Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $37,340
- Median hourly wage: $17.95
- Total employment: 700 people (25.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Sebring 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 Sebring 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 campgrounds in the Sebring area by visitors
DC Studio // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $37,710
- Median hourly wage: $18.13
- Total employment: 30 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $38,020
- Median hourly wage: $18.28
- Total employment: 30 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Construction laborers
- Median annual wage: $38,070
- Median hourly wage: $18.30
- Total employment: 220 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $38,760
- Median hourly wage: $18.64
- Total employment: 80 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Sebring
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Medical records specialists
- Median annual wage: $38,950
- Median hourly wage: $18.73
- Total employment: 50 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,250
- Median hourly wage: $18.87
- Total employment: 40 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DuxX // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Butchers and meat cutters
- Median annual wage: $39,410
- Median hourly wage: $18.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $39,820
- Median hourly wage: $19.14
- Total employment: 40 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $40,710
- Median hourly wage: $19.57
- Total employment: 110 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Sebring
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,390
- Median hourly wage: $19.90
- Total employment: 100 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $41,420
- Median hourly wage: $19.91
- Total employment: 90 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks
- Median annual wage: $42,490
- Median hourly wage: $20.43
- Total employment: 290 people (10.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $42,810
- Median hourly wage: $20.58
- Total employment: 110 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $42,940
- Median hourly wage: $20.64
- Total employment: 90 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Sebring by diners
Vitpho // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $43,150
- Median hourly wage: $20.74
- Total employment: 230 people (8.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $43,260
- Median hourly wage: $20.80
- Total employment: 310 people (11.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $43,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,670
- Median hourly wage: $21.00
- Total employment: 40 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Tellers
- Median annual wage: $44,040
- Median hourly wage: $21.17
- Total employment: 60 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in the Sebring area by diners
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $44,300
- Median hourly wage: $21.30
- Total employment: 50 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $45,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 130 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $45,960
- Median hourly wage: $22.10
- Total employment: 40 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $45,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 190 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $46,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.46
- Total employment: 100 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sebring that require a bachelor's degree
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $46,850
- Median hourly wage: $22.52
- Total employment: 50 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $46,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.56
- Total employment: 230 people (8.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 40 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $47,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Total employment: 30 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $47,700
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 70 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Sebring
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $48,940
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 70 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 70 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $50,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 40 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $50,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 40 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $51,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 290 people (10.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Sebring's 2025 housing market year in review
Prath // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 70 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.70
- Total employment: 130 people (4.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $53,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 70 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 30 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $55,010
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 190 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Sebring are looking to buy homes
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $56,060
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 240 people (8.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 100 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 70 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $56,730
- Median hourly wage: $27.28
- Total employment: 40 people (1.25 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: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 120 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Sebring
pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 150 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $59,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 50 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 160 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $90,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.43
- Total employment: 30 people (1.19 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: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Sebring
