Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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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1 / 50

#50. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $62,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 990 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 1,340 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: Not available

SritanaN // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 6,810 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 420 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Josep Suria // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: Not available

prochasson frederic // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $66,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 170 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $66,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 260 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $66,630
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 1,210 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $67,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $67,410
- Median hourly wage: $32.41
- Total employment: 540 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glen Jones // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Layout workers, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 570 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electrical power-line installers and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 480 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,970
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 660 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $68,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Total employment: 550 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,630
- Median hourly wage: $34.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 360 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $74,200
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 1,000 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Commercial divers

- Median annual wage: $75,030
- Median hourly wage: $36.07
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 610 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $76,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $77,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 2,490 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrei Agape // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Avionics technicians

- Median annual wage: $78,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 110 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Skycolors // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Commercial pilots

- Median annual wage: $78,560
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 230 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,820
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: 3,580 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Ship engineers

- Median annual wage: $79,540
- Median hourly wage: $38.24
- Total employment: 1,340 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $80,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 300 people (0.4 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: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 5,880 people (7.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

- Median annual wage: $82,660
- Median hourly wage: $39.74
- Total employment: 1,730 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Magsi // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

- Median annual wage: $83,470
- Median hourly wage: $40.13
- Total employment: 140 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,040
- Median hourly wage: $40.40
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.8 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: $86,670
- Median hourly wage: $41.67
- Total employment: 730 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,960
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 440 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

O.PASH // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $94,390
- Median hourly wage: $45.38
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Ground Picture // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,130
- Median hourly wage: $46.22
- Total employment: 630 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulai Studio // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $98,910
- Median hourly wage: $47.56
- Total employment: 290 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

socrates471 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $99,920
- Median hourly wage: $48.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Suwin // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $101,960
- Median hourly wage: $49.02
- Total employment: 240 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)