Highest-paying jobs in St. Louis that don't require a college degree

Written by:
January 5, 2021
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Highest-paying jobs in St. Louis 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 St. Louis that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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Canva

#50. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $62,180
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
2 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#49. Lodging managers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $62,600
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $62,700
- Employment: 8,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#47. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $62,720
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $62,770
- Employment: 12,070

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#45. Millwrights

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $63,220
- Employment: 150

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

#44. Tool and die makers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $63,300
- Employment: 610

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
8 / 50
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

#43. Carpenters

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $64,090
- Employment: 9,300

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,850
- Employment: 734,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#42. Insurance sales agents

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $64,570
- Employment: 5,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#41. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $64,860
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
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#40. Tapers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $64,880
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 17,970
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
12 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#39. Security and fire alarm systems installers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $65,130
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- Employment: 71,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Canva

#38. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $65,850
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
14 / 50
Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#37. Sheet metal workers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $66,170
- Employment: 2,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,480
- Employment: 131,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $66,460
- Employment: 5,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Canva

#35. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $66,790
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- Employment: 9,790
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
17 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $66,850
- Employment: 3,460

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

#33. Terrazzo workers and finishers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $66,910
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,340
- Employment: 2,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $67,620
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,120
- Employment: 10,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#31. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $68,520
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Plasterers and stucco masons

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $68,530
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,710
- Employment: 27,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
22 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#29. Electricians

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $69,110
- Employment: 5,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $69,830
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
24 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $70,460
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Canva

#26. Boilermakers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $70,580
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#25. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $70,620
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $70,830
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $70,870
- Employment: 1,790

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $72,170
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Onk-Q // Shutterstock

#21. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $72,310
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 18,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#20. Real estate sales agents

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $73,320
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#19. Brickmasons and blockmasons

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $74,050
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#18. Power plant operators

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $75,670
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $76,090
- Employment: 13,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Canva

#16. Glaziers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $76,550
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,810
- Employment: 52,400
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#15. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $76,860
- Employment: 3,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $76,930
- Employment: 3,420

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

#13. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $78,140
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#12. Model makers, metal and plastic

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $79,040
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 4,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $79,890
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $81,170
- Employment: 720

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

#9. Postmasters and mail superintendents

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $82,360
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $84,680
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
44 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $85,150
- Employment: 2,520

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

#6. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $86,750
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,360
- Employment: 5,060
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Canva

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $89,860
- Employment: 1,260

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Canva

#4. Transportation inspectors

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $89,890
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

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

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $90,240
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
49 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#2. Commercial pilots

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $91,630
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

St. Louis, MO-IL
- Annual mean salary: $101,310
- Employment: 1,230

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

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