College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Greeley that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Greeley that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,730
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,730
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 200 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 440 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 340 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
alexkich // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,250
- Median hourly wage: $26.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 240 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,800
- Median hourly wage: $26.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 120 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
rlat // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.21
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SatawatK // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 90 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Kot500 // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 350 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,030 people (9.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.12
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 440 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 140 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 150 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 480 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
John Leung // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 590 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,900
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,080 people (10.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,470
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 350 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
sculpies // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,800 people (16.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
pio3 // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 460 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 680 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Prath // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $79,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $79,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 540 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,040
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.65
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 850 people (7.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $87,190
- Median hourly wage: $41.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $102,650
- Median hourly wage: $49.35
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 120 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
michaeljung // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $104,690
- Median hourly wage: $50.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $104,860
- Median hourly wage: $50.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $116,770
- Median hourly wage: $56.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $127,030
- Median hourly wage: $61.07
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
