Highest-paying jobs in Jackson, Tennessee 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 Jackson 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.

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $48,340
- Median hourly wage: $23.24
- Total employment: 170 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,520
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $48,820
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $49,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.57
- Total employment: 910 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $49,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 100 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.70
- Total employment: 170 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 150 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $50,790
- Median hourly wage: $24.42
- Total employment: 1,820 people (21.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nordroden // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.66
- Total employment: 320 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $51,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.72
- Total employment: 280 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,690
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $53,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.67
- Total employment: 380 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $54,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 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: $54,340
- Median hourly wage: $26.13
- Total employment: 320 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $54,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.23
- Total employment: 210 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $56,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.93
- Total employment: 520 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 130 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $56,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 320 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 270 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,750
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 550 people (6.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,380
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 1,090 people (12.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 90 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 200 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $61,030
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pixel B // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 110 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 450 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,010
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 780 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $66,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 60 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $67,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 230 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,510
- Median hourly wage: $32.46
- Total employment: 410 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 110 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.62
- Total employment: 380 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 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: $75,720
- Median hourly wage: $36.41
- Total employment: 100 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $79,940
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 150 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $79,970
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 80 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $82,550
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 100 people (1.2 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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