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1 / 50#50. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 1,600 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Hartford 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 Hartford 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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2 / 50#49. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Median annual wage: $73,050
- Median hourly wage: $35.12
- Total employment: 120 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $73,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.30
- Total employment: 310 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $73,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 140 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $73,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: Not available
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 1,280 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $75,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Total employment: 440 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $75,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 820 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $75,160
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 930 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $75,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 530 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 8,740 people (14.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $76,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.82
- Total employment: 700 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 280 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $76,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 2,820 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $76,860
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- Total employment: 480 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $76,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 4,140 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 940 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 130 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 2,890 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 500 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 2,680 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 140 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: Not available
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welcomia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $80,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 330 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 380 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $82,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 290 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50#22. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $82,860
- Median hourly wage: $39.84
- Total employment: 2,080 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $83,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 3,840 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $84,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.44
- Total employment: 730 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Neale Cousland // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $84,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $84,540
- Median hourly wage: $40.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 2,180 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $85,340
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Total employment: 210 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $85,520
- Median hourly wage: $41.11
- Total employment: 2,360 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $86,620
- Median hourly wage: $41.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $87,090
- Median hourly wage: $41.87
- Total employment: 460 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $87,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.97
- Total employment: 2,230 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $90,420
- Median hourly wage: $43.47
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $95,470
- Median hourly wage: $45.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,650
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 340 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $99,520
- Median hourly wage: $47.85
- Total employment: 160 people (0.26 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: $99,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.96
- Total employment: 390 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $102,260
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $104,120
- Median hourly wage: $50.06
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $107,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.85
- Total employment: 940 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $111,900
- Median hourly wage: $53.80
- Total employment: 360 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $113,970
- Median hourly wage: $54.80
- Total employment: 710 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $227,140
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 80 people (0.14 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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