Highest-paying jobs in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids 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.

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 100 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 580 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 1,610 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 1,090 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 210 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 570 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 440 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 3,350 people (5.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 1,090 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 2,980 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 1,440 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 1,660 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 440 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 300 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Radovan1 / Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 70 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 300 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $63,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.58
- Total employment: 470 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.69
- Total employment: 3,720 people (6.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Total employment: 3,090 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 330 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $64,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 980 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $65,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 1,110 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Grand Rapids 7-day weather forecast

Vladeep // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $65,330
- Median hourly wage: $31.41
- Total employment: 140 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $67,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 280 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,900
- Median hourly wage: $32.65
- Total employment: 5,100 people (9.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $68,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.79
- Total employment: 90 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,410
- Median hourly wage: $33.37
- Total employment: 7,050 people (12.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 230 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $72,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.67
- Total employment: 1,790 people (3.19 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: $75,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 2,340 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,270
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 190 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 150 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Grand Rapids

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,300
- Median hourly wage: $36.68
- Total employment: 480 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 600 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $77,470
- Median hourly wage: $37.24
- Total employment: 1,470 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 2,320 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,890
- Median hourly wage: $39.37
- Total employment: 230 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.88
- Total employment: Not available

Prath // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,740
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 120 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $96,900
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,910
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,770
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Total employment: 240 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $100,860
- Median hourly wage: $48.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $100,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $101,550
- Median hourly wage: $48.82
- Total employment: 230 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $113,310
- Median hourly wage: $54.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $189,090
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 100 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.