Highest-paying jobs in Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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.

manine99 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $53,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Total employment: 170 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $53,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 820 people (6.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: Not available

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,960
- Median hourly wage: $26.90
- Total employment: 360 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 490 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $56,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 1,630 people (12.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $56,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 1,640 people (12.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#40. Occupational health and safety technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 160 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 200 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $58,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $58,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

- Median annual wage: $59,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 390 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $59,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 250 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 320 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 510 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 230 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 130 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 520 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 790 people (6.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 220 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 410 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 240 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $64,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 1,380 people (10.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 300 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 2,430 people (18.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 530 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $68,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.06
- Total employment: 760 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 2,290 people (17.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 270 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.63
- Total employment: 160 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,690
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 400 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 530 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

- Median annual wage: $91,900
- Median hourly wage: $44.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $92,660
- Median hourly wage: $44.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)