kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine 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 Portland 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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2 / 50#49. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers
- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 120 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $64,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $64,600
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: Not available
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Magsi // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Median annual wage: $64,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 650 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 170 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 360 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 140 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $65,350
- Median hourly wage: $31.42
- Total employment: 400 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 1,730 people (6.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 1,340 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 460 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $66,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $67,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 2,400 people (8.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $67,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Brokerage clerks
- Median annual wage: $67,730
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $69,550
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 790 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $69,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 320 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $69,860
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 1,780 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $70,940
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 610 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $73,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.24
- Total employment: 180 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $73,640
- Median hourly wage: $35.40
- Total employment: Not available
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 270 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $75,270
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 320 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $76,060
- Median hourly wage: $36.57
- Total employment: 290 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $76,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.87
- Total employment: 1,490 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $76,770
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 170 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
MarijaBazarova // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Skincare specialists
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,360
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 180 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Median annual wage: $78,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.85
- Total employment: Not available
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $79,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 1,520 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,160
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 820 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 1,220 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.03
- Total employment: 160 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,950
- Median hourly wage: $39.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $86,240
- Median hourly wage: $41.46
- Total employment: 100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $91,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 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: $91,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.97
- Total employment: 450 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $93,430
- Median hourly wage: $44.92
- Total employment: 190 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $99,480
- Median hourly wage: $47.83
- Total employment: 140 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $100,320
- Median hourly wage: $48.23
- Total employment: 170 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,820
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $146,830
- Median hourly wage: $70.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 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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