No Degree Needed: The Best Places to Live Without a College Degree

In 2016, the average college graduate had accrued nearly $28,800 in student debt. A slight dip from the previous year, that figure still represents nearly the maximum that many undergraduate students are allowed to borrow in federal loans: $31,000.

For the first time in 2016, more Americans were employed with a college degree (36 percent) than those without (34 percent), and in 2015, the pay gap between working citizens with a college degree compared to high school graduates increased to 56 percent.

These numbers may seem striking, but do they tell the whole story? To learn more, we’re shining a light on metropolitan areas where Americans without a college degree earn the most money on average, what their annual income looks like in the biggest (and smallest) cities, and which professions could be the most lucrative for people without a postsecondary education. Read on to see what we discovered.

Visualizing the Workforce

Metropolitan Area	State	Overall Rank	Percentage Without a Degree	Average Salary Percent Difference From Living Wage	Weighted Income	Percentage Above Poverty Level	Annual Living Wage	Population Size	States
Huntington-Ashland	WV-KY-OH	243	55.6%	-37.24%	$14,570	79.96%	$21,237	250,000–499,999	West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio
Morgantown	WV	110	51.2%	-18.33%	$19,056	78.56%	$22,901	100,000–249,999	West Virginia
Charleston	WV	252	53.65%	-37.73%	$14,226	80.57%	$20,842	100,000–249,999	West Virginia
La Crosse-Onalaska	WI-MN	264	44.21%	-40.12%	$14,804	82.18%	$22,235	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin-Minnesota
Oshkosh-Neenah	WI	13	54.02%	-8.66%	$20,942	89.59%	$22,838	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Appleton	WI	18	50.64%	6.4%	$22,929	94.75%	$21,507	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Racine	WI	49	56.75%	-24.47%	$17,632	87.39%	$22,547	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Green Bay	WI	56	43.08%	7.21%	$23,407	85.45%	$21,778	250,000–499,999	Wisconsin
Wausau	WI	63	49.07%	-11.28%	$19,135	86.9%	$21,424	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Madison	WI	88	38.64%	-24.06%	$18,815	86.28%	$23,962	500,000–999,999	Wisconsin
Eau Claire	WI	152	45.87%	-27.06%	$16,683	86.41%	$21,902	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis	WI	156	48.9%	-33.33%	$16,849	84.27%	$23,587	1 Million–2,499,999	Wisconsin
Janesville-Beloit	WI	192	52.97%	-37.18%	$15,350	84.73%	$22,360	100,000–249,999	Wisconsin
Tacoma-Lakewood	WA	47	41.41%	-27.5%	$21,117	86.85%	$27,851	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Washington
Olympia-Tumwater	WA	8	47.39%	18.26%	$29,576	90.18%	$24,627	100,000–249,999	Washington
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	WA	42	55.58%	-23.35%	$18,178	87.1%	$22,984	100,000–249,999	Washington
Bremerton-Silverdale	WA	54	45.19%	-12.29%	$20,268	86.9%	$22,922	100,000–249,999	Washington
Spokane-Spokane Valley	WA	86	49.65%	-19.12%	$17,668	87.89%	$21,403	500,000–999,999	Washington
Bellingham	WA	99	49.98%	-20.82%	$18,598	83.66%	$22,922	100,000–249,999	Washington
Kennewick-Richland	WA	181	54.55%	-35.1%	$15,173	85.73%	$21,632	250,000–499,999	Washington
Yakima	WA	277	57.35%	-48.14%	$13,022	75.64%	$21,278	100,000–249,999	Washington
