Gorgev // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $58,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Naples 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 Naples 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Naples that require a graduate degree
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 90 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $58,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 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: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 950 people (5.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Naples?
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,370
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 440 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $59,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Dental assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 510 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,850
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Naples
SritanaN // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 140 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 110 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $60,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 150 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Naples metro area
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 580 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,470
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 1,040 people (6.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 400 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $62,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $62,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Naples
Kot500 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
22 / 50#28. Postal service clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $64,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 460 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Naples
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 280 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $64,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 1,610 people (9.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 1,660 people (9.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $68,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 390 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Naples
SatawatK // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $70,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.75
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $70,920
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 800 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $72,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.62
- Total employment: 120 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 680 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 560 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Naples metro area
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $74,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 600 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.53
- Total employment: 2,030 people (11.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.35
- Total employment: 620 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $77,850
- Median hourly wage: $37.43
- Total employment: 300 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Naples
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $79,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.03
- Total employment: 590 people (3.43 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: $80,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 150 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,610
- Median hourly wage: $40.68
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Paramedics
- Median annual wage: $90,170
- Median hourly wage: $43.35
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $90,890
- Median hourly wage: $43.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Naples October 2025
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,250
- Median hourly wage: $46.76
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $99,000
- Median hourly wage: $47.60
- Total employment: 140 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: $48.19
- Total employment: 190 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $114,850
- Median hourly wage: $55.22
- Total employment: 200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $131,010
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (1.1 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.
You may also like: Where people in Naples are looking to buy homes
