College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in California, Maryland that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in California, Maryland that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (17.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,510
- Median hourly wage: $21.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,860
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
New Africa // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,970
- Median hourly wage: $22.10
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Canva
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,130
- Median hourly wage: $22.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.30
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,040
- Median hourly wage: $22.61
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,430
- Median hourly wage: $22.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
4 PM production // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,560
- Median hourly wage: $22.87
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 200 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.17
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,230
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Freedomz // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
fizkes // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,520
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Kzenon // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,970
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Vitpho // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,230
- Median hourly wage: $24.15
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 190 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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Kot500 // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,780
- Median hourly wage: $24.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,270
- Median hourly wage: $25.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
XiXinXing // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $53,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Stokkete // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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rlat // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,200
- Median hourly wage: $26.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
David Spates // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,210
- Median hourly wage: $26.54
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 210 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 90 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
pio3 // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.58
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 240 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,420
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,820
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,770
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 170 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $85,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $86,500
- Median hourly wage: $41.59
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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santi lumubol // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $96,260
- Median hourly wage: $46.28
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 320 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $103,480
- Median hourly wage: $49.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $107,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
socrates471 // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $124,610
- Median hourly wage: $59.91
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Skycolors // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $160,080
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 120 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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