Highest-paying jobs in Spartanburg 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 Spartanburg 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.

Jat306 // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $50,250
- Median hourly wage: $24.16
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $50,880
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 780 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $51,040
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 12,640 people (77.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 150 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,790
- Median hourly wage: $24.90
- Total employment: 450 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $52,500
- Median hourly wage: $25.24
- Total employment: 1,980 people (12.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $52,690
- Median hourly wage: $25.33
- Total employment: 400 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $53,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.58
- Total employment: 350 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aleksandr Rybalko // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $53,350
- Median hourly wage: $25.65
- Total employment: 200 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 3,590 people (21.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $55,100
- Median hourly wage: $26.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,250
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,150
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 880 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $56,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 490 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.12
- Total employment: 340 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $57,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 360 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 350 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $57,710
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 660 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Joey Chung // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 980 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 180 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 190 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 320 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $60,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 500 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 1,120 people (6.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $61,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 270 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 690 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.18
- Total employment: 260 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 470 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 1,270 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $64,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $64,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 120 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $66,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 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: $67,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 1,580 people (9.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $69,540
- Median hourly wage: $33.43
- Total employment: 130 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 110 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,410
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: 760 people (4.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $78,260
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 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: $78,620
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 1,660 people (10.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,750
- Median hourly wage: $38.34
- Total employment: 770 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,020
- Median hourly wage: $39.91
- Total employment: 120 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $87,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,940
- Median hourly wage: $42.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,610
- Median hourly wage: $50.77
- Total employment: 290 people (1.78 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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