Highest

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

by: Stacker

Posted: Aug 26, 2023 / 10:48 AM CDT

Updated: Aug 26, 2023 / 10:48 AM CDT

(Stacker) — College isn’t for everyone—despite what today’s youth may hear from the adults in their lives.

From the moment they arrive freshman year, 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, and coaches.

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.

The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor’s degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Houston that don’t require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Houston that don’t require a college degree.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.

– Median annual wage: $61,800– Median hourly wage: $29.71– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 980 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

– Median annual wage: $61,840– Median hourly wage: $29.73– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: Not available– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $62,110– Median hourly wage: $29.86– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 22,060 people (7.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $62,400– Median hourly wage: $30.00– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 23,540 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $62,450– Median hourly wage: $30.02– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 9,350 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $62,810– Median hourly wage: $30.20– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $63,250– Median hourly wage: $30.41– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 3,120 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $64,320– Median hourly wage: $30.92– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 6,170 people (2.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $64,530– Median hourly wage: $31.03– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 4,100 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $64,590– Median hourly wage: $31.05– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 310 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $64,700– Median hourly wage: $31.11– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 14,940 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $64,950– Median hourly wage: $31.23– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: Not available– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $64,980– Median hourly wage: $31.24– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 950 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $65,030– Median hourly wage: $31.27– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 710 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $67,710– Median hourly wage: $32.56– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 1,250 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $68,750– Median hourly wage: $33.05– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 5,350 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $69,300– Median hourly wage: $33.32– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $69,740– Median hourly wage: $33.53– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 24,770 people (8.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $70,390– Median hourly wage: $33.84– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 16,180 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $70,440– Median hourly wage: $33.86– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 2,350 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $71,200– Median hourly wage: $34.23– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $71,330– Median hourly wage: $34.29– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 2,850 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $71,520– Median hourly wage: $34.39– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 390 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $72,120– Median hourly wage: $34.68– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 2,870 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $73,300– Median hourly wage: $35.24– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 980 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

– Median annual wage: $73,440– Median hourly wage: $35.31– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 1,870 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $73,720– Median hourly wage: $35.44– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 1,660 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $74,330– Median hourly wage: $35.74– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 3,450 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $74,510– Median hourly wage: $35.82– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 15,850 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $74,990– Median hourly wage: $36.05– Education required: No formal educational credential– Total employment: 1,540 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $75,330– Median hourly wage: $36.22– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 770 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $75,700– Median hourly wage: $36.40– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 2,600 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $76,420– Median hourly wage: $36.74– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 2,840 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $76,820– Median hourly wage: $36.93– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 4,720 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $77,090– Median hourly wage: $37.06– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 8,190 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $78,240– Median hourly wage: $37.61– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 1,720 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $80,170– Median hourly wage: $38.55– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 960 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $81,310– Median hourly wage: $39.09– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 4,430 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $82,690– Median hourly wage: $39.75– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 320 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

– Median annual wage: $83,630– Median hourly wage: $40.21– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: Not available– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $85,300– Median hourly wage: $41.01– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $90,080– Median hourly wage: $43.31– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $95,230– Median hourly wage: $45.78– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 330 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $96,060– Median hourly wage: $46.18– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 1,100 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $101,000– Median hourly wage: $48.56– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 4,810 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $101,770– Median hourly wage: $48.93– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 260 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $102,980– Median hourly wage: $49.51– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 5,080 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $104,580– Median hourly wage: $50.28– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 1,800 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

– Median annual wage: $105,190– Median hourly wage: $50.57– Education required: High school diploma or equivalent– Total employment: 1,390 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

– Median annual wage: $120,990– Median hourly wage: Not available– Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award– Total employment: 1,020 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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