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

From the moment they arrive 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, 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.

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 nondegree 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 2021 annual mean wage.

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Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Modesto, CA that don’t require a college degree.

#50. Advertising sales agents

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $55,960
– #128 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,540
– Employment: 96,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

#49. Roofers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $57,110
– #31 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 260

National
– Annual mean salary: $48,890
– Employment: 129,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Worcester, MA-CT ($81,450)
— Anchorage, AK ($74,990)
— Danbury, CT ($73,020)

#48. Postal service mail carriers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $57,160
– #1 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 390

National
– Annual mean salary: $54,370
– Employment: 335,540
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Modesto, CA ($57,160)
— Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $57,570
– #54 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 470

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,020
– Employment: 261,420
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

#46. Computer user support specialists

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $57,730
– #97 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 270

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,650
– Employment: 654,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($90,480)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,920)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,510)

#45. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $57,740
– #55 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 240

National
– Annual mean salary: $50,900
– Employment: 186,600
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New Bedford, MA ($90,980)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($82,820)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($79,650)

#44. Food service managers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $58,430
– #259 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,970
– Employment: 210,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#43. Lodging managers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $59,370
– #137 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,770
– Employment: 35,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $59,550
– #38 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,270
– Employment: 116,380
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Madera, CA ($76,040)
— Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

#41. Industrial machinery mechanics

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $59,810
– #143 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 660

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,780
– Employment: 373,090
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
— Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
— Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

#40. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $60,320
– #38 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,000

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,850
– Employment: 641,240
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Napa, CA ($76,890)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,880)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,410)

#39. Medical equipment preparers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $60,630
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $42,420
– Employment: 61,170
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,170)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($66,150)

#38. Sheet metal workers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $61,020
– #83 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,760
– Employment: 122,630
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)

#37. Public safety telecommunicators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $61,250
– #25 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $47,030
– Employment: 97,050
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,380)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,790)
— Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($76,950)

#36. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $61,410
– #143 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,350
– Employment: 172,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Anchorage, AK ($88,140)
— Fairbanks, AK ($84,690)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($80,570)

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#34 (tie). First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $61,900
– #118 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,520

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,380
– Employment: 1,443,630
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#34 (tie). Surgical technologists

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $61,900
– #36 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,590
– Employment: 109,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,450)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($80,170)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($77,460)

#33. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $62,280
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,880
– Employment: 18,300
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,100)
— Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($78,800)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($77,540)

#32. Private detectives and investigators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $62,460
– #36 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $60,970
– Employment: 28,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Jackson, MI ($93,360)
— Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
— Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $63,910
– #193 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 770

National
– Annual mean salary: $71,110
– Employment: 1,026,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
— Boulder, CO ($101,630)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,670
– #35 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 130

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,280
– Employment: 145,230
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#28 (tie). Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,800
– #86 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 410

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,870
– Employment: 466,910
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#28 (tie). Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,800
– #13 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 110

National
– Annual mean salary: $50,590
– Employment: 44,200
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,380)

#27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,900
– #119 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,350
– Employment: 417,620
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

#26. Structural iron and steel workers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,920
– #42 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,270
– Employment: 68,620
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($83,340)

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#25. Real estate sales agents

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,230
– #87 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: data not available

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,480
– Employment: 175,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Midland, TX ($100,060)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
— Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,440
– #139 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,030
– Employment: 234,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#23. Carpenters

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,710
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,140

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,190
– Employment: 668,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)

#22. Electricians

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $66,260
– #114 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 730

National
– Annual mean salary: $63,310
– Employment: 650,580
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $66,990
– #189 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 780

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,330
– Employment: 629,420
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
— Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $70,190
– #391 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $92,320
– Employment: 243,920
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $70,530
– #159 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,960
– Employment: 278,140
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
— Salinas, CA ($90,800)

#18. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $71,240
– #19 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 210

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,320
– Employment: 121,150
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

#17. Surveying and mapping technicians

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $72,380
– #6 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,810
– Employment: 56,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $73,680
– #86 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,660

National
– Annual mean salary: $72,390
– Employment: 1,242,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
— Napa, CA ($92,620)

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#15. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,290
– #26 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 350

National
– Annual mean salary: $56,280
– Employment: 404,820
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)

#14. Insurance sales agents

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,590
– #59 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 300

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,340
– Employment: 422,600
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
— Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $76,080
– #96 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 720

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,590
– Employment: 526,240
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $79,280
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,230
– Employment: 50,780
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,890)
— Fresno, CA ($86,230)
— Fairbanks, AK ($85,640)

#11. Construction and building inspectors

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $80,620
– #27 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,480
– Employment: 117,830
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New Haven, CT ($121,510)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

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

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $81,160
– #58 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 640

National
– Annual mean salary: $75,060
– Employment: 665,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $81,280
– #25 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 50

National
– Annual mean salary: $78,440
– Employment: 5,220
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Salinas, CA ($104,810)
— Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
— Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $83,460
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,250
– Employment: 101,530
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
— Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#7. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $87,930
– #13 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,510
– Employment: 29,820
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)

#6. Firefighters

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $95,600
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,290
– Employment: 317,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,210)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,150)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,470)

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#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $102,690
– #115 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 250

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,580
– Employment: 144,640
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
— Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#4. Commercial pilots

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $104,170
– #86 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $115,080
– Employment: 42,770
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
— Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#3. Power plant operators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $105,410
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $83,740
– Employment: 28,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fresno, CA ($129,650)
— Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $106,370
– #21 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,370
– Employment: 107,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
— Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Modesto, CA
– Annual mean salary: $147,090
– #10 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $98,760
– Employment: 128,230
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

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