Highest-paying jobs in Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids 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.

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Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 170 people (1.2 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: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 630 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 120 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 480 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 480 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 320 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 420 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 260 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $61,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 90 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santi lumubol // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: Not available

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 70 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $62,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 120 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kitreel // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 510 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 770 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#32. Crane and tower operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: Not available

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 140 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 930 people (6.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $64,050
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 130 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 1,540 people (11.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 1,080 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $66,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $66,850
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 290 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.48
- Total employment: 830 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $70,330
- Median hourly wage: $33.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,830
- Median hourly wage: $34.54
- Total employment: 70 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $73,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 490 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $74,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 450 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $74,540
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $75,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 190 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $76,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.61
- Total employment: 510 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 220 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $78,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 870 people (6.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 510 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,760
- Median hourly wage: $38.83
- Total employment: 1,230 people (8.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $80,910
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 280 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $98,870
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 200 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $99,340
- Median hourly wage: $47.76
- Total employment: 110 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $101,520
- Median hourly wage: $48.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $109,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.84
- Total employment: 120 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $132,110
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.27 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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