David Spates // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $47,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.01
- Total employment: 580 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Ocala 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 Ocala 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-rated Asian restaurants in Ocala by diners
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $48,170
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 590 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $48,330
- Median hourly wage: $23.24
- Total employment: Not available
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 880 people (7.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Loan interviewers and clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Ocala area by diners
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
6 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,660
- Median hourly wage: $23.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,660
- Median hourly wage: $23.39
- Total employment: 240 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $48,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $48,910
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 140 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,060
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Total employment: 170 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best restaurants for 7 cuisines in Ocala
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $49,460
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Recreational vehicle service technicians
- Median annual wage: $49,630
- Median hourly wage: $23.86
- Total employment: 130 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $49,770
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Total employment: 2,010 people (16.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sandyman // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Motorcycle mechanics
- Median annual wage: $49,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Ocala by diners
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $51,010
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $51,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 320 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $51,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $52,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Total employment: 330 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $52,670
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Ocala
Kot500 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $53,270
- Median hourly wage: $25.61
- Total employment: 290 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $54,950
- Median hourly wage: $26.42
- Total employment: 570 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $55,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.51
- Total employment: 140 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $55,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.63
- Total employment: 330 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $55,940
- Median hourly wage: $26.90
- Total employment: 90 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Ocala area by diners
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $56,250
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 510 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $57,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.62
- Total employment: 560 people (4.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $57,780
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Total employment: 500 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $57,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Ocala
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,080
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 430 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 1,230 people (10.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $58,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 140 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 310 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Ocala by diners
Prath // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $58,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.32
- Total employment: 980 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $59,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 150 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $59,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 180 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Ocala's 2025 housing market year in review
sculpies // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 900 people (7.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Total employment: 110 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $65,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 150 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $67,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 780 people (6.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $67,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.63
- Total employment: 500 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Ocala by diners
goodluz // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 180 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 110 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,610
- Median hourly wage: $39.23
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 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: $93,430
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 100 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $97,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.74 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: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in the Ocala area by diners