Burlington-South Burlington	VT	53	42.48%	-29.22%	$19,898	89.47%	$26,707	100,000–249,999	Vermont
Winchester	VA-WV	11	56.58%	-27.39%	$19,611	92.59%	$25,834	100,000–249,999	Virginia-West Virginia
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News	VA-NC	59	52.49%	-39.68%	$18,713	86.54%	$27,976	1 Million–2,499,999	Virginia-North Carolina
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	VA	31	40.17%	-12.22%	$20,797	93.83%	$23,504	100,000–249,999	Virginia
Roanoke	VA	81	50.6%	-7.71%	$19,005	85.01%	$20,530	250,000–499,999	Virginia
Harrisonburg	VA	92	50.03%	-22.27%	$19,026	82.14%	$23,795	100,000–249,999	Virginia
Richmond	VA	133	51.3%	-44.65%	$16,892	84.77%	$26,603	1 Million–2,499,999	Virginia
Charlottesville	VA	223	44.91%	-41.23%	$16,277	82.41%	$24,731	100,000–249,999	Virginia
Lynchburg	VA	274	61.64%	-64.67%	$11,815	71.03%	$23,109	100,000–249,999	Virginia
Salt Lake City	UT	25	47.45%	-8.22%	$21,955	87.5%	$23,837	1 Million–2,499,999	Utah
Ogden-Clearfield	UT	61	44.09%	-17.72%	$18,929	89.6%	$22,610	500,000–999,999	Utah
Provo-Orem	UT	80	36.96%	-26.56%	$17,897	92.43%	$23,379	500,000–999,999	Utah
St. George	UT	234	45.85%	-59.27%	$12,498	94.99%	$23,026	100,000–249,999	Utah
Fort Worth-Arlington	TX	46	47.97%	-11.79%	$20,518	86.21%	$23,088	5 Million or More	Texas
Odessa	TX	1	54.42%	40.11%	$37,794	90.82%	$25,168	100,000–249,999	Texas
Midland	TX	2	48.93%	12.89%	$31,452	97.09%	$27,643	100,000–249,999	Texas
Victoria	TX	12	60.85%	7.08%	$25,541	83.32%	$23,795	100,000–249,999	Texas
Wichita Falls	TX	23	56.3%	7.39%	$21,926	87.08%	$20,363	100,000–249,999	Texas
Longview	TX	26	59.87%	-11.88%	$19,760	86.37%	$22,256	100,000–249,999	Texas
Sherman-Denison	TX	28	49.57%	8.19%	$22,486	92.71%	$20,717	100,000–249,999	Texas
Austin-Round Rock	TX	43	42.82%	-14.77%	$21,294	86.28%	$24,690	1 Million–2,499,999	Texas
Corpus Christi	TX	71	61.02%	-27.85%	$18,168	80.91%	$24,045	250,000–499,999	Texas
Amarillo	TX	78	59.06%	-3.63%	$20,199	77.93%	$20,946	250,000–499,999	Texas
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land	TX	100	49.98%	-22.04%	$18,755	82.98%	$23,400	5 Million or More	Texas
Beaumont-Port Arthur	TX	115	57.71%	-17.99%	$17,611	80.22%	$21,091	250,000–499,999	Texas
San Antonio-New Braunfels	TX	128	52.71%	-23.31%	$17,593	81.68%	$22,235	1 Million–2,499,999	Texas
Abilene	TX	134	51.79%	-29.21%	$16,026	87.46%	$21,507	100,000–249,999	Texas
Tyler	TX	144	45.49%	-20.62%	$18,147	83.17%	$22,318	100,000–249,999	Texas
Waco	TX	204	60.55%	-29.34%	$15,494	80.25%	$20,821	250,000–499,999	Texas
Killeen-Temple	TX	256	53.08%	-43.13%	$14,065	81.02%	$21,798	250,000–499,999	Texas
El Paso	TX	282	56.08%	-51.45%	$12,546	76.78%	$21,237	500,000–999,999	Texas
Laredo	TX	283	50.97%	-44.04%	$14,024	71.98%	$21,944	250,000–499,999	Texas
College Station-Bryan	TX	284	62.44%	-68.47%	$10,925	66.34%	$22,298	100,000–249,999	Texas
Brownsville-Harlingen	TX	288	57.79%	-57.89%	$11,577	66.38%	$21,008	250,000–499,999	Texas
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	TX	289	56.5%	-60.95%	$11,427	61.18%	$21,445	500,000–999,999	Texas
Lubbock	TX	296	50.08%	-52.96%	$12,320	77.78%	$21,195	250,000–499,999	Texas
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol	TN-VA	272	61.24%	-50.73%	$11,901	80.03%	$19,989	250,000–499,999	Tennessee-Virginia
Memphis	TN-MS-AR	158	53.28%	-26.19%	$17,182	80.19%	$22,360	1 Million–2,499,999	Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas
