Highest-paying jobs in Houma 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 Houma 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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Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $49,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Total employment: 2,330 people (28.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,610
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 100 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 90 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 410 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $50,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.17
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $50,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 570 people (6.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $51,050
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 80 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $52,430
- Median hourly wage: $25.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $52,460
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: Not available

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adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 140 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $52,920
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 420 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $52,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 280 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $53,940
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 530 people (6.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.99
- Total employment: 200 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 820 people (9.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $54,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.39
- Total employment: 640 people (7.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $54,950
- Median hourly wage: $26.42
- Total employment: 510 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,190
- Median hourly wage: $26.53
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $55,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.63
- Total employment: 170 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 1,440 people (17.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,560
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 550 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,680
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 160 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#24. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 80 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Sheet metal workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,810
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 150 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Said M // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 1,030 people (12.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 310 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 420 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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David Spates // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 310 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 730 people (8.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 680 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,070
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 130 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,940
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 490 people (5.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $72,500
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 550 people (6.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,590
- Median hourly wage: $36.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $76,280
- Median hourly wage: $36.68
- Total employment: 150 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $76,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 100 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $101,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Total employment: 1,760 people (21.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,540
- Median hourly wage: $50.74
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $107,710
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 200 people (2.38 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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