Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Baton Rouge (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Baton Rouge was $48,710 in May 2025, below the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, at a median of $108,420.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels at $129,260.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Baton Rouge. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Baton Rouge, LA)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Baton Rouge, LA had about 409,690 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Baton Rouge median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $108,420 | 660 | $96,710 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $104,410 | 1,720 | $78,120 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $97,000 | 620 | $107,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $95,810 | 2,270 | $74,450 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $93,920 | 2,500 | $58,040 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $83,170 | 360 | $60,850 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $78,920 | 320 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $78,870 | 4,680 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $78,770 | 2,230 | $79,860 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $78,170 | 3,690 | $53,750 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $77,010 | 670 | $95,320 |
| Boilermakers | $74,730 | 680 | $76,410 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Baton Rouge median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $129,260 | 900 | $92,460 |
| Dental Hygienists | $92,700 | 410 | $98,100 |
| Chemical Technicians | $92,120 | 410 | $60,390 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $81,470 | 520 | $63,890 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $80,670 | 330 | $67,820 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $74,220 | 320 | $82,280 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $70,300 | 340 | $66,150 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $64,600 | 450 | $74,090 |
The most common jobs in Baton Rouge, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Cashiers | $27,110 | 9,130 |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,070 | 9,020 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,450 | 8,760 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $23,650 | 8,490 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,130 | 8,290 |
| General and Operations Managers | $107,140 | 8,230 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $23,040 | 7,840 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $15,080 | 6,650 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Baton Rouge relative to the nation is chemical plant and system operators, with a location quotient of 39.39. That means those jobs make up about 39.39 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 1,720 of them locally, at a median of $104,410. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Baton Rouge, LA). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk