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DENVER (Stacker) — 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 2020 annual mean wage. Job descriptions are from O*NET.

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

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $77,720
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,820

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,100
– Employment: 475,000
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.

#24. Wellhead pumpers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $79,020
– #1 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,500
– Employment: 12,050
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($79,020)
— Austin-Round Rock, TX ($75,580)
— Greeley, CO ($74,100)
– Job description: Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.

#23. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $80,110
– #47 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $79,660
– Employment: 13,880
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,130)
— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($95,920)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($92,630)
– Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S. post office; or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in assigned post office.

#22. Fire inspectors and investigators

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $80,600
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,680
– Employment: 14,010
– Entry-level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,790)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,610)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($102,370)
– Job description: Inspect buildings to detect fire hazards and enforce local ordinances and state laws, or investigate and gather facts to determine cause of fires and explosions.

#21. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $82,080
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,020

National
– Annual mean salary: $74,410
– Employment: 114,930
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($114,820)
— Redding, CA ($112,850)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,810)
– Job description: Install or repair cables or wires used in electrical power or distribution systems. May erect poles and light or heavy-duty transmission towers.

#20. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $82,540
– #30 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,600
– Employment: 53,420
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($115,020)
— Trenton, NJ ($113,630)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,070)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of correctional officers and jailers.

#19. Transportation inspectors

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $83,970
– #38 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 320

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,320
– Employment: 27,360
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($119,270)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($117,900)
— Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($104,370)
– Job description: Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $84,710
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 21,020

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,490
– Employment: 977,070
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
— Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
— Boulder, CO ($94,870)
– Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $85,920
– #17 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 19,340

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,500
– Employment: 1,278,670
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Danbury, CT ($112,810)
— Napa, CA ($101,850)
— Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
– Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

#16. Power distributors and dispatchers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $85,930
– #19 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $93,260
– Employment: 9,940
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($141,200)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($126,870)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,200)
– Job description: Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.

#15. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $87,290
– #2 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,940
– Employment: 15,650
– Entry-level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Anchorage, AK ($94,610)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($87,290)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($81,210)
– Job description: Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.

#14. Power plant operators

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $87,390
– #27 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,890
– Employment: 32,960
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,420)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,830)
— Redding, CA ($106,030)
– Job description: Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.

#13. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $87,830
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,150

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,040
– Employment: 128,300
– Entry-level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX ($95,680)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,710)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($87,830)
– Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.

#12. Real estate sales agents

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $90,220
– #8 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,670

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,990
– Employment: 168,740
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salinas, CA ($106,280)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($101,300)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($98,580)
– Job description: Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.

#11. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $91,690
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 640

National
– Annual mean salary: $86,200
– Employment: 24,730
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($109,710)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,080)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($101,990)
– Job description: Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $92,160
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 360

National
– Annual mean salary: $77,610
– Employment: 40,480
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($96,510)
— Billings, MT ($95,130)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,800)
– Job description: Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $93,950
– #16 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,150
– Employment: 23,070
– Entry-level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($113,410)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($111,660)
— Anchorage, AK ($111,470)
– Job description: Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $99,550
– #32 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,160

National
– Annual mean salary: $89,300
– Employment: 105,980
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,380)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,090)
— Anchorage, AK ($126,530)
– Job description: Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $104,140
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 930

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,210
– Employment: 219,800
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($117,770)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,800)
— Boulder, CO ($107,230)
– Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $104,180
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 610

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,170
– Employment: 69,000
– Entry-level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($187,890)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($181,340)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,050)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.

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

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $108,810
– #12 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,490

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,120
– Employment: 240,290
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($124,150)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($122,460)
— Leominster-Gardner, MA ($119,130)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $120,010
– #29 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 770

National
– Annual mean salary: $97,180
– Employment: 122,310
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($200,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,810)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($182,720)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.

#3. Commercial pilots

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $121,230
– #18 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400

National
– Annual mean salary: $110,830
– Employment: 37,120
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($153,990)
— Medford, OR ($152,730)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($152,290)
– Job description: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $129,530
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 880

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,100
– Employment: 132,210
– Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($163,580)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,680)
— Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($136,410)
– Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.

#1. Athletes and sports competitors

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO
– Annual mean salary: $182,290
– #2 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 230

National
– Annual mean salary: $94,740
– Employment: 8,380
– Entry-level education requirements: No formal educational credential
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($197,690)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($182,290)
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($102,400)
– Job description: Compete in athletic events.