College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Danville that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Danville that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Danville
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,650
- Median hourly wage: $18.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Kitreel // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,080
- Median hourly wage: $18.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (10.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,210
- Median hourly wage: $18.37
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,580
- Median hourly wage: $18.55
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,070 people (41.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,000
- Median hourly wage: $18.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Where people in Danville are looking to buy homes
Canva
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,510
- Median hourly wage: $19.00
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 920 people (35.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $40,190
- Median hourly wage: $19.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 230 people (8.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
DuxX // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $41,100
- Median hourly wage: $19.76
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (6.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $41,540
- Median hourly wage: $19.97
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 370 people (14.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $42,070
- Median hourly wage: $20.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 160 people (6.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Coat drives near Danville
Canva
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $42,070
- Median hourly wage: $20.23
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $42,240
- Median hourly wage: $20.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,970
- Median hourly wage: $21.14
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 30 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,450
- Median hourly wage: $21.85
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 390 people (15.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Danville 7-day weather forecast
4 PM production // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,590
- Median hourly wage: $21.92
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 150 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Stokkete // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,610
- Median hourly wage: $21.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,870
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 80 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,940
- Median hourly wage: $22.09
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,170
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 370 people (14.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Danville
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,970
- Median hourly wage: $22.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Vitpho // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 590 people (22.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Danville in the last week
Canva
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,080
- Median hourly wage: $23.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Freedomz // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,210
- Median hourly wage: $23.66
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
New Africa // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
SritanaN // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,840
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Danville's 2025 housing market year in review
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,550
- Median hourly wage: $24.79
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,590
- Median hourly wage: $25.29
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Danville this year
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.30
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
David Spates // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,780
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.35
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,620
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (8.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.76
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 240 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Danville in the last week
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Jat306 // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
pio3 // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,170
- Median hourly wage: $33.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (6.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Danville metro area
Kot500 // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $71,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $72,450
- Median hourly wage: $34.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $80,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $90,520
- Median hourly wage: $43.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $109,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Danville
