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

Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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Unsplash

#50. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $66,380
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,380
- Employment: 11,080
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

2 / 50

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#49. Advertising sales agents

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $66,520
- Employment: 6,640

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

3 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#48. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $66,700
- Employment: 9,740

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

4 / 50

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $67,710
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

5 / 50

curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

#46. Ship engineers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award

6 / 50

Kzenon // Shutterstock

#45. Stonemasons

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,070
- Employment: 12,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

7 / 50

Canva

#44. Transportation inspectors

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $68,210
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Canva

#43. Glaziers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $68,970
- Employment: 1,020

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,810
- Employment: 52,400
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

9 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#42. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- Employment: data not available

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

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Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

#41. Carpenters

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $70,190
- Employment: 20,120

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,850
- Employment: 734,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#40. Insurance sales agents

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $70,880
- Employment: 12,940

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

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Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#39. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $70,930
- Employment: 3,530

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

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,310
- Employment: 57,050

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

14 / 50

Canva

#37. Plasterers and stucco masons

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,360
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,710
- Employment: 27,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,790
- Employment: 10,470

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

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#35. Sheet metal workers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,990
- Employment: 4,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,480
- Employment: 131,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

17 / 50

Canva

#34. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $72,100
- Employment: 4,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,330
- Employment: 196,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

18 / 50

Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

#33. Commercial divers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $72,230
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,100
- Employment: 3,420
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award

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Canva

#32. Construction and building inspectors

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,840

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

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Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

#31. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $74,160
- Employment: 1,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,100
- Employment: 33,550
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

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Canva

#30. Pipelayers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $74,440
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,600
- Employment: 36,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

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michaeljung // Shutterstock

#29. Power plant operators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $75,710
- Employment: 510

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

23 / 50

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $76,020
- Employment: 6,210

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

24 / 50

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $76,900
- Employment: 770

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

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Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#26. Riggers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

26 / 50

John Leung // Shutterstock

#25. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $78,470
- Employment: 2,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Canva

#24. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $78,950
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,620
- Employment: 15,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#23. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $79,550
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

29 / 50

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

#22. Terrazzo workers and finishers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,300
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,340
- Employment: 2,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#21. Electricians

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 19,390

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

31 / 50

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#20. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,570
- Employment: 720

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

32 / 50

Pixabay

#19. Gambling managers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $82,340
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,700
- Employment: 4,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

33 / 50

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $82,650
- Employment: 6,200

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

34 / 50

Canva

#17. Tapers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $85,000
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 17,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

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Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#16. Power distributors and dispatchers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $85,340
- Employment: 240

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

36 / 50

Unsplash

#15. Structural iron and steel workers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $85,510
- Employment: 2,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

37 / 50

Canva

#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $86,190
- Employment: 8,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

38 / 50

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $86,430
- Employment: 8,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

39 / 50

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#12. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $86,600
- Employment: 1,280

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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Prath // Shutterstock

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $88,890
- Employment: 2,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

41 / 50

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $89,120
- Employment: 1,980

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

42 / 50

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#9. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $89,470
- Employment: 14,260

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

43 / 50

Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $89,820
- Employment: 270

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

44 / 50

Canva

#7. Pile driver operators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $92,260
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,230
- Employment: 3,540
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

45 / 50

Canva

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $94,140
- Employment: 560

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

46 / 50

Onk-Q // Shutterstock

#5. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $96,220
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 18,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

47 / 50

U.S. Air Force

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $99,610
- Employment: 2,770

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $104,440
- Employment: 7,250

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $111,910
- Employment: 4,370

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

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $112,550
- Employment: 410

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

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