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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Pxhere

#50. Maintenance workers, machinery

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $38,740
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,450
- Employment: 72,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Kot500 // Shutterstock

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $38,790
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,360
- Employment: 266,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $39,320
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 142,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
London Metropolitan Archives/Heritage Images // Getty Images

#47. Machinists

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $39,430
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 383,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Pixabay

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $39,820
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,190
- Employment: 410,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $40,330
- Employment: 180

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

#44. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $40,480
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,280
- Employment: 257,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#43. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $40,790
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- Employment: 370,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Canva

#42. Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $41,200
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,070
- Employment: 98,260
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
10 / 50
giocalde // Shutterstock

#41. Printing press operators

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $41,560
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,100
- Employment: 173,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $41,740
- Employment: 1,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Construction and building inspectors

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $42,650
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#38. Community health workers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $43,460
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- Employment: 58,950
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#37. Computer user support specialists

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $43,890
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
15 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#35 (tie). Food service managers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,150
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#35 (tie). Advertising sales agents

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,150
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
US Air Force

#34. Prepress technicians and workers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,350
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,540
- Employment: 30,270
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
18 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,490
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,510
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,630
- Employment: 36,290
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#31. Industrial machinery mechanics

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,770
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#30. Electricians

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $44,790
- Employment: 280

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

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $46,630
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $46,760
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#27. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $47,040
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Canva

#26. Cargo and freight agents

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $47,220
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,770
- Employment: 95,810
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Said M // Shutterstock

#25. Service unit operators, oil and gas

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $47,700
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,390
- Employment: 51,760
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
27 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $47,950
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Pixabay

#23. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $48,090
- Employment: 4,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,850
- Employment: 1,856,130
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
29 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $48,780
- Employment: 1,170

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

#21. Postal service clerks

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $48,910
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $48,940
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $48,970
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
33 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $49,470
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. Insurance sales agents

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $49,750
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Unsplash

#16. Crane and tower operators

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $50,180
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $50,600
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
37 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $51,290
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#13. Postal service mail carriers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $51,570
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Brian S. Hagberg // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Self-enrichment teachers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $53,930
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,120
- Employment: 252,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Canva

#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#10. Private detectives and investigators

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $55,220
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Canva

#9. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $56,440
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,070
- Employment: 21,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
43 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $57,610
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 1,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $60,260
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $63,550
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $69,230
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $70,150
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $73,220
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Fort Smith, AR-OK
- Annual mean salary: $83,020
- Employment: 100

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

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