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1 / 50#50. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $64,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 230 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Atlantic City 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 Atlantic City 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.
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $64,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: 650 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $64,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ibnu alias // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 170 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $65,500
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 110 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Locksmiths and safe repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $65,740
- Median hourly wage: $31.60
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $67,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.63
- Total employment: 250 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $68,030
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $69,020
- Median hourly wage: $33.19
- Total employment: 280 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $69,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 540 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 320 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Scarc // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $71,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
THINK A // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Building cleaning workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.60
- Total employment: Not available
John Leung // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $72,820
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $72,870
- Median hourly wage: $35.04
- Total employment: 220 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $73,060
- Median hourly wage: $35.13
- Total employment: 520 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 1,090 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 230 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Socrates471 // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Audio and video technicians
- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 600 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 600 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 340 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 540 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Josep Suria // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $80,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 350 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $80,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 310 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $82,000
- Median hourly wage: $39.43
- Total employment: 380 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $83,230
- Median hourly wage: $40.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Nagaiets // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Lighting technicians
- Median annual wage: $83,340
- Median hourly wage: $40.07
- Total employment: 240 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
brizmaker // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Roofers
- Median annual wage: $87,790
- Median hourly wage: $42.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $89,990
- Median hourly wage: $43.27
- Total employment: Not available
Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Home appliance repairers
- Median annual wage: $91,230
- Median hourly wage: $43.86
- Total employment: Not available
santi lumubol // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $92,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.32
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $97,120
- Median hourly wage: $46.69
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
HannaTor // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $97,550
- Median hourly wage: $46.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mahc // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $97,830
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $98,880
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 760 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $100,470
- Median hourly wage: $48.30
- Total employment: 140 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,140
- Median hourly wage: $49.59
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $111,800
- Median hourly wage: $53.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $122,550
- Median hourly wage: $58.92
- Total employment: 150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $130,650
- Median hourly wage: $62.81
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $131,340
- Median hourly wage: $63.15
- Total employment: 290 people (1.76 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.
