Highest-paying jobs in Reading 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 Reading 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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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 390 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 260 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 150 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $59,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 180 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 150 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 950 people (5.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $61,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 540 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nordroden // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#37. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 430 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $61,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 300 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 210 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 540 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,840
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.25
- Total employment: 420 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 240 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $64,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 760 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 1,570 people (9.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 730 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 1,590 people (9.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Med Photo Studio // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Textile knitting and weaving machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 260 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $64,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.61
- Total employment: 880 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 940 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 750 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $66,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.98
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,440
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $68,820
- Median hourly wage: $33.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $71,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.18
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 1,620 people (9.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $77,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,480
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 670 people (3.93 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: $80,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.85
- Total employment: 690 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,070
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $87,930
- Median hourly wage: $42.28
- Total employment: 640 people (3.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,150
- Median hourly wage: $46.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $97,930
- Median hourly wage: $47.08
- Total employment: 180 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $99,310
- Median hourly wage: $47.75
- Total employment: 230 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $107,310
- Median hourly wage: $51.59
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $108,050
- Median hourly wage: $51.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $130,880
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 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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