Highest-paying jobs in Morgantown 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 Morgantown 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.

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Medical equipment preparers

- Median annual wage: $43,530
- Median hourly wage: $20.93
- Total employment: 120 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $43,580
- Median hourly wage: $20.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $43,830
- Median hourly wage: $21.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 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: $44,400
- Median hourly wage: $21.35
- Total employment: 130 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $45,590
- Median hourly wage: $21.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $45,860
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Massage therapists

- Median annual wage: $45,880
- Median hourly wage: $22.06
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $46,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 150 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,060
- Median hourly wage: $22.62
- Total employment: 230 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $47,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $47,530
- Median hourly wage: $22.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vitpho // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $47,570
- Median hourly wage: $22.87
- Total employment: 680 people (10.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $47,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.05
- Total employment: 290 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $47,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.06
- Total employment: 160 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $48,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.08
- Total employment: 160 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $48,300
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,410
- Median hourly wage: $23.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $48,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 480 people (7.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $50,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 120 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Freedomz // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Health technologists and technicians, all other

- Median annual wage: $50,390
- Median hourly wage: $24.23
- Total employment: 100 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $50,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 230 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Shift Drive // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 170 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,670
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $51,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.93
- Total employment: 540 people (8.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $51,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 170 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $53,150
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 160 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 210 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,010
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 730 people (10.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 110 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 280 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SatawatK // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

- Median annual wage: $62,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 150 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 210 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 320 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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rlat // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 140 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $75,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 350 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $81,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,790
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $87,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 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.