Highest-paying jobs in Kingsport that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Kingsport that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Kingsport that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Kingsport that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $44,800
- Median hourly wage: $21.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $44,930
- Median hourly wage: $21.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $44,990
- Median hourly wage: $21.63
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $45,010
- Median hourly wage: $21.64
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 300 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#46. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $45,100
- Median hourly wage: $21.68
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 540 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $45,200
- Median hourly wage: $21.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $45,620
- Median hourly wage: $21.93
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,680 people (14.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $45,870
- Median hourly wage: $22.06
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $46,550
- Median hourly wage: $22.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $46,560
- Median hourly wage: $22.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $46,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.49
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $46,830
- Median hourly wage: $22.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $46,880
- Median hourly wage: $22.54
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 400 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $47,010
- Median hourly wage: $22.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $48,340
- Median hourly wage: $23.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $48,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 590 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $48,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.43
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 310 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#31. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $49,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 380 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#30. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $49,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 510 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Median annual wage: $50,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 80 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $50,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 550 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $51,170
- Median hourly wage: $24.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $51,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 70 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $52,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.05
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $52,490
- Median hourly wage: $25.23
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $52,670
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 450 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $53,860
- Median hourly wage: $25.90
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 100 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $54,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,600 people (14.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $55,530
- Median hourly wage: $26.70
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $55,810
- Median hourly wage: $26.83
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $56,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#15. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 510 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $59,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 560 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $59,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (7.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 60 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $61,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 430 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 70 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 940 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $78,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.98
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 100 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $101,930
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
