Finding Good Careers, Degree Not Required

Finding Good Jobs Which Don't Generally Require a College Degree

We went on a mission to find out which metro areas of the U.S. had the best high paying jobs for people without a 4 year college degree. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we identified jobs that generally paid $75,000 or more annually and for which fewer than 50% of the people currently employed in that job had a college degree (four year degree or higher).

We then analyzed each of the 300+ metro areas in the US to identify the percentage of total jobs in the area represented by these "$75k+ non-college" jobs. The maps and tables below show the top 50 metro areas. Not surprisingly, there was a strong concentration of these jobs on the two coasts of the U.S.

However, we then took a second look at the data. This time we included a cost of living adjustment. The results were dramatically different. The East and West coast of the U.S. were hardly a factor at all.

Explore the results below, noting particularly:

Click on a map marker to bring up a data balloon identifying that city.
Clicking on any city name in the tables below brings you to a detailed page showing that metro area's employment picture in detail.
You can explore hundreds of individual job types in detail, including a map mashup for each, starting at the CityTownInfo career and employment directory.

Good Non-College Jobs (Ignoring Cost-Of-Living Differences)

Ignoring the varying costs of living among the metro areas across the US, it appears that the higher salary non-college jobs are found in the Northeast and in California. Technicians, teachers, and many other jobs there appear to have good salaries. However, the map and table further below (in green) show quite a different story after we adjust for the cost of living associated with each location.

Rank	City	State	Pct $75k* Non-College Jobs	$75k* Non-College Jobs (in metro area)	Total Jobs (in metro area)	Some Common Jobs
1	Bridgeport	Connecticut	7.64	22,790	298,350	Tech Products Sales, Mgr Of Police Detective, Insurance Sales, and Genl Management.
2	San Jose	California	7.19	41,140	571,930	Tech Products Sales, Sales/Services, Genl Management, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
3	Washington	District of Columbia	6.86	102,160	1,488,180	Legal Support, Air Traffic Controller, Media Equipment Tech, and Biz Operations.
4	Bethesda	Maryland	5.64	21,370	378,940	Real Estate Broker, Construction Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, and Genl Management.
5	Oakland	California	4.98	37,450	751,720	Air Traffic Controller, Elevator Install, Real Estate Broker, and Mgr Of Fire Fighting.
6	San Francisco	California	4.98	32,010	642,580	Real Estate Broker, Interpreter, Mgr Of Fire Fighting, and Genl Management.
7	Boston	Massachusetts	4.98	55,090	1,105,600	Admin Svcs Mgr, Mgr Of Fire Fighting, Tech Products Sales, and Construction Mgr.
8	Anchorage	Alaska	4.92	5,640	114,570	Air Traffic Controller, Genl Management, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Dental Hygienist.
9	Waukegan	Illinois	4.47	11,780	263,340	Wholesale Purchasing, Sales, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
10	New York	New York	4.38	152,320	3,476,020	Admin Svcs Mgr, Real Estate Agent, Radiation Therapist, and Property Association Mgr.
11	Lafayette	Louisiana	3.99	4,090	102,510	Genl Management, Construction Mgr, Tech Products Sales, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
12	Durham	North Carolina	3.99	6,310	158,020	Industrial Prod Mgr, Tech Products Sales, Construction Mgr, and Transp Mgr.
13	Newark	New Jersey	3.93	28,700	730,780	Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
14	Baltimore	Maryland	3.83	35,910	937,520	Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, Genl Management, and Property Association Mgr.
15	Minneapolis	Minnesota	3.67	48,650	1,324,960	Farm Prod Purchasing, Air Traffic Controller, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
16	Reno	Nevada	3.66	6,130	167,640	Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
17	Austin	Texas	3.66	18,860	515,410	Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Genl Management.
