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

Written by:
January 5, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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Canva

#50. Fire inspectors and investigators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $51,040
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
2 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#49. Postal service clerks

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $51,670
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

#48. Carpenters

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $51,780
- Employment: 2,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,850
- Employment: 734,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#47. Millwrights

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $51,840
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#46. Food service managers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,400
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#45. Postal service mail carriers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,480
- Employment: 1,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $52,840
- Employment: 740

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
8 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#43. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,000
- Employment: 1,580

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
wandee007 // Shutterstock

#42. Earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,040
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- Employment: 24,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Canva

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,120
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Unsplash

#40. Athletes and sports competitors

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,190
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,140
- Employment: 11,330
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
12 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#39. Chefs and head cooks

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,360
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#38. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $53,980
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 29,420
- 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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $54,720
- Employment: 3,430

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

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,160
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $55,900
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
17 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,200
- Employment: 6,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Canva

#33. Construction and building inspectors

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,340
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#32. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,440
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#31. Electricians

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,580
- Employment: 4,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#30. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,590
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#29. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $56,690
- Employment: 2,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#28. Insurance sales agents

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,400
- Employment: 1,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Canva

#27. Chemical plant and system operators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,880
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 28,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#26. Real estate sales agents

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $57,900
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $59,100
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Canva

#24. Tool and die makers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $60,910
- Employment: 600

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
28 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#23. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,540
- Employment: 87,120
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#22. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,220
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,230
- Employment: 3,850

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

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,250
- Employment: 770

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

#19. Sound engineering technicians

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
33 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $65,190
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#17. Power plant operators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $66,820
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#16. Real estate brokers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $67,810
- Employment: 2,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $68,350
- Employment: 2,460

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

#13. Boilermakers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $68,620
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $68,810
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- 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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $70,370
- Employment: 7,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $70,600
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
42 / 50
Canva

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $77,070
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#8. Commercial pilots

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $77,200
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#7. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $79,380
- Employment: 1,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
45 / 50
Canva

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $79,750
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $81,920
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $86,810
- Employment: 1,190

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $89,110
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $93,600
- Employment: 810

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

#1. Transportation inspectors

Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN
- Annual mean salary: $97,950
- Employment: 130

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

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