Highest-paying jobs in Cape Girardeau that don't require a college degree

·Stacker

insta_photos // Shutterstock
insta_photos // Shutterstock

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 Cape Girardeau 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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#50. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

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1 / 50

#50. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $45,870
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 330 people (7.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

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2 / 50

#49. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,020
- Median hourly wage: $22.13
- Total employment: 90 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

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3 / 50

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,110
- Median hourly wage: $22.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Highway maintenance workers

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4 / 50

#47. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $47,320
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 100 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,490
- Median hourly wage: $22.83
- Total employment: 50 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general

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6 / 50

#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $47,580
- Median hourly wage: $22.88
- Total employment: 470 people (10.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Advertising sales agents

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7 / 50

#44. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.18
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

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8 / 50

#43. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $48,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 110 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Cement masons and concrete finishers

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9 / 50

#42. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $48,450
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Security and fire alarm systems installers

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11 / 50

#40. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $48,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 30 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

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12 / 50

#39. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $49,070
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Total employment: 140 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Medical records specialists

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13 / 50

#38. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 70 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Paramedics

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14 / 50

#37. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $49,610
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Surgical technologists

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16 / 50

#35. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $49,770
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Total employment: 70 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 400 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,670
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 180 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Machinists

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19 / 50

#32. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $51,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 70 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,380
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 110 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Construction laborers

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22 / 50

#29. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $55,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Total employment: 210 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

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23 / 50

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $56,120
- Median hourly wage: $26.98
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

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24 / 50

#27. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 70 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Automotive body and related repairers

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26 / 50

#25. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $56,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 60 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

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27 / 50

#24. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $56,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 50 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

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28 / 50

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $57,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 110 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 120 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

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31 / 50

#20. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 350 people (7.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Electricians

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32 / 50

#19. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $58,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.96
- Total employment: 140 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Painters, construction and maintenance

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33 / 50

#18. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $58,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 90 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 340 people (7.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 170 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Carpenters

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37 / 50

#14. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 210 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

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38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Postal service mail carriers

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39 / 50

#12. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 130 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 240 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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#10. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

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41 / 50

#10. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Sheet metal workers

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42 / 50

#9. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Insurance sales agents

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43 / 50

#8. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $65,360
- Median hourly wage: $31.43
- Total employment: 130 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Industrial machinery mechanics

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44 / 50

#7. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,680
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: 70 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $71,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,160
- Median hourly wage: $34.69
- Total employment: 170 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

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47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

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48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 150 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

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49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $97,140
- Median hourly wage: $46.70
- Total employment: 50 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,000
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 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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