Highest-paying jobs in Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls 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.

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $45,360
- Median hourly wage: $21.81
- Total employment: 180 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $45,980
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

XiXinXing // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Medical records specialists

- Median annual wage: $46,020
- Median hourly wage: $22.12
- Total employment: 100 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $46,060
- Median hourly wage: $22.14
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,430
- Median hourly wage: $22.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $46,530
- Median hourly wage: $22.37
- Total employment: 350 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $46,570
- Median hourly wage: $22.39
- Total employment: 120 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $46,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 160 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Paramedics

- Median annual wage: $46,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $46,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Total employment: 240 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 160 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#36. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,050
- Median hourly wage: $23.10
- Total employment: 70 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,050
- Median hourly wage: $23.10
- Total employment: 140 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $48,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.39
- Total employment: 150 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $48,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.42
- Total employment: 170 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 730 people (12.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $49,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.70
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $49,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 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: $50,340
- Median hourly wage: $24.20
- Total employment: 280 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 550 people (9.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 230 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $52,250
- Median hourly wage: $25.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $53,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,150
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Total employment: 270 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 160 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $54,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 90 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 650 people (11.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $55,670
- Median hourly wage: $26.77
- Total employment: 190 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $56,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 110 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $56,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 610 people (10.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $57,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 130 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 270 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 250 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 320 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 70 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: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 290 people (5.11 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: $68,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Total employment: 70 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 420 people (7.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)