Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 310 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Green Bay 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 Green Bay 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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GolF2532 // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 1,350 people (7.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 410 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorgev // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mahc // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $61,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 770 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 2,330 people (13.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 310 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Community health workers
- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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rlat // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 1,070 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $64,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $65,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $65,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 1,470 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 210 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 320 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $70,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.09
- Total employment: 360 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Massage therapists
- Median annual wage: $71,710
- Median hourly wage: $34.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles
- Median annual wage: $72,410
- Median hourly wage: $34.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $72,620
- Median hourly wage: $34.91
- Total employment: 220 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 1,830 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Motortion Films // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Personal care and service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $74,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 840 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $74,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Total employment: 460 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $75,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: 230 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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muratart // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $80,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Total employment: 880 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $80,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.57
- Total employment: 590 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Jat306 // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $81,710
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.51
- Total employment: 610 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $82,980
- Median hourly wage: $39.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
M2020 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $83,170
- Median hourly wage: $39.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Total employment: 740 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Prath // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $91,410
- Median hourly wage: $43.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $94,210
- Median hourly wage: $45.29
- Total employment: 300 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $95,940
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 380 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $97,910
- Median hourly wage: $47.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 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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