Highest-paying jobs in Gainesville 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 Gainesville 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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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $49,520
- Median hourly wage: $23.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $49,770
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Total employment: 140 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,010
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 570 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,210
- Median hourly wage: $24.14
- Total employment: 540 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $50,370
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $50,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.30
- Total employment: 380 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.97
- Total employment: 310 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $52,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $53,080
- Median hourly wage: $25.52
- Total employment: 80 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,480
- Median hourly wage: $25.71
- Total employment: 980 people (6.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 380 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $54,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.33
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. File clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,650
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 200 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $55,670
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 500 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $56,380
- Median hourly wage: $27.11
- Total employment: 700 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 330 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.53
- Total employment: 830 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,920
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 150 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 170 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 740 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $58,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,130
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 390 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Socrates471 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Audio and video technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 110 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $59,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 1,390 people (9.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 290 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 360 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 460 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 490 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 570 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 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: $65,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 900 people (5.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $67,010
- Median hourly wage: $32.22
- Total employment: 90 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,020
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 120 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $73,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 230 people (1.54 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: $76,540
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 140 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $81,570
- Median hourly wage: $39.22
- Total employment: 120 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $88,250
- Median hourly wage: $42.43
- Total employment: 140 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $92,460
- Median hourly wage: $44.45
- Total employment: 130 people (0.89 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.