Highest-paying jobs in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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.

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Said M // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 870 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 820 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 1,930 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 3,690 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $62,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.82
- Total employment: 980 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ITisha // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Nagaiets // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Lighting technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 8,550 people (12.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 170 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 880 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 450 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 1,630 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#34. Sheet metal workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 2,070 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Art of pixels // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#34. Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Studio 72 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#34. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 2,650 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 1,140 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 290 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 2,620 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $67,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.62
- Total employment: 250 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 500 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

- Median annual wage: $69,780
- Median hourly wage: $33.55
- Total employment: 380 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $70,650
- Median hourly wage: $33.97
- Total employment: 100 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $72,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $72,330
- Median hourly wage: $34.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $72,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 120 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $72,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 580 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $73,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.25
- Total employment: 150 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.79
- Total employment: 3,280 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $74,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 180 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $74,980
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 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: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 4,410 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.70
- Total employment: 2,860 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 680 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

- Median annual wage: $79,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $80,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 670 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 1,470 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 160 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,690
- Median hourly wage: $40.72
- Total employment: 120 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $88,390
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 110 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $94,170
- Median hourly wage: $45.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $98,030
- Median hourly wage: $47.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $98,850
- Median hourly wage: $47.52
- Total employment: 720 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,100
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 840 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $102,160
- Median hourly wage: $49.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $105,860
- Median hourly wage: $50.89
- Total employment: 840 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $134,410
- Median hourly wage: $64.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $160,200
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 150 people (0.22 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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