Highest-paying jobs in Springfield 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 Springfield 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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Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $52,530
- Median hourly wage: $25.26
- Total employment: 130 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $52,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Total employment: 6,550 people (29.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 110 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $53,590
- Median hourly wage: $25.77
- Total employment: 980 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 110 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $54,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Sound engineering technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 1,880 people (8.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 800 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 510 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $57,060
- Median hourly wage: $27.44
- Total employment: 470 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,080
- Median hourly wage: $27.44
- Total employment: 250 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $57,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $57,390
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 980 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 230 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $57,760
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 670 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 1,240 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $58,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 250 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 900 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 100 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,690
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 870 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 1,800 people (8.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 890 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 190 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Pixel B // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $59,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 180 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitreel // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $60,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 290 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 230 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 320 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 120 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 120 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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santi lumubol // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 230 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 160 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 270 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 940 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 130 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $66,060
- Median hourly wage: $31.76
- Total employment: 400 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,780
- Median hourly wage: $33.55
- Total employment: 780 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $71,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.40
- Total employment: 130 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 200 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 730 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $94,320
- Median hourly wage: $45.35
- Total employment: 210 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,590
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Total employment: 170 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $102,170
- Median hourly wage: $49.12
- Total employment: 290 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $111,980
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 60 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $125,530
- Median hourly wage: $60.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 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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