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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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Onk-Q // Shutterstock

#50. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $77,650
- Employment: 1,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 18,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
wonderlustpicstravel // Shutterstock

#48 (tie). Subway and streetcar operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $77,830
- Employment: 3,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,770
- Employment: 10,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Canva

#48 (tie). Sound engineering technicians

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $77,830
- Employment: 1,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
4 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#47. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,430
- Employment: 18,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Canva

#46. Tapers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,540
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 17,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
6 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#45. Millwrights

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,750
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#44. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,200
- Employment: 11,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#43. Riggers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,340
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,640
- Employment: 3,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,850
- Employment: 84,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,360
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#39. Food service managers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,940
- Employment: 9,920

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Daniel Tausis // Unsplash

#38. Firefighters

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $81,470
- Employment: 14,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 324,620
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
14 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#37. Electricians

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $82,640
- Employment: 44,330

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#36. Postmasters and mail superintendents

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $82,690
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#35. Insurance sales agents

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $82,910
- Employment: 22,940

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $83,290
- Employment: 25,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#33. Gas plant operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $83,680
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 4,960

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Canva

#31. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,220
- Employment: 1,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
21 / 50
Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

#30. Commercial divers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,780
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,100
- Employment: 3,420
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
22 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $84,950
- Employment: 81,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $86,010
- Employment: 2,300

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
24 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $86,510
- Employment: 3,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

#26. Terrazzo workers and finishers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $86,920
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,340
- Employment: 2,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#25. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $88,010
- Employment: 3,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#24. Advertising sales agents

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $88,030
- Employment: 20,860

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Canva

#23. Boilermakers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $88,500
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

#22. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $90,040
- Employment: 2,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
30 / 50
Unsplash

#21. Structural iron and steel workers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $90,150
- Employment: 4,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#20. Power plant operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $90,240
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Canva

#19. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $92,640
- Employment: 11,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#18. Lodging managers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $93,080
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $94,170
- Employment: 23,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#16. Power distributors and dispatchers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $99,090
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

#15. Ship engineers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $100,020
- Employment: 570

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
37 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#14. Detectives and criminal investigators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $100,550
- Employment: 7,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#13. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $103,180
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,360
- Employment: 5,060
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#12. Real estate sales agents

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $103,700
- Employment: 5,640

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Kokulina // Shutterstock

#11. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $105,070
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,600
- Employment: 3,400
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
41 / 50
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

#10. Insulation workers, mechanical

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $105,820
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,120
- Employment: 26,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $107,190
- Employment: 11,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Pile driver operators

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $107,650
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,230
- Employment: 3,540
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $107,980
- Employment: 23,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $108,460
- Employment: 2,150

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

#5. Real estate brokers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $120,210
- Employment: 2,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $124,040
- Employment: 4,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
48 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $124,710
- Employment: 7,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $129,440
- Employment: 14,430

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

#1. Athletes and sports competitors

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- Annual mean salary: $197,550
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,140
- Employment: 11,330
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential

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