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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Canva

#50. Tool and die makers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,310
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
2 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#49. Postal service mail carriers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,360
- Employment: 2,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,240
- Employment: 1,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Scott Olson // Getty Images

#47. Engine and other machine assemblers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,500
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,570
- Employment: 45,980
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#46. Millwrights

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,560
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#45. Sheet metal workers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,980
- Employment: 1,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,480
- Employment: 131,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#44. Chefs and head cooks

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $54,260
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Zephyris // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $54,640
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,990
- Employment: 28,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
David Spates // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,440
- Employment: 2,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- Employment: 342,040
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
10 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,470
- Employment: 4,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Daniel Tausis // Unsplash

#39 (tie). Firefighters

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,740
- Employment: 3,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 324,620
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
12 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

#39 (tie). Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,740
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
13 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#38. Industrial machinery mechanics

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,020
- Employment: 2,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Canva

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,560
- Employment: 2,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,060
- Employment: 2,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Canva

#35. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,830
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- Employment: 9,790
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
17 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#34. Food service managers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $58,350
- Employment: 890

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#33. Advertising sales agents

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $58,830
- Employment: 1,190

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#32. Electricians

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $58,870
- Employment: 5,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Canva

#31. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,010
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
21 / 50
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#30. Riggers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,220
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#29. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,760
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

#28. Insulation workers, mechanical

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $60,390
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,120
- Employment: 26,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#27. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $61,040
- Employment: 2,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#26. Commercial pilots

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $61,400
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $62,200
- Employment: 10,510

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

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $63,280
- Employment: 4,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#23. Hearing aid specialists

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,880
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 8,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $65,250
- Employment: 3,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $65,600
- Employment: 4,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Insurance sales agents

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $65,950
- Employment: 4,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Igor_Koptilin // Shutterstock

#19. Gambling surveillance officers and gambling investigators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,030
- Employment: 10,280
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $69,160
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Unsplash

#17. Crane and tower operators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $69,230
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#16. Gas plant operators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $70,760
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $70,790
- Employment: 8,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $72,130
- Employment: 980

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Canva

#13. Transportation inspectors

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $76,490
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Canva

#12. Boilermakers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $77,800
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $78,370
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#10. Power plant operators

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $78,410
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $79,640
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $79,830
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $82,730
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $83,830
- Employment: 1,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $84,060
- Employment: 10,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $84,950
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
48 / 50
Canva

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $85,540
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $92,560
- Employment: 890

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

#1. Real estate brokers

Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Annual mean salary: $118,170
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

Trending Now