Clarksville	TN-KY	60	56.1%	-8.36%	$18,824	84.5%	$20,467	250,000–499,999	Tennessee-Kentucky
Chattanooga	TN-GA	180	49.05%	-25.51%	$16,625	84.1%	$21,486	500,000–999,999	Tennessee_Georgia
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	TN	123	47.15%	-28.17%	$17,465	84.94%	$23,192	1 Million–2,499,999	Tennessee
Cleveland	TN	242	62.38%	-54.8%	$11,556	85.7%	$20,280	100,000–249,999	Tennessee
Knoxville	TN	249	50.87%	-35.26%	$14,492	82.89%	$20,696	500,000–999,999	Tennessee
Johnson City	TN	267	54.04%	-44.35%	$12,905	81.86%	$20,259	100,000–249,999	Tennessee
Sioux Falls	SD	57	45.31%	-3.86%	$20,634	86.71%	$21,445	100,000–249,999	South Dakota
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	SC-NC	244	57.98%	-64.47%	$12,705	80.26%	$24,794	250,000–499,999	South Carolina-North Carolina
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort	SC	76	39.84%	-9.85%	$24,013	78.43%	$26,499	100,000–249,999	South Carolina
Spartanburg	SC	77	56.19%	-18.13%	$17,499	85.6%	$20,987	250,000–499,999	South Carolina
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin	SC	126	50.43%	-24.72%	$17,360	84.38%	$22,256	500,000–999,999	South Carolina
Charleston-North Charleston	SC	193	44.88%	-37.08%	$16,896	83.22%	$24,586	500,000–999,999	South Carolina
Columbia	SC	246	52.42%	-46.03%	$14,331	81.42%	$22,901	500,000–999,999	South Carolina
Providence-Warwick	RI-MA	151	49.97%	-40.64%	$16,585	85.23%	$25,043	1 Million–2,499,999	Rhode Island-Massachusetts
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	PA-NJ	91	54%	-28.27%	$17,322	84.92%	$23,026	500,000–999,999	Pennsylvania-New Jersey
East Stroudsburg	PA	3	51.64%	-2.11%	$24,622	92.69%	$25,147	100,000–249,999	Pennsylvania
Williamsport	PA	7	60.34%	-14.31%	$19,968	92.23%	$23,046	100,000–249,999	Pennsylvania
Lancaster	PA	15	60.68%	-10.11%	$20,208	87.28%	$22,360	500,000–999,999	Pennsylvania
York-Hanover	PA	16	64.53%	-12.61%	$19,011	90.72%	$21,570	250,000–499,999	Pennsylvania
Chambersburg-Waynesboro	PA	29	70.04%	-3.2%	$20,467	84.39%	$21,133	100,000–249,999	Pennsylvania
Harrisburg-Carlisle	PA	35	50.8%	-11.2%	$19,748	90.11%	$22,090	500,000–999,999	Pennsylvania
Altoona	PA	36	60.15%	-19.19%	$17,588	92.6%	$21,320	100,000–249,999	Pennsylvania
Johnstown	PA	113	61.09%	-30.89%	$15,478	86.83%	$21,133	100,000–249,999	Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh	PA	186	45.44%	-29.06%	$16,019	87.02%	$21,466	1 Million–2,499,999	Pennsylvania
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton	PA	188	55.06%	-32.01%	$15,437	84.04%	$21,320	500,000–999,999	Pennsylvania
Reading	PA	222	52.62%	-38.92%	$14,864	84.15%	$22,048	250,000–499,999	Pennsylvania
Erie	PA	293	52.78%	-57.78%	$11,958	73.88%	$21,674	250,000–499,999	Pennsylvania
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro	OR-WA	95	47.49%	-43.2%	$18,425	87.22%	$28,579	1 Million–2,499,999	Oregon-Washington
Medford	OR	137	54.84%	-37.86%	$16,405	83.78%	$24,066	100,000–249,999	Oregon
Bend-Redmond	OR	191	45.71%	-41.43%	$16,270	84.79%	$24,773	100,000–249,999	Oregon
Eugene	OR	213	50.63%	-32.85%	$16,768	78.36%	$23,358	250,000–499,999	Oregon
Salem	OR	219	52.65%	-48.81%	$14,042	85.92%	$23,109	250,000–499,999	Oregon
Oklahoma City	OK	93	50.74%	-17.09%	$18,699	83.96%	$22,194	1 Million–2,499,999	Oklahoma
