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

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January 5, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Unsplash

#50. Crane and tower operators

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $51,360
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#49. Postal service mail carriers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $51,450
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Canva

#48. Construction and building inspectors

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $51,520
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $51,730
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#46. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $52,270
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#45. Electricians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $52,830
- Employment: 1,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#44. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $53,080
- Employment: 2,840

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,000
- Employment: 576,950
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#43. Postal service clerks

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $53,160
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Pixabay

#42. Surveying and mapping technicians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $53,970
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 53,030
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
David Spates // Shutterstock

#41. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Employment: 800

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,420
- Employment: 342,040
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
11 / 50
First Class Photography // Shutterstock

#40. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,220
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,460
- Employment: 42,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
ded pixto // Shutterstock

#39. Wellhead pumpers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,310
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,080
- Employment: 12,970
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Canva

#38. Agricultural equipment operators

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,360
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $33,300
- Employment: 26,990
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
14 / 50
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#37. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,380
- Employment: 1,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- Employment: 370,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Said M // Shutterstock

#36. Service unit operators, oil and gas

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,830
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,390
- Employment: 51,760
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
16 / 50
Canva

#35. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,910
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
17 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $54,930
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $55,140
- Employment: 3,080

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#32. Real estate brokers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $55,350
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Glen Jones // Shutterstock

#31. Layout workers, metal and plastic

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $55,450
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,900
- Employment: 8,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#30. Occupational health and safety technicians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $55,950
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#29. Industrial machinery mechanics

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $56,540
- Employment: 1,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $58,250
- Employment: 90

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

#27. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $58,730
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#26. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $58,750
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- Employment: 71,600
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $59,160
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
27 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#24. Advertising sales agents

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $59,280
- Employment: 420

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

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- Employment: 2,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $60,020
- Employment: 1,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
30 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#21. Food service managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $60,150
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $60,220
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#19. Real estate sales agents

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $62,340
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#18. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $63,020
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $63,220
- Employment: 1,730

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

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $63,260
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#15. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#14. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $63,710
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $64,570
- Employment: 1,330

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $65,410
- Employment: 1,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $65,500
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $68,520
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $70,200
- Employment: 2,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Tool and die makers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $71,400
- Employment: 590

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
44 / 50
Canva

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $71,600
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $71,690
- Employment: 240

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

#5. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $84,400
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
47 / 50
Canva

#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $88,170
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Canva

#3. Transportation inspectors

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $92,240
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $103,450
- Employment: 190

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

#1. Commercial pilots

Wichita, KS
- Annual mean salary: $120,880
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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