Highest-paying jobs in Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga 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.

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $50,820
- Median hourly wage: $24.43
- Total employment: 80 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $51,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 250 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 1,450 people (5.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 620 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 130 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $52,990
- Median hourly wage: $25.48
- Total employment: 190 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $53,330
- Median hourly wage: $25.64
- Total employment: 170 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $53,690
- Median hourly wage: $25.81
- Total employment: 5,550 people (20.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $55,660
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 660 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 280 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $56,450
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 200 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 590 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 1,330 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $57,540
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 1,460 people (5.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SatawatK // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 120 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $58,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 200 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 840 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)

- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 1,710 people (6.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electricians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 2,060 people (7.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 340 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,410
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 160 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 300 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 1,270 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Transportation security screeners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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manine99 // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 190 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.82
- Total employment: 1,810 people (6.71 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: $62,240
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 4,150 people (15.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 430 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 420 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $66,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 360 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $67,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.63
- Total employment: 190 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $67,920
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 130 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,950
- Median hourly wage: $34.11
- Total employment: 1,100 people (4.09 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: $71,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.20
- Total employment: 1,310 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $74,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.60
- Total employment: 430 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 630 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $76,100
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: Not available

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 170 people (0.63 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: $83,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 340 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $84,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $85,330
- Median hourly wage: $41.02
- Total employment: 360 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $98,220
- Median hourly wage: $47.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $153,600
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 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.