Lawton	OK	103	60.26%	-27.9%	$16,665	84.53%	$22,069	100,000–249,999	Oklahoma
Tulsa	OK	175	51.68%	-22.93%	$17,264	79.89%	$21,736	500,000–999,999	Oklahoma
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman	OH-PA	167	65.31%	-30.94%	$15,455	83.07%	$21,112	500,000–999,999	Ohio-Pennsylvania
Cincinnati	OH-KY-IN	185	52.11%	-25.6%	$16,723	81.1%	$21,632	1 Million–2,499,999	Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana
Columbus	OH	112	46.93%	-19.28%	$18,429	83.99%	$22,360	1 Million–2,499,999	Ohio
Akron	OH	147	54.13%	-33.74%	$15,298	88.17%	$21,507	500,000–999,999	Ohio
Cleveland-Elyria	OH	149	53.08%	-25.91%	$16,671	83.68%	$21,632	1 Million–2,499,999	Ohio
Canton-Massillon	OH	157	52.69%	-27.72%	$15,941	86.04%	$21,070	250,000–499,999	Ohio
Toledo	OH	230	52.24%	-30.06%	$15,380	81.35%	$20,821	500,000–999,999	Ohio
Dayton	OH	250	51.19%	-35.8%	$15,064	78.8%	$21,632	500,000–999,999	Ohio
Springfield	OH	275	63.22%	-60.45%	$11,312	80.37%	$21,112	100,000–249,999	Ohio
New York-Jersey City-White Plains	NY-NJ	227	45.29%	-63.17%	$16,448	82.65%	$31,637	5 Million or More	New York-New Jersey
Watertown-Fort Drum	NY	98	61.9%	-34.78%	$17,302	81.37%	$24,586	100,000–249,999	New York
Kingston	NY	121	42.97%	-18.81%	$20,686	74.1%	$24,981	100,000–249,999	New York
Binghamton	NY	171	48.35%	-36.9%	$15,494	89.2%	$22,506	250,000–499,999	New York
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	NY	212	43.87%	-39.71%	$16,384	83.79%	$24,502	500,000–999,999	New York
Syracuse	NY	235	52.04%	-44.96%	$14,548	83.37%	$22,984	500,000–999,999	New York
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls	NY	237	51.65%	-51.15%	$14,264	82.65%	$24,066	1 Million–2,499,999	New York
Rochester	NY	238	46.84%	-40.92%	$15,574	81.5%	$23,587	1 Million–2,499,999	New York
Glens Falls	NY	240	43.64%	-56.3%	$12,770	94.31%	$22,776	100,000–249,999	New York
Utica-Rome	NY	253	62.22%	-63.32%	$12,329	77.64%	$23,754	250,000–499,999	New York
Reno	NV	65	49.84%	-5.7%	$20,963	83.41%	$22,194	250,000–499,999	Nevada
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise	NV	89	56.04%	-26.79%	$17,427	83.72%	$22,818	1 Million–2,499,999	Nevada
Las Cruces	NM	104	57.11%	-12.77%	$19,071	75.53%	$21,674	100,000–249,999	New Mexico
Santa Fe	NM	146	43.21%	-33.88%	$18,452	82.71%	$25,979	100,000–249,999	New Mexico
Farmington	NM	211	51.65%	-33.55%	$16,870	70.3%	$23,670	100,000–249,999	New Mexico
Albuquerque	NM	259	50.11%	-38.56%	$15,273	76.33%	$22,568	500,000–999,999	New Mexico
Atlantic City-Hammonton	NJ	9	51.04%	-21.11%	$21,911	91.89%	$27,082	250,000–499,999	New Jersey
Trenton	NJ	132	51.02%	-47.2%	$17,036	85.16%	$27,560	250,000–499,999	New Jersey
Ocean City	NJ	179	66.17%	-80.48%	$10,414	89.49%	$24,440	100,000–249,999	New Jersey
Vineland-Bridgeton	NJ	228	67.1%	-61.44%	$13,604	78.77%	$25,667	100,000–249,999	New Jersey
Rockingham County-Strafford County	NH	145	40.76%	-45.88%	$18,397	85.56%	$29,349	2.5 Million–4,999,999	New Hampshire
Manchester-Nashua	NH	34	44.6%	-13.78%	$20,746	89.65%	$23,816	250,000–499,999	New Hampshire
Omaha-Council Bluffs	NE-IA	48	45.11%	-12.61%	$20,001	88.87%	$22,693	500,000–999,999	Nebraska-Iowa
Fargo	ND-MN	85	37.18%	7.52%	$22,538	84.84%	$20,904	100,000–249,999	North Dakota-Minesotta
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	NC-SC	140	47.95%	-32.98%	$17,372	84%	$24,232	1 Million–2,499,999	North Carolina-South Carolina
