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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#49 (tie). Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $59,440
- Employment: 1,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 123,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Bigflick // Shutterstock

#49 (tie). Correctional officers and jailers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $59,440
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,130
- Employment: 423,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

#48. Carpenters

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $59,510
- Employment: 7,200

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,120
- Employment: 14,100

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

#46. Plasterers and stucco masons

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,310
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,710
- Employment: 27,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
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Canva

#45. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $60,340
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
7 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $61,240
- Employment: 50

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

#43. Transportation inspectors

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $61,680
- Employment: 340

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

#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $62,230
- Employment: 2,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 3,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#40. Insurance sales agents

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $62,780
- Employment: 3,030

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

#39. Traffic technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $62,900
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,590
- Employment: 7,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,050
- Employment: 4,960

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Canva

#37. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,210
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,330
- Employment: 196,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
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Canva

#36. Pipelayers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,490
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,600
- Employment: 36,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
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Canva

#35. Chemical plant and system operators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,730
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 28,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#34. Millwrights

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,780
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $63,870
- Employment: 7,200

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $64,100
- Employment: 1,320

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
20 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $65,010
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Fire inspectors and investigators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $65,700
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
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Canva

#29. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $65,860
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,730
- Employment: 4,200
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
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Canva

#28. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $66,880
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 3,440
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#27. Food service managers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 1,440

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

#26. Gas plant operators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#25. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#24. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $68,490
- Employment: 2,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#23. Electricians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $69,140
- Employment: 4,610

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $71,460
- Employment: 11,590

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

#21. Real estate sales agents

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $71,950
- Employment: 1,670

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $72,310
- Employment: 4,170

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $72,720
- Employment: 5,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $75,140
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
34 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $76,240
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
35 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#16. Power distributors and dispatchers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $76,460
- Employment: 90

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

#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $78,600
- Employment: 800

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#14. Power plant operators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $79,880
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,160
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
39 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#12. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $80,250
- Employment: 820

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
40 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $82,020
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Canva

#10. Boilermakers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $85,140
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
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Canva

#9. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $87,620
- Employment: data not available

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $88,310
- Employment: 2,520

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $88,620
- Employment: 570

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $89,390
- Employment: 60

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

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

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $90,320
- Employment: 1,350

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

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $91,710
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $96,740
- Employment: 760

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

#2. Commercial pilots

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $100,590
- Employment: 230

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

#1. Real estate brokers

Pittsburgh, PA
- Annual mean salary: $105,640
- Employment: data not available

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

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