18	Atlanta	Georgia	3.61	64,070	1,774,980	Air Traffic Controller, Real Estate Broker, Tech Products Sales, and Genl Management.
19	Charlotte	North Carolina	3.6	22,240	617,730	Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, Property Association Mgr, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
20	Dallas	Texas	3.54	53,890	1,523,360	Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
21	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	3.5	9,580	273,810	Captains, Industrial Prod Mgr, Genl Management, and Financial Specialist.
22	Denver	Colorado	3.49	30,760	881,850	Air Traffic Controller, Tech Products Sales, Genl Management, and Transp Inspector.
23	Trenton	New Jersey	3.41	5,080	149,140	Mgr Of Police Detective, Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
24	Seattle	Washington	3.36	32,710	973,390	Air Traffic Controller, Mgr Of Fire Fighting, Transp Mgr, and Radiation Therapist.
25	Portland	Oregon	3.32	24,980	751,880	Real Estate Broker, Construction Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Transp Mgr.
26	Houston	Texas	3.3	60,550	1,835,920	Air Traffic Controller, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
27	Camden	New Jersey	3.2	12,890	402,310	Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Construction Mgr.
28	Edison	New Jersey	3.2	23,930	747,960	Transp Mgr, Radiation Therapist, Real Estate Broker, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
29	Santa Ana	California	3.17	36,880	1,162,210	Tech Products Sales, Genl Management, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
30	Birmingham	Alabama	3.09	11,930	385,910	Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, Genl Management, and Tech Products Sales.
31	Raleigh	North Carolina	3.06	10,730	350,780	Genl Management, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
32	Santa Rosa	California	3	4,260	142,070	Genl Management, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, Dental Hygienist, and Tech Products Sales.
33	Hartford	Connecticut	2.98	11,560	387,300	Sonographer, Genl Management, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Tech Products Sales.
34	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	2.97	19,140	644,050	Industrial Prod Mgr, Radiation Therapist, Transp Mgr, and Tech Products Sales.
35	Nassau	New York	2.97	27,570	929,830	Construction Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Structural Metal Worker, and Radiation Therapist.
36	Rochester	New York	2.96	10,480	353,700	Industrial Prod Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Tech Products Sales, and Construction Mgr.
37	Warren	Michigan	2.93	26,050	888,010	Industrial Prod Mgr, Tech Products Sales, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
38	Providence	Rhode Island	2.92	12,120	414,860	Funeral Director, Industrial Prod Mgr, Construction Mgr, and Transp Mgr.
39	Sacramento	California	2.9	19,300	664,700	Air Traffic Controller, Mgr Of Fire Fighting, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Dental Hygienist.
40	Portland	Maine	2.9	4,100	141,340	Real Estate Broker, Construction Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Genl Management.
41	Salinas	California	2.87	3,390	118,220	Mgr Of Police Detective, Genl Management, and Sales.
42	Oxnard	California	2.86	6,360	222,750	Genl Management, Tech Products Sales, and Insurance Sales.
43	Savannah	Georgia	2.8	3,100	110,620	Genl Management.
44	New Orleans	Louisiana	2.78	9,740	350,420	Genl Management, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
45	Detroit	Michigan	2.78	14,450	520,640	Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, Funeral Director, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
46	Worcester	Massachusetts	2.78	4,910	176,820	Industrial Prod Mgr, Tech Products Sales, Transp Mgr, and Genl Management.
47	Fort Worth	Texas	2.73	17,380	635,510	Transp Inspector, Industrial Prod Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, and Genl Management.
48	Poughkeepsie	New York	2.63	4,640	176,700	Construction Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
49	Tulsa	Oklahoma	2.63	8,350	317,040	Genl Management.
50	Albany	New York	2.59	7,950	307,200	Admin Svcs Mgr, Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.