Burlington	NC	66	58.28%	-23.79%	$18,752	80.9%	$23,816	100,000–249,999	North Carolina
Goldsboro	NC	84	65.13%	-11.54%	$19,383	70.32%	$21,757	100,000–249,999	North Carolina
Winston-Salem	NC	109	52.57%	-24.11%	$17,892	82.16%	$22,797	500,000–999,999	North Carolina
Raleigh	NC	117	43.51%	-36.27%	$16,907	88.36%	$24,398	1 Million–2,499,999	North Carolina
Jacksonville	NC	120	50.56%	-27.96%	$18,068	81.41%	$23,941	100,000–249,999	North Carolina
Asheville	NC	168	43.08%	-31.25%	$17,727	82.36%	$24,294	250,000–499,999	North Carolina
Durham-Chapel Hill	NC	205	39.99%	-34.77%	$17,128	81.82%	$24,336	500,000–999,999	North Carolina
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	NC	221	56.59%	-38.27%	$15,319	79.84%	$22,568	250,000–499,999	North Carolina
Greensboro-High Point	NC	224	55.76%	-45.51%	$14,240	83.86%	$22,630	500,000–999,999	North Carolina
Fayetteville	NC	226	57.37%	-56.57%	$13,314	83.54%	$23,816	250,000–499,999	North Carolina
Greenville	NC	273	47.65%	-46.58%	$14,559	78.37%	$23,400	100,000–249,999	North Carolina
Billings	MT	19	54.14%	-12.79%	$19,983	90.53%	$22,714	100,000–249,999	Montana
Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula	MS	247	57.92%	-55.21%	$13,405	79.35%	$23,629	100,000–249,999	Mississippi
Jackson	MS	292	48.1%	-57.17%	$12,685	76.2%	$22,838	500,000–999,999	Mississippi
Kansas City	MO-KS	79	44.21%	-19.01%	$18,995	86.31%	$22,984	1 Million–2,499,999	MIssouri-Kansas
St. Louis	MO-IL	67	48.68%	-18.91%	$18,979	85.89%	$22,942	2.5 Million–4,999,999	MIssouri-Illinois
Joplin	MO	51	60.94%	16.43%	$25,676	74.92%	$21,778	100,000–249,999	MIssouri
Springfield	MO	108	48.35%	-19.25%	$17,696	86.07%	$21,466	250,000–499,999	MIssouri
Columbia	MO	269	45.31%	-35.24%	$15,501	72.59%	$22,131	100,000–249,999	MIssouri
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	MN-WI	55	40.29%	-23.15%	$19,665	87.89%	$24,814	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Minnesota-Wisconsin
Duluth	MN-WI	119	45.53%	-27.13%	$17,066	87.29%	$22,422	250,000–499,999	Minnesota-Wisconsin
St. Cloud	MN	169	52.32%	-37.43%	$15,025	89.42%	$21,944	100,000–249,999	Minnesota
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills	MI	122	52.05%	-27.26%	$17,343	83.11%	$22,818	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Michigan
Monroe	MI	22	55.43%	-11.64%	$19,697	89.82%	$22,131	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Niles-Benton Harbor	MI	62	53.93%	-5.62%	$19,919	83.71%	$21,070	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Kalamazoo-Portage	MI	72	50.09%	-7.21%	$20,378	83.33%	$21,902	250,000–499,999	Michigan
Jackson	MI	73	51.08%	-19.9%	$17,683	87.75%	$21,590	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Grand Rapids-Wyoming	MI	90	48.55%	-23.96%	$17,445	88.72%	$22,194	500,000–999,999	Michigan
Battle Creek	MI	143	50.8%	-21.44%	$17,660	82.28%	$21,902	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Ann Arbor	MI	170	28.32%	-49.48%	$15,549	95.3%	$25,771	250,000–499,999	Michigan
Flint	MI	229	59.19%	-41.82%	$13,919	83.43%	$21,278	250,000–499,999	Michigan
Lansing-East Lansing	MI	231	53.65%	-43.03%	$14,307	83.79%	$22,152	250,000–499,999	Michigan
Saginaw	MI	268	58.29%	-51.45%	$12,656	79.35%	$21,424	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Muskegon	MI	279	55.81%	-50.61%	$12,969	74.1%	$21,757	100,000–249,999	Michigan
