Highest-paying jobs in Rockford 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 Rockford 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.

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $57,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.52
- Total employment: 800 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $57,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.57
- Total employment: 720 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 410 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $57,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 100 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $59,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $59,710
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 1,490 people (10.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 210 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 320 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 170 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 310 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $60,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 140 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 90 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Tree trimmers and pruners

- Median annual wage: $61,570
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $61,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 170 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $61,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 520 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 210 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 1,440 people (10.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 820 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $65,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 160 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $65,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 140 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,520
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 230 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $68,020
- Median hourly wage: $32.70
- Total employment: 1,080 people (7.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $68,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.95
- Total employment: 190 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $69,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $71,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 120 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 180 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 970 people (6.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 500 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 360 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 100 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,410
- Median hourly wage: $38.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 440 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.69
- Total employment: 430 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 600 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Millwrights (tie)

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $82,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.50
- Total employment: 180 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $96,740
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 280 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 420 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $101,030
- Median hourly wage: $48.57
- Total employment: 180 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $102,560
- Median hourly wage: $49.31
- Total employment: 230 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $105,380
- Median hourly wage: $50.67
- Total employment: 120 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $119,440
- Median hourly wage: $57.42
- Total employment: 80 people (0.55 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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