Highest-paying jobs in Ithaca 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 Ithaca 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.

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Social and human service assistants

- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.75
- Total employment: 320 people (6.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peakstock // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Ophthalmic medical technicians

- Median annual wage: $49,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 60 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $49,820
- Median hourly wage: $23.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 540 people (11.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santypan // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bartenders

- Median annual wage: $49,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 280 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $51,110
- Median hourly wage: $24.57
- Total employment: 270 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vasin Lee // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Residential advisors

- Median annual wage: $51,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 110 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $51,810
- Median hourly wage: $24.91
- Total employment: 80 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 110 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 260 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $53,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $53,850
- Median hourly wage: $25.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $54,610
- Median hourly wage: $26.26
- Total employment: 210 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $56,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.39
- Total employment: 200 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 80 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 110 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $59,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 70 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Socrates471 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Audio and video technicians

- Median annual wage: $59,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#29. Tax preparers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 70 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: Not available

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 50 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 130 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 200 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $61,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 520 people (10.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 230 people (4.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 120 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of personal service workers

- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 580 people (12.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 100 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 120 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 110 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 220 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $71,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.49
- Total employment: 100 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,650
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 160 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 120 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 190 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $80,260
- Median hourly wage: $38.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,380
- Median hourly wage: $42.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $100,780
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 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.