4 PM production // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Median annual wage: $52,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Total employment: 370 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Wausau 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 Wausau 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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Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Median annual wage: $53,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.48
- Total employment: 800 people (11.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $53,170
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 250 people (3.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $53,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.67
- Total employment: 910 people (12.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $54,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.37
- Total employment: 140 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.48
- Total employment: 280 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $55,370
- Median hourly wage: $26.62
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $55,600
- Median hourly wage: $26.73
- Total employment: 280 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $55,970
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 120 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $56,060
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $56,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Shift Drive // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Computer user support specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 280 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $56,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.20
- Total employment: 120 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vitpho // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $56,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.39
- Total employment: 1,370 people (19.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,790
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 70 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $57,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $57,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 140 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 180 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SatawatK // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $58,770
- Median hourly wage: $28.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $58,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $59,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Spates // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 140 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
RossHelen // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 420 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 320 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $62,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 260 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 550 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Tool and die makers
- Median annual wage: $63,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 580 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 100 people (1.38 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: $65,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 970 people (13.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gerain0812 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Surgical technologists
- Median annual wage: $66,790
- Median hourly wage: $32.11
- Total employment: 100 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 210 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Vera Larina // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $68,800
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Total employment: 90 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $68,970
- Median hourly wage: $33.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 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: $72,370
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 990 people (14.1 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: $77,730
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 270 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 470 people (6.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 90 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.52
- Total employment: 410 people (5.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $78,250
- Median hourly wage: $37.62
- Total employment: 220 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $79,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.02
- Total employment: 240 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $80,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 190 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.81
- Total employment: 120 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Tyler Olson // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $85,890
- Median hourly wage: $41.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $88,610
- Median hourly wage: $42.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $96,390
- Median hourly wage: $46.34
- Total employment: 150 people (2.14 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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