Highest-paying jobs in Lexington 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 Lexington 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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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 1,350 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 420 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 330 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 530 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 1,290 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 1,090 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 980 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 2,000 people (7.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $59,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 200 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 780 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,370
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 190 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 640 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 260 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 740 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 650 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Structural iron and steel workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,860 people (10.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 190 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 320 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,020 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#24. Real estate brokers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Postal service clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 240 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 570 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: Not available

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 900 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 230 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $67,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 210 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $71,650
- Median hourly wage: $34.45
- Total employment: 120 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,850
- Median hourly wage: $34.54
- Total employment: 1,240 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 420 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,720
- Median hourly wage: $34.96
- Total employment: 370 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,210
- Median hourly wage: $35.20
- Total employment: 1,190 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 180 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,040
- Median hourly wage: $37.52
- Total employment: 1,990 people (7.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $78,840
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 310 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $86,530
- Median hourly wage: $41.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 220 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $94,780
- Median hourly wage: $45.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $104,150
- Median hourly wage: $50.07
- Total employment: 300 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $122,390
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 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.