Highest-paying jobs in Memphis 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 Memphis 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.

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 910 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 250 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 500 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 110 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 600 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Jat306 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 190 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 210 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 410 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 220 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 310 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Airfield operations specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.37
- Total employment: 160 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $63,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 150 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $63,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 1,500 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 1,610 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Median annual wage: $64,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 280 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

APChanel // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: Not available

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19 / 50

#32. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $64,470
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 110 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 3,210 people (5.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $65,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 830 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#28. Lodging managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $65,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 150 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Paramedics (tie)

- Median annual wage: $65,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 780 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 8,640 people (13.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Financial clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $66,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vladeep // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Onk-Q // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $71,600
- Median hourly wage: $34.42
- Total employment: 160 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 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: $72,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 7,020 people (11.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $72,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 3,520 people (5.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,890
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 2,520 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 480 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 2,580 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 390 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 140 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.48
- Total employment: 280 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,700
- Median hourly wage: $38.32
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $79,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 920 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,960
- Median hourly wage: $39.41
- Total employment: 850 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,300
- Median hourly wage: $40.05
- Total employment: 500 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

funnyangel // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Fire inspectors and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,320
- Median hourly wage: $40.06
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $85,660
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $89,270
- Median hourly wage: $42.92
- Total employment: 3,100 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $95,750
- Median hourly wage: $46.03
- Total employment: 100 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $101,440
- Median hourly wage: $48.77
- Total employment: 90 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $104,830
- Median hourly wage: $50.40
- Total employment: 1,840 people (2.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $110,990
- Median hourly wage: $53.36
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $158,580
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 190 people (0.31 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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