Highest-paying jobs in Atlanta that don't require a college degree

Written by:
January 4, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Atlanta that don't require a college degree

From the moment they first set foot 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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 non-degree 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 2019 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Atlanta that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Canva

#50. Tool and die makers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $53,520
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
2 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#48 (tie). Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $53,810
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#48 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $53,810
- Employment: 5,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#47. Electricians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $54,060
- Employment: 11,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#46. Brokerage clerks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $54,440
- Employment: 670

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#45. Postal service clerks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $54,660
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#44. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $54,820
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,030
- Employment: 6,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
9 / 50
Canva

#42. Fire inspectors and investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,310
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
10 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,520
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
11 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#40. Computer user support specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,570
- Employment: 17,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
12 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#39. Advertising sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,690
- Employment: 2,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#38. Flight attendants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,810
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,230
- Employment: 120,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#37. Real estate sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,360
- Employment: 6,930

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
wonderlustpicstravel // Shutterstock

#36. Subway and streetcar operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,770
- Employment: 10,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#35. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,620
- Employment: 3,250

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#34. Private detectives and investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#33. Chefs and head cooks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 1,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Motorcycle mechanics

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,530
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,970
- Employment: 15,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
20 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 31,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#30. Food service managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $59,980
- Employment: 6,020

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#29. Real estate brokers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,470
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#28. Insurance sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,830
- Employment: 9,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#27. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $61,450
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $62,680
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

#25. Airfield operations specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $63,790
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,620
- Employment: 10,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $63,880
- Employment: 10,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Canva

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $65,360
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- Employment: 9,790
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
29 / 50
U.S. Air Force

#22. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $65,830
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
30 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $65,920
- Employment: 9,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,660
- Employment: 30,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#19. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,680
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 13,750
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
33 / 50
Canva

#18. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,850
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Canva

#17. Sound engineering technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $67,630
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
35 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $67,990
- Employment: 11,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $69,030
- Employment: 9,860

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#14. Detectives and criminal investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $69,620
- Employment: 2,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $69,990
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $70,660
- Employment: 33,300

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#11. Hearing aid specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#10. Power plant operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $71,980
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Canva

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $73,510
- Employment: 3,610

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#8. Lodging managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $74,140
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $75,410
- Employment: 4,230

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#6. Occupational health and safety technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $75,550
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $78,470
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
47 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#4. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $81,930
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $91,180
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $118,800
- Employment: 3,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#1. Commercial pilots

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $139,920
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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