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

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

- Median annual wage: $49,460
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $49,540
- Median hourly wage: $23.82
- Total employment: 200 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

- Median annual wage: $50,380
- Median hourly wage: $24.22
- Total employment: 280 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Dental laboratory technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $50,660
- Median hourly wage: $24.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,890
- Median hourly wage: $24.47
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 420 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,470
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 320 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Surgical assistants

- Median annual wage: $51,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.97
- Total employment: Not available

#41. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $52,150
- Median hourly wage: $25.07
- Total employment: 1,400 people (9.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,270
- Median hourly wage: $25.13
- Total employment: 770 people (4.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $52,280
- Median hourly wage: $25.13
- Total employment: 3,420 people (22.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $52,620
- Median hourly wage: $25.30
- Total employment: 690 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Computer user support specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 330 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Fabric and apparel patternmakers

- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 440 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $55,970
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $57,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 140 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $57,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 120 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 130 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $58,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 110 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Surgical technologists

- Median annual wage: $58,940
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $59,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 1,120 people (7.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $59,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.55
- Total employment: 450 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Upholsterers

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 2,140 people (13.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 780 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 1,790 people (11.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 860 people (5.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $59,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 740 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 350 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $60,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 60 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 230 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 600 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 110 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 1,790 people (11.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Tool and die makers

- Median annual wage: $64,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Total employment: 110 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $65,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: Not available

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

- Median annual wage: $65,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 600 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 660 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $75,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 190 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 100 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,340
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $84,710
- Median hourly wage: $40.73
- Total employment: 250 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $96,900
- Median hourly wage: $46.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 250 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

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