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

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

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Unsplash

#50. Structural iron and steel workers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $51,780
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#48 (tie). Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $52,930
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#48 (tie). Riggers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $52,930
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#47. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $53,880
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Canva

#46. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,120
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
6 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#45. Millwrights

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,140
- Employment: 240

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

#44. Hearing aid specialists

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,400
- Employment: data not available

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

#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,430
- Employment: 1,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,710
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#41. Gas plant operators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $54,790
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Canva

#40. Dental laboratory technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $55,330
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,330
- Employment: 34,460
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Construction and building inspectors

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $55,340
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $55,500
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#37. Advertising sales agents

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $55,820
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Canva

#36. Chemical plant and system operators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $56,120
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 28,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Canva

#35. Glaziers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $56,140
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,810
- Employment: 52,400
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#34. Industrial machinery mechanics

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $56,460
- Employment: 1,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#33. Power plant operators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $57,390
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#32. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $58,230
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
20 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#31. Real estate sales agents

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $58,580
- Employment: 940

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $59,010
- Employment: 2,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $60,770
- Employment: 7,390

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#28. Chefs and head cooks

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $61,760
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#27. Food service managers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $62,380
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $62,500
- Employment: 3,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Pxhere

#25. Maintenance workers, machinery

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $63,520
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,450
- Employment: 72,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $63,830
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
28 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $64,460
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $64,480
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
30 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#21. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $65,460
- Employment: 660

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#20. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $66,470
- Employment: 1,210

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $67,500
- Employment: 1,280

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $68,780
- Employment: 4,660

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

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $70,420
- Employment: 2,210

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $70,600
- Employment: 2,830

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

#15. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $71,240
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Insurance sales agents

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $76,920
- Employment: 1,740

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $77,310
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
39 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $77,810
- Employment: 600

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- 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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $79,670
- Employment: 5,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#10. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $79,980
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Lodging managers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $81,340
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Transportation inspectors

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $81,700
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $82,640
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $83,040
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $86,430
- Employment: 1,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Canva

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $86,600
- Employment: 540

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

#3. Commercial pilots

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $88,250
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#2. Real estate brokers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $90,480
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Richmond, VA
- Annual mean salary: $117,900
- Employment: 380

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

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