Highest-paying jobs in Longview 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 Longview 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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Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 160 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 110 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Bigflick // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $60,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 100 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $60,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 750 people (18.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 140 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 130 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 240 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 260 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 40 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $66,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 180 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 630 people (15.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

18 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,770
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $69,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 180 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,870
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.92
- Total employment: 180 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,560
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 130 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 110 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Funtay // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

- Median annual wage: $72,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $74,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.81
- Total employment: 90 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 140 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 110 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 170 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 360 people (8.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 350 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Spates // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Chemical equipment operators and tenders (tie)

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 170 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $83,870
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 270 people (6.63 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: $85,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 430 people (10.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,490
- Median hourly wage: $41.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,850
- Median hourly wage: $42.23
- Total employment: 50 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $89,340
- Median hourly wage: $42.95
- Total employment: 510 people (12.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $91,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.04
- Total employment: 160 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $93,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.13
- Total employment: 110 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $95,500
- Median hourly wage: $45.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Victor Moussa // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Firefighters

- Median annual wage: $97,460
- Median hourly wage: $46.86
- Total employment: 100 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 240 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $106,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.29
- Total employment: 350 people (8.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $119,120
- Median hourly wage: $57.27
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

50 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $131,310
- Median hourly wage: $63.13
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 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.