Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine that don't require a college degree

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

Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Maine 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 Portland, Maine 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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 340

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

#49. Mechanical door repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $50,580
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,740
- Employment: 23,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Canva

#48. Cargo and freight agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $51,100
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,770
- Employment: 95,810
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

#47. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $51,110
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,920
- Employment: 125,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#45 (tie). Industrial machinery mechanics

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $51,500
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Pixabay

#45 (tie). Photographers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $51,500
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,440
- Employment: 50,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#44. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $51,940
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 123,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#43. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $52,240
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $52,270
- Employment: 780

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#41. Postal service mail carriers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#40. Computer user support specialists

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $52,860
- Employment: 970

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
12 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#39. Electricians

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $53,310
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Unsplash

#38. Structural iron and steel workers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $53,360
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#37. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $53,620
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#36. Chefs and head cooks

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,660
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,680
- Employment: 60

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

#34. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $54,960
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,050
- Employment: 52,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#33. Lodging managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,080
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

#32. Locksmiths and safe repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $55,500
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,460
- Employment: 17,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,030
- Employment: 1,670

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
U.S. Air Force photo // Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin

#30. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,430
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,260
- Employment: 146,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#29. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,710
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- Employment: 71,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#28. Massage therapists

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $56,740
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,180
- Employment: 107,240
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
24 / 50
Canva

#27. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,660
- Employment: 30

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

#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $57,950
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#25. Real estate sales agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $59,120
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $59,640
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $60,920
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#22. Brokerage clerks

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Canva

#21. Construction and building inspectors

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $61,260
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $61,840
- Employment: 1,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- 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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $62,050
- Employment: 30

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $62,960
- Employment: 1,380

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

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $63,780
- Employment: 610

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

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,200
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Sabel Blanco // Pexels

#15. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,310
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,110
- Employment: 325,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#14. Food service managers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $64,970
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $66,780
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
39 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $72,290
- Employment: 1,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $72,370
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $73,200
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
42 / 50
Canva

#9. Skincare specialists

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $73,460
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,970
- Employment: 56,660
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
43 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#8. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $74,830
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Canva

#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $75,660
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#6. Insurance sales agents

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $77,730
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $82,610
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Canva

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $89,920
- Employment: 90

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $96,430
- Employment: 220

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

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

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $97,020
- Employment: 540

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

#1. Transportation inspectors

Portland-South Portland, ME
- Annual mean salary: $120,180
- Employment: 30

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

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