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

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

Highest-paying jobs in Austin 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 Austin that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#50. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $51,300
- Employment: 3,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#49. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $51,330
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#48. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $51,440
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#47. Postal service mail carriers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,030
- Employment: 1,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#46. Occupational health and safety technicians

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,380
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,660
- Employment: 1,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
7 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#44. Computer user support specialists

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,690
- Employment: 8,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
8 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#43. Electricians

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $53,260
- Employment: 4,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#42. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $53,340
- Employment: 4,290

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,890
- Employment: 655,330
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
10 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#41. Industrial machinery mechanics

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $54,240
- Employment: 1,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $54,330
- Employment: 13,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock

#39. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $55,100
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,370
- Employment: 51,160
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#38. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,060
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 142,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#37. Insurance sales agents

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,310
- Employment: 2,800

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
16 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

#35. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,770
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#34. Chefs and head cooks

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,190
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#33. Lodging managers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,530
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,790
- Employment: 8,720

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Canva

#31. Sound engineering technicians

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,830
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
21 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $60,090
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Unsplash

#29. Crane and tower operators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $60,400
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $60,500
- Employment: 8,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Canva

#27. Construction and building inspectors

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,110
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Canva

#26. Fire inspectors and investigators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,530
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
26 / 50
Daniel Tausis // Unsplash

#25. Firefighters

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $62,750
- Employment: 2,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 324,620
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
27 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#24. Advertising sales agents

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $63,310
- Employment: 1,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#23. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $63,710
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
29 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,360
- Employment: 11,540

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,710
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,720
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Canva

#19. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,980
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
33 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#18. Food service managers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 1,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,090
- Employment: 2,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,750
- Employment: 5,070

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $66,790
- Employment: 3,150

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

#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $67,480
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

#13. Commercial divers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $68,380
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,100
- Employment: 3,420
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
39 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#12. Power distributors and dispatchers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,110
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#11. Real estate sales agents

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $71,810
- Employment: 1,890

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $72,650
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
42 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $73,800
- Employment: 1,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 2,740

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#7. Power plant operators

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $74,540
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Canva

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $77,090
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Canva

#5. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $79,360
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
47 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,140
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
48 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $94,350
- Employment: 740

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $94,750
- Employment: 590

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

#1. Commercial pilots

Austin-Round Rock, TX
- Annual mean salary: $103,100
- Employment: 80

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

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