
Highest-paying jobs in Dallas that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Dallas that don't require a college degree
From the moment they arrive on campus, 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.
To find the highest paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don’t require higher education. All 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 that didn’t list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $58,810
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,910
- Employment: 7,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($61,370)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($58,810)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($56,960)

#49. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $58,870
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,290
- Employment: 317,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,150)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,470)
#48. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,400
- Employment: 10,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($75,030)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($69,840)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($68,630)

#47. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Annual mean salary: $60,060
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,340
- Employment: 2,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)
#46. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $60,580
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 25,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)
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#45. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $60,640
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 43,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#44. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $60,650
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
#43. Flight attendants
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,280
- Employment: 96,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($94,320)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($72,130)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($67,620)

#42. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $61,230
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,250
- Employment: 101,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#41. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Annual mean salary: $62,510
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,080
- Employment: 8,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($79,660)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($72,800)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($71,910)
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#40. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $62,700
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,960
- Employment: 10,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($75,130)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($73,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,300)

#39. Tax preparers
- Annual mean salary: $62,820
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,080
- Employment: 83,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)

#38. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Annual mean salary: $62,870
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 11,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($89,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,970)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($86,050)

#37. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $63,060
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)
#36. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $63,650
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 46,560
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,380
- Employment: 1,443,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)
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#35. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $63,680
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

#34. Bailiffs
- Annual mean salary: $63,690
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 16,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($69,600)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,050)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($66,980)

#33. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $65,900
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,590
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 629,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)

#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $66,270
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 33,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,026,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)
#31. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $67,440
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)
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#30. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $67,560
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)
#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $67,730
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,480
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#28. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $68,750
- #243 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#27. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $69,300
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

#26. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $69,830
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,480
- Employment: 117,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)
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#25. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $69,950
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 3,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,140)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($76,210)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($74,210)

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $70,860
- #269 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,830
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $71,840
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)

#22. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $72,280
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- Employment: 54,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

#21. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $72,290
- #188 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 14,640
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)
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#20. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $72,370
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $72,740
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)

#18. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $77,140
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,650
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,470
- Employment: 125,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,470)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($86,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,860)

#16. Wellhead pumpers
- Annual mean salary: $77,750
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,170
- Employment: 16,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($77,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($75,610)
--- Midland, TX ($74,690)
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#15. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $78,490
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#14. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $79,030
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#13. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $79,910
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)

#12. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $82,720
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#11. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $83,380
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)
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#10. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,560
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,550
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)

#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,760
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $89,950
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $90,900
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)
#6. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Annual mean salary: $96,990
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,240
- Employment: 12,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,910)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($100,060)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,120)
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#5. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $104,290
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)
#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $104,490
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#3. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $108,650
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,740
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,610
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#1. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $120,230
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
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