Highest-paying jobs in Norwich 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 Norwich 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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fizkes // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 490 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 540 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 320 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 100 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,200
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 130 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,380
- Median hourly wage: $31.43
- Total employment: 530 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $65,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 260 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 100 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 190 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $65,880
- Median hourly wage: $31.67
- Total employment: 800 people (6.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,750
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 210 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $66,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.11
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $68,660
- Median hourly wage: $33.01
- Total employment: 570 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $68,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $69,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 330 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $69,510
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 1,610 people (12.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $70,260
- Median hourly wage: $33.78
- Total employment: 760 people (6.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $71,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.19
- Total employment: 650 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $72,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.02
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 940 people (7.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 130 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $74,200
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $75,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 230 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 190 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $76,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 160 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $76,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $77,560
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,710
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 110 people (0.91 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: $77,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $80,250
- Median hourly wage: $38.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $81,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $82,980
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Total employment: 610 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $84,620
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 270 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,750
- Median hourly wage: $40.74
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,100
- Median hourly wage: $40.91
- Total employment: 100 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $87,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $87,580
- Median hourly wage: $42.11
- Total employment: 70 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $92,060
- Median hourly wage: $44.26
- Total employment: 480 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,430
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 450 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,910
- Median hourly wage: $45.63
- Total employment: 100 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $95,310
- Median hourly wage: $45.82
- Total employment: 110 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,100
- Median hourly wage: $47.16
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $102,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.25
- Total employment: 1,070 people (8.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $106,250
- Median hourly wage: $51.08
- Total employment: 160 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $107,960
- Median hourly wage: $51.91
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

50 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $111,200
- Median hourly wage: $53.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 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.