Highest-paying jobs in Boston 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 Boston 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.

ITisha // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $79,600
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $79,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Total employment: 350 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 25,020 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $79,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,880
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: Not available

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 520 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $81,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 12,790 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $81,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 1,640 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $81,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Total employment: 4,450 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $83,450
- Median hourly wage: $40.12
- Total employment: 12,540 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials

- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $83,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.21
- Total employment: 11,320 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $84,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.44
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 330 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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mrak.hr // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $84,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.77
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Radovan1 / Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $85,810
- Median hourly wage: $41.26
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $86,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.36
- Total employment: 3,200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $86,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.75
- Total employment: 3,000 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $88,090
- Median hourly wage: $42.35
- Total employment: 9,160 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $88,130
- Median hourly wage: $42.37
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $91,290
- Median hourly wage: $43.89
- Total employment: Not available

John Leung // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $91,880
- Median hourly wage: $44.17
- Total employment: 730 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $92,870
- Median hourly wage: $44.65
- Total employment: 410 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,490
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 4,970 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $93,550
- Median hourly wage: $44.98
- Total employment: 350 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,730
- Median hourly wage: $45.06
- Total employment: 1,080 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $95,690
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 1,410 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

motodan // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Hoist and winch operators

- Median annual wage: $96,030
- Median hourly wage: $46.17
- Total employment: Not available

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $96,450
- Median hourly wage: $46.37
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 2,390 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $98,550
- Median hourly wage: $47.38
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,430
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 14,540 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,680
- Median hourly wage: $49.85
- Total employment: 1,780 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $104,370
- Median hourly wage: $50.18
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $105,080
- Median hourly wage: $50.52
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $106,210
- Median hourly wage: $51.06
- Total employment: 210 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $107,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.49
- Total employment: 3,570 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $107,650
- Median hourly wage: $51.76
- Total employment: 690 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $107,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.77
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $108,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.36
- Total employment: Not available

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42 / 50

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $111,460
- Median hourly wage: $53.59
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $115,240
- Median hourly wage: $55.41
- Total employment: 5,060 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $115,430
- Median hourly wage: $55.50
- Total employment: 1,420 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $115,760
- Median hourly wage: $55.66
- Total employment: 3,160 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $116,900
- Median hourly wage: $56.20
- Total employment: 1,450 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

- Median annual wage: $118,550
- Median hourly wage: $56.99
- Total employment: 220 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Parilov // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $118,960
- Median hourly wage: $57.19
- Total employment: 170 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $143,180
- Median hourly wage: $68.84
- Total employment: Not available

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50 / 50

#1. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $147,760
- Median hourly wage: $71.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 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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