Highest-paying jobs in Corvallis 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 Corvallis 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.

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $48,160
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 300 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $48,350
- Median hourly wage: $23.24
- Total employment: 480 people (12.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,410
- Median hourly wage: $23.28
- Total employment: 70 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,490
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of personal service workers

- Median annual wage: $48,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Library technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 60 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,880
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Total employment: 40 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

- Median annual wage: $48,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 150 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $49,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.61
- Total employment: 60 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $49,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Total employment: 130 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $49,580
- Median hourly wage: $23.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 110 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $50,240
- Median hourly wage: $24.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $50,730
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 40 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $51,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.77
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $51,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 80 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Dental assistants

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 100 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,810
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 60 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 90 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,700
- Median hourly wage: $26.78
- Total employment: 150 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $55,750
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $56,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $56,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 80 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 80 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 200 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 130 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 50 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 200 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 70 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 110 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 50 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 110 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $62,750
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 230 people (6.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 260 people (6.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $69,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.54
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 60 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 80 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $75,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,420
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 140 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $78,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,010
- Median hourly wage: $38.95
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $83,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.23
- Total employment: 70 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $93,680
- Median hourly wage: $45.04
- Total employment: 110 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $97,320
- Median hourly wage: $46.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $98,610
- Median hourly wage: $47.41
- Total employment: 110 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $123,720
- Median hourly wage: $59.48
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 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.