Good Non-College Jobs (Adjusted for Cost-Of-Living)

After adjusting for the cost of living in each metro area, we see that the non-college jobs along the expensive coastal areas are less attractive than their raw salary figures would indicate.

Rank	City	State	Pct $75k* Non-College Jobs	$75k* Non-College Jobs (in metro area)	Total Jobs (in metro area)	Some Common Jobs
1	Waukegan	Illinois	4.47	11,780	263,340	Wholesale Purchasing, Sales, Mgr Of Police Detective, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
2	Dallas	Texas	4.46	67,900	1,523,360	Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Tech Products Sales.
3	Durham	North Carolina	4.44	7,010	158,020	Industrial Prod Mgr, Tech Products Sales, Construction Mgr, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
4	Memphis	Tennessee	4.36	20,880	478,830	Transp Mgr, Construction Mgr, Biz Operations, and Genl Management.
5	Houston	Texas	4.21	77,240	1,835,920	Air Traffic Controller, Construction Mgr, Elec Power Equip Install, and Transp Mgr.
6	Huntsville	Alabama	4.03	5,210	129,180	Biz Operations, and Genl Management.
7	Lafayette	Louisiana	3.99	4,090	102,510	Genl Management, Construction Mgr, Tech Products Sales, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
8	Baton Rouge	Louisiana	3.8	10,400	273,810	Captains, Industrial Prod Mgr, Genl Management, and Tech Products Sales.
9	Minneapolis	Minnesota	3.7	48,990	1,324,960	Farm Prod Purchasing, Air Traffic Controller, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
10	Austin	Texas	3.66	18,860	515,410	Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Genl Management.
11	Knoxville	Tennessee	3.63	9,160	252,050	Tech Products Sales, Genl Management, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Insurance Sales.
12	Atlanta	Georgia	3.61	64,070	1,774,980	Air Traffic Controller, Real Estate Broker, Tech Products Sales, and Genl Management.
13	Charlotte	North Carolina	3.6	22,240	617,730	Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, Property Association Mgr, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
14	Reno	Nevada	3.45	5,790	167,640	Construction Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, Genl Management, and Tech Products Sales.
15	Bethesda	Maryland	3.42	12,960	378,940	Genl Management.
16	Denver	Colorado	3.32	29,300	881,850	Air Traffic Controller, Tech Products Sales, Genl Management, and Transp Inspector.
17	Bridgeport	Connecticut	3.3	9,850	298,350	Tech Products Sales, and Genl Management.
18	Fort Worth	Texas	3.23	20,510	635,510	Transp Inspector, Transp Mgr, Industrial Prod Mgr, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
19	Detroit	Michigan	3.16	16,430	520,640	Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, Funeral Director, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
20	Birmingham	Alabama	3.15	12,160	385,910	Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, Genl Management, Tech Products Sales, and Real Estate Agent.
21	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	3.09	19,890	644,050	Industrial Prod Mgr, Radiation Therapist, Transp Mgr, and Sonographer.
22	Raleigh	North Carolina	3.06	10,730	350,780	Genl Management, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
23	Cincinnati	Ohio	3.03	24,210	800,090	Music Director/Composer, Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Construction Mgr.
24	Trenton	New Jersey	2.99	4,460	149,140	Mgr Of Police Detective, Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
25	Rochester	New York	2.96	10,480	353,700	Industrial Prod Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Tech Products Sales, and Construction Mgr.
26	Warren	Michigan	2.93	26,050	888,010	Industrial Prod Mgr, Tech Products Sales, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
27	Washington	District of Columbia	2.9	43,090	1,488,180	Air Traffic Controller, and Genl Management.
28	Madison	Wisconsin	2.9	6,610	228,170	Industrial Prod Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Tech Products Sales, and Construction Mgr.
29	Kansas City	Missouri	2.87	21,650	753,960	Air Traffic Controller, Transp Mgr, Real Estate Broker, and Construction Mgr.
30	Tulsa	Oklahoma	2.81	8,920	317,040	Industrial Prod Mgr, and Genl Management.
31	Savannah	Georgia	2.8	3,100	110,620	Genl Management.
32	Greensboro	North Carolina	2.79	8,170	292,440	Funeral Director, Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
33	New Orleans	Louisiana	2.78	9,740	350,420	Genl Management, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
34	Oklahoma City	Oklahoma	2.78	11,700	420,670	Transp Inspector, Genl Management, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
35	Baltimore	Maryland	2.77	25,940	937,520	Construction Mgr, and Genl Management.
36	San Jose	California	2.74	15,660	571,930	Genl Management.
37	Portland	Maine	2.73	3,860	141,340	Real Estate Broker, Construction Mgr, and Genl Management.
38	Beaumont	Texas	2.71	3,270	120,770	Industrial Prod Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Genl Management, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
39	Chattanooga	Tennessee	2.68	4,810	179,760	Genl Management, and Construction Mgr.
40	Poughkeepsie	New York	2.63	4,640	176,700	Construction Mgr, Admin Svcs Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
41	Mobile	Alabama	2.6	3,360	129,160	Genl Management, and Tech Products Sales.
42	Albany	New York	2.59	7,950	307,200	Admin Svcs Mgr, Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Industrial Prod Mgr.
43	Albuquerque	New Mexico	2.58	7,320	283,760	Construction Mgr, Transp Mgr, and Genl Management.
44	Cleveland	Ohio	2.52	20,660	818,730	Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales, and Construction Mgr.
45	Winston-Salem	North Carolina	2.48	3,820	153,750	Industrial Prod Mgr, Transp Mgr, Construction Mgr, and Admin Svcs Mgr.
46	Wilmington	North Carolina	2.48	2,590	104,300	Construction Mgr, and Genl Management.
47	Hartford	Connecticut	2.47	9,570	387,300	Genl Management, and Mgr Of Non-Retail Sales.
48	Santa Rosa	California	2.46	3,490	142,070	Genl Management, and Dental Hygienist.
49	Colorado Springs	Colorado	2.45	4,300	175,420	Air Traffic Controller, Genl Management, and Tech Products Sales.
50	Augusta	Georgia	2.44	3,810	155,850	Genl Management.

Interpreting the Results

Jobs averaging $75,000 or more annually, for which fewer than 50% of current job holders have 4+ year college degrees:

Key:

Map and associated table before cost-of-living adjustments.

Map and associated table after cost-of-living adjustments.

Highlights

We've run the millions of calculations to analyze:

Which jobs are most prevalent where
Which jobs pay the best in each location
How local cost of living affects reported salaries

The results show a clear pattern, locating the best cities for non-college jobs in the American industrial heartland.

A Wealth of Data

In the data tables below, you can click on any city name and see a dedicated page describing the employment situation there, including:

Which jobs are most common, both in absolute numbers and compared to other areas in the country
What percentage of job holders have college degrees for each career
Salary ranges for each job in the particular metro area
Who are the major companies in each city