hourly wage: $55.01
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $123,940
- Median hourly wage: $59.59
- Total employment: 230 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $132,240
- Median hourly wage: $63.58
- Total employment: 140 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $135,290
- Median hourly wage: $65.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 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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