10 Best Cities for Professionals without a College Degree

Salt Lake City tops our list

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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Ross Martin

Insurance Writer

Ross joined The Zebra as a writer and researcher in 2019. He specializes in writing insurance content to help shoppers make informed decisions.

Ross h…

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  • 5+ years in the Insurance Industry

College enrollment rates have been on the decline in recent years as many young adults grapple with the cost of attendance versus the long-term value of an undergraduate diploma.[1] While data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that more advanced degrees correspond directly with higher wages, the data doesn't account for the cost of each degree.[2]

Earnings also vary widely for individuals who opt out of college. There are still plenty of earnings opportunities, particularly in specific industries that are set for major growth in the years ahead.

The Zebra set out to find the best cities for professionals without a college degree. In addition to looking at median earnings and average rent prices, we also chose four occupations across different industries identified by the BLS as having high wages and strong growth potential through 2030.[3] Here are all six data points we analyzed for the 50 most populous cities in the U.S.:

  • Median earnings for high school graduates
  • Average rent price by city for a one-bedroom apartment
  • Location quotient for the following professions (based on source above about gross potential):
    • Tile and stone setters
    • Industrial machinery mechanics
    • Commercial pilots
    • Private detectives and investigators

Check out the 10 best cities for professionals without a college degree, balancing both finances and job growth opportunities.

#1: Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City ranks first for professionals without a college degree thanks to strong earning potential for high school graduates and a heavy concentration of high-growth careers across industries. Graduates with a high school diploma average $43,340 per year and rents are below average compared to the U.S. at $1,350. There's also a particularly high concentration across specialized industries, including tile and stone setters, commercial pilots and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $43,340
  • Average rent: $1,350
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 4.82
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 0.65
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.60
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.89

#2: Birmingham, Alabama

Average earnings aren't quite as high for high school graduates in Birmingham, but there are plenty of job opportunities in growing fields. The city ranks first for the highest concentration of industrial machinery mechanics and also has a high level of private detectives and investigators, making it an attractive location for individuals seeking jobs in either field.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,530
  • Average rent: No data
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.98
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 2.05
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.04
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.72

#3: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati takes third place on our list, largely in part for the city's affordable rent prices. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city is under $1,100 and the median salary is over $40,000, making it a cost-effective place to live and work. Cincinnati also offers a strong job market for industrial machinery mechanics, commercial pilots, and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $40,837
  • Average rent: $1,050
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.51
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 1.35
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.07
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.14

#4: Phoenix, Arizona

Median earnings without a college degree creep up a bit in Phoenix, hitting just under $42,000 per year. That extra cash can help support a slightly higher average rent price of $1,300 per month. There isn't a high concentration of industrial machinery mechanics in the city, but you will find plenty of opportunities for tile and stone setters, commercial pilots and private investigators.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $41,595
  • Average rent: $1,300
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 1.61
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 0.56
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.35
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.27

#5: Cleveland, Ohio

While Cleveland earns a spot in the middle of our list, it does have one of the lowest median salaries ($37,395) for high school graduates out of all the cities we analyzed. Rent comes in at $1,250 per month, and there's also strong demand for several career paths that don't require a college degree: industrial machinery mechanics, commercial pilots and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,395
  • Average rent: $1,250
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.65
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 1.17
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.71
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.48

#6: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis makes our list thanks to having one of the highest median incomes for workers without a college degree: just over $46,000 per year. Rent is average at $1,370 and while there's less demand for tile and stone setters and industrial machinery mechanics, there are many opportunities for commercial pilots and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $46,093
  • Average rent: $1,370
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.41
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 0.75
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 1.68
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.21

#7: Detroit, Michigan

Detroit ranks seventh, largely due to having one of the lowest median earnings at $37,494. Low rent prices can help balance the lower earnings, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging $1,060 per month. Detroit also has a particularly strong job market for industrial machinery mechanics and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,494
  • Average rent: $1,060
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.62
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 1.64
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 0.90
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.05

#8: Jacksonville, Florida

Like Detroit, Jacksonville has a lower median salary for high school graduates, reaching just over $37,000 per year. The average rent is pricier than Detroit, but still lower than most cities on our list at just $1,210. In-demand professional jobs without a college degree include tile and stone setters and private detectives.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $37,482
  • Average rent: $1,210
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 1.55
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 0.81
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 0.82
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.45

#9: Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville salaries for high school graduates aren't as competitive as other areas, with the mean just under $39,000. Rent prices, however, are quite low at $1,120. The city also has one of the highest concentrations of industrial machinery mechanics, although the other specialized professions we analyzed aren't as sought after in Louisville.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,947
  • Average rent: $1,120
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 0.77
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 1.27
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 0.83
  • Private detective location quotient: 0.90

#10: Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas has some of the highest concentrations of tile and stone setters and commercial pilots, making it a great destination for high school graduates in either industry. However, the city is on the lower side when it comes to median earnings, which is just over $38,000. On the plus side, the average rent is $1,200.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates: $38,337
  • Average rent: $1,200
  • Tile/stone setter location quotient: 4.49
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient: 0.28
  • Commercial pilot location quotient: 4.10
  • Private detective location quotient: 1.09

Methodology

The Zebra pulled six data points to analyze the top 50 MSAs (by population) in the U.S. related to employment without a college degree.

  • Median earnings for high school graduates[4]
  • Average rent[5]
  • Tile and stone setter location quotient[6]
  • Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient[7]
  • Commercial pilot location quotient[8]
  • Private detective and investigator location quotient[9]
Sources
  1. College Enrollment Rates. [National Center of Education Statistics]

  2. Employment projections. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

  3. Fast-growing occupations that pay well and don’t require a college degree. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

  4. Average earnings by educational attainment.[Census Bureau]

  5. Rental price data. [Zumper]

  6. Tile and stone setter location quotient. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

  7. Industrial machinery mechanic location quotient. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

  8. Commercial pilot location quotient. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]

  9. Private detective and investigator location quotient. [Bureau of Labor Statistics]