Highest-paying jobs in Miami 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 Miami 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. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 720 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 28,750 people (10.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 1,330 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 10,260 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 2,280 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $64,740
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: Not available

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8 / 50

#43. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $65,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 920 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 1,400 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 1,360 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $66,780
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 6,850 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $67,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.58
- Total employment: 170 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 3,660 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $68,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 460 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Sound engineering technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 300 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $70,270
- Median hourly wage: $33.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 5,870 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $71,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.49
- Total employment: 5,370 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $72,250
- Median hourly wage: $34.74
- Total employment: 1,150 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 18,070 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 5,820 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 2,950 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $75,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 5,280 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 11,460 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,220
- Median hourly wage: $36.64
- Total employment: 460 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Magsi // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $79,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Total employment: 6,610 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 720 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 590 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: Not available

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33 / 50

#18. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $82,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.83
- Total employment: 760 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $84,450
- Median hourly wage: $40.60
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

#16. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $85,080
- Median hourly wage: $40.90
- Total employment: 860 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $87,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $93,910
- Median hourly wage: $45.15
- Total employment: 1,640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $94,290
- Median hourly wage: $45.33
- Total employment: 19,300 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $96,550
- Median hourly wage: $46.42
- Total employment: 5,050 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $99,280
- Median hourly wage: $47.73
- Total employment: 4,400 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $100,440
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $103,340
- Median hourly wage: $49.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $103,390
- Median hourly wage: $49.71
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $105,460
- Median hourly wage: $50.70
- Total employment: 860 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $108,650
- Median hourly wage: $52.24
- Total employment: 370 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $113,800
- Median hourly wage: $54.71
- Total employment: 2,030 people (0.73 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: $118,310
- Median hourly wage: $56.88
- Total employment: 2,950 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $130,010
- Median hourly wage: $62.51
- Total employment: 2,570 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $149,870
- Median hourly wage: $72.05
- Total employment: 1,780 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $157,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,340 people (1.2 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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