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

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January 4, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,040
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#49. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,070
- Employment: 1,720

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#48. Industrial machinery mechanics

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,390
- Employment: 4,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#47. Community health workers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,430
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- Employment: 58,950
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Canva

#46. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,510
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,580
- Employment: 44,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Canva

#45. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,670
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,630
- Employment: 45,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $50,980
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#43. Computer user support specialists

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,260
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
9 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#42. Advertising sales agents

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,590
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#41. Model makers, metal and plastic

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,720
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 4,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#40. Postal service mail carriers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $51,840
- Employment: 1,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $52,270
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
13 / 50
Canva

#38. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $52,730
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
14 / 50
Canva

#37. Tool and die makers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $52,790
- Employment: 2,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
15 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#36. Millwrights

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,080
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

#35. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,370
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,110
- Employment: 139,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,580
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Canva

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $53,740
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,620
- Employment: 15,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Pixabay

#32. Meter readers, utilities

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $54,540
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,250
- Employment: 30,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#31. Lodging managers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $55,100
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Construction and building inspectors

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $55,490
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Bigflick // Shutterstock

#29. Correctional officers and jailers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $55,530
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,130
- Employment: 423,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
David Spates // Shutterstock

#28. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,120
- Employment: 1,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- Employment: 342,040
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
24 / 50
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

#27. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#26. Chefs and head cooks

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,630
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $56,960
- Employment: 4,250

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $59,180
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $60,840
- Employment: 2,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $63,030
- Employment: 1,020

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $63,850
- Employment: 5,580

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#20. Food service managers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,090
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $64,650
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,730
- Employment: 3,110

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Canva

#17. Boilermakers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,780
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#16. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $65,790
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $67,940
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
37 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Insurance sales agents

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $70,710
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Canva

#13. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $71,370
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $73,000
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $74,150
- Employment: 8,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $74,580
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#9. Real estate brokers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,210
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#8. Gas plant operators

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $78,380
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $80,390
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $86,870
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#5. Commercial pilots

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $87,430
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Canva

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $90,570
- Employment: 170

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

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

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $91,600
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $103,120
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
- Annual mean salary: $105,710
- Employment: data not available

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

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