Highest-paying jobs in San Antonio 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 San Antonio 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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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,620
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 4,130 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $59,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

First Class Photography // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ImYanis // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 2,390 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 1,960 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 1,380 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $60,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 6,010 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 260 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.41
- Total employment: 1,470 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 3,150 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Fortish // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 250 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 2,830 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $62,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 13,590 people (12.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.28
- Total employment: 3,870 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $66,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Total employment: 300 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 110 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 810 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.85
- Total employment: 740 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 2,100 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $68,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 240 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $70,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.02
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 4,920 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,120
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 5,630 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.70
- Total employment: 5,910 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.38
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,220
- Median hourly wage: $35.68
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $74,700
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 1,810 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $76,040
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 140 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 730 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $79,610
- Median hourly wage: $38.27
- Total employment: 180 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,150
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 4,820 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $82,910
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 1,600 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $84,060
- Median hourly wage: $40.41
- Total employment: 290 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $84,290
- Median hourly wage: $40.52
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Suwin // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 80 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.65
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $95,660
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $100,190
- Median hourly wage: $48.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $103,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.98
- Total employment: 370 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $107,360
- Median hourly wage: $51.62
- Total employment: 230 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

- Median annual wage: $125,230
- Median hourly wage: $60.21
- Total employment: 100 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $139,550
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 260 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.