Highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville 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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1 / 50

#50. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 200 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,390 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 1,850 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 3,210 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 1,640 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 1,440 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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8 / 50

#43. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: Not available

SatawatK // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 580 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 820 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 950 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: Not available

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 8,200 people (10.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $63,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 220 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 350 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 250 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 2,340 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 480 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 2,890 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $66,370
- Median hourly wage: $31.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#27. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 270 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,160
- Median hourly wage: $32.77
- Total employment: 1,590 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,790
- Median hourly wage: $33.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $69,250
- Median hourly wage: $33.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.03
- Total employment: 5,070 people (6.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $71,050
- Median hourly wage: $34.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $72,140
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $72,980
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.33
- Total employment: 120 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,630
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 510 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 340 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 3,340 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.31
- Total employment: Not available

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40 / 50

#11. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $86,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.66
- Total employment: 780 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $87,790
- Median hourly wage: $42.21
- Total employment: 510 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,830
- Median hourly wage: $42.23
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $94,310
- Median hourly wage: $45.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 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: $96,050
- Median hourly wage: $46.18
- Total employment: 840 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 1,240 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $106,740
- Median hourly wage: $51.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $109,280
- Median hourly wage: $52.54
- Total employment: 650 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $110,070
- Median hourly wage: $52.92
- Total employment: 180 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $114,750
- Median hourly wage: $55.17
- Total employment: 410 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $123,120
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 people (0.34 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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