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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#50. Advertising sales agents

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 1,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Unsplash

#49. Structural iron and steel workers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,030
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Canva

#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,120
- Employment: 2,830

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Canva

#47. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,200
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,970
- Employment: 6,440
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 15,610

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Canva

#45. Plasterers and stucco masons

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,710
- Employment: 27,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
7 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#44. Private detectives and investigators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,040
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,060
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#42. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $61,470
- Employment: 4,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#41. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $63,820
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#40. Model makers, metal and plastic

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,220
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 4,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Tapers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,620
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 17,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
13 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#38. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,670
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 16,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

#36. Airfield operations specialists

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,050
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,620
- Employment: 10,680
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#35. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $66,820
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 13,750
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
17 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#34. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $68,030
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $68,600
- Employment: 5,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#32. Food service managers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $68,820
- Employment: 2,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#31. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $69,190
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#30. Electricians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $69,360
- Employment: 10,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#29. Millwrights

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $69,380
- Employment: 1,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,020
- Employment: 1,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,930
- Employment: 13,450

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Canva

#26. Fire inspectors and investigators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $71,030
- Employment: 170

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

#25. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $71,490
- Employment: 1,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
27 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $72,660
- Employment: 6,560

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#23. Insurance sales agents

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 5,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Canva

#22. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $73,400
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
30 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#21. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $74,490
- Employment: 1,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $75,040
- Employment: 3,240

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $75,620
- Employment: 6,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#18. Gas plant operators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $76,340
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Canva

#17. Boilermakers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $76,670
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $77,860
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
36 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,020
- Employment: 22,580

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Pixabay

#14. Gambling managers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,130
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,700
- Employment: 4,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#13. Lodging managers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,810
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#12. Real estate brokers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,830
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $85,100
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#10. Commercial pilots

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $85,390
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $87,210
- Employment: 4,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#8. Power plant operators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $87,580
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Canva

#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $87,650
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Canva

#6. Transportation inspectors

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $91,650
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $92,120
- Employment: 700

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

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $92,130
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $94,470
- Employment: 1,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $102,150
- Employment: 130

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

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
- Annual mean salary: $104,300
- Employment: 1,690

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

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