Graduating high school is an exciting time. The cap and gown, the graduation parties, summer, and then it’s off to adulthood!
While an estimated 63% of Ohio high school seniors will move on to college and a four-year program, only 31% will make it across the stage to collect their diploma.
An increasing number of graduates are opting to skip the four-year price tag and head for a career in the trades. With recent proposals to update and upgrade American Infrastructure, as well as rapidly retiring Baby Boomer workforce, there in an increasing number of openings in professions that do not require a college degree. But which ones pay the best?
Top 10 highest paying jobs that do not require a four-year degree (source: US News Best Jobs)
- Patrol Officer: Protect and serve your community with a median annual salary of $63,150. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is predicting a 10-year job growth rate of 5.7% for patrol officers opening up 39,100 new jobs.
- Executive Assistant: Manage the boss’s schedule to the tune of $60,890 annually. Jump on the opportunity fast though, BLS is predicting a 20.4% decrease in Executive Assistant jobs or a loss of approximately 121,000 jobs over the next 10 years.
- Sales Representative: You can expect a median annual salary of $59,930 to push those goods and services as a sales representative. Salaries may vary across different fields, but with a projected increase of 0.9%, approximately 13,200 sales jobs will be created over the next decade.
- Flight Attendant: Fly the friendly skies and see the world as a flight attendant for $56,640 a year. With 17.3% projected unemployment growth over the next decade, 21,100 jobs will be up for grabs.
- Electrician: Perform electrical installation, maintenance, and repairs in a commercial or residential setting for a median annual salary of $56,180. BLS is projecting employment growth at 6.4% for electricians over the next 10 years nationally. This translates to 62,200 new jobs. Additional job security, stability, and increased job benefits are available for union electricians. Find out how to enter an apprentice program in Youngstown or Warren.
- Plumber: Fix water problems, install appliances, run gas lines, fit pipes, use your problem-solving skills and make a pretty penny while doing it. Plumbers can expect a median annual salary of $55,160 and plumbers offering emergency services can quickly increase that number. An estimated 4.3% employment growth rate will yield 20,900 jobs over the next 10 years.
- Structural Iron and Steelworker: Build bridges and buildings with your bare hands as a structural iron and steelworker for a median annual salary of $55,040. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 10-year job growth rate of 4.7%, adding 3,600 jobs to the industry.
- Sound Engineering Technician: Spend your days setting up sound equipment and doing mic checks for concerts and events. As a sound tech, you can earn an average salary of $52,740. BLS predicts 6% industry growth with 1,000 new jobs in the next 10 years.
- Hearing Aid Specialist: Assist the hearing-impaired and restore sound to people’s lives as a hearing aid specialist to the tune of $53,420. A 10.5% predicted growth rate for hearing aid specialists will open up 900 jobs in the next decade.
- Brickmason and Blockmason: Work in the great outdoors constructing walls, structures, patios and landscape features for residential and commercial projects for $53,100 annually. BLS however predicts a decrease of 6.4% resulting in a loss of 5,200 mason jobs over the next 10 years.
Electrician apprentices earn while they learn … they work paid jobs during the day alongside experienced electricians and then attend classes a couple nights a week.
Consider a career in the electrical trades and check out what our local union electrical apprentice programs are all about.