Portland-South Portland	ME	83	45.07%	-31.6%	$18,375	86.9%	$25,272	500,000–999,999	Maine
Lewiston-Auburn	ME	161	60.88%	-34.6%	$16,161	80.3%	$22,922	100,000–249,999	Maine
Bangor	ME	207	54.91%	-36.32%	$15,602	80.65%	$22,526	100,000–249,999	Maine
Hagerstown-Martinsburg	MD-WV	136	55.78%	-38.27%	$15,982	84.75%	$23,546	250,000–499,999	Maryland-West Virginia
Salisbury	MD-DE	24	54.44%	-24.75%	$18,539	93.1%	$23,774	250,000–499,999	Maryland-Delaware
California-Lexington Park	MD	10	49.29%	2.23%	$28,034	86.57%	$27,414	100,000–249,999	Maryland
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson	MD	96	45.08%	-37.48%	$18,903	86.24%	$27,622	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Maryland
Worcester	MA-CT	165	44.43%	-36.62%	$16,631	86.09%	$24,086	500,000–999,999	Massachusetts-Connecticut
Springfield	MA	166	51.22%	-31.95%	$17,194	80.2%	$23,733	500,000–999,999	Massachusetts
Barnstable Town	MA	184	50.39%	-57.36%	$14,249	90.2%	$25,709	100,000–249,999	Massachusetts
Lake Charles	LA	30	61.3%	-6.24%	$19,933	84.96%	$21,216	100,000–249,999	Louisiana
Lafayette	LA	69	55.98%	-2.86%	$21,103	77.57%	$21,715	250,000–499,999	Louisiana
Shreveport-Bossier City	LA	141	52.73%	-24.55%	$17,665	80.03%	$22,610	250,000–499,999	Louisiana
Baton Rouge	LA	199	52.78%	-30.54%	$16,605	78.63%	$22,589	500,000–999,999	Louisiana
New Orleans-Metairie	LA	245	50.83%	-43.45%	$15,207	79.11%	$23,650	1 Million–2,499,999	Louisiana
Monroe	LA	280	60.68%	-66.02%	$11,534	70.36%	$22,901	100,000–249,999	Louisiana
Louisville/Jefferson County	KY-IN	172	51.88%	-29.24%	$16,562	83.3%	$22,235	1 Million–2,499,999	Kentucky-Indiana
Bowling Green	KY	154	57.07%	-32.51%	$15,553	84.75%	$21,590	100,000–249,999	Kentucky
Lexington-Fayette	KY	194	47.38%	-23.84%	$17,303	80.54%	$21,986	250,000–499,999	Kentucky
Topeka	KS	33	53.08%	-10.79%	$19,100	90.73%	$21,278	100,000–249,999	Kansas
Lawrence	KS	182	44.87%	-32.8%	$15,895	88.28%	$22,131	100,000–249,999	Kansas
Wichita	KS	220	50.67%	-26.94%	$16,226	80.92%	$21,278	500,000–999,999	Kansas
South Bend-Mishawaka	IN-MI	105	59.29%	-18.23%	$18,105	78.83%	$21,736	250,000–499,999	Indiana-Michigan
Evansville	IN-KY	225	56.31%	-45.49%	$14,152	83.5%	$22,485	250,000–499,999	Indiana-Kentucky
Elkhart-Goshen	IN	5	57.44%	22.57%	$26,666	91.49%	$21,258	100,000–249,999	Indiana
Fort Wayne	IN	38	45.51%	1.37%	$21,466	91.25%	$21,174	250,000–499,999	Indiana
Bloomington	IN	70	51.12%	-16.02%	$19,965	81.77%	$23,442	100,000–249,999	Indiana
Lafayette-West Lafayette	IN	111	43.38%	-8.43%	$21,144	77.95%	$23,005	100,000–249,999	Indiana
Michigan City-La Porte	IN	129	64.35%	-21.07%	$17,071	79.78%	$21,091	100,000–249,999	Indiana
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson	IN	159	48.3%	-29.96%	$16,841	84.69%	$22,776	1 Million–2,499,999	Indiana
Terre Haute	IN	209	64.4%	-35.58%	$14,894	80.96%	$21,341	100,000–249,999	Indiana
Lake County-Kenosha County	IL-WI	114	47.49%	-41.49%	$17,816	85.39%	$27,144	5 Million or More	Illinois-Wisconsin
Rockford	IL	4	64.34%	-7.61%	$20,604	90.53%	$22,235	250,000–499,999	illinois
Decatur	IL	44	45.73%	-0.96%	$21,034	89.13%	$21,237	100,000–249,999	illinois
Carbondale-Marion	IL	187	53.82%	-27.28%	$16,581	80.28%	$21,819	100,000–249,999	illinois
Champaign-Urbana	IL	232	53.58%	-46.64%	$14,072	84.1%	$22,630	100,000–249,999	illinois
Peoria	IL	270	46.06%	-44.16%	$14,271	81.51%	$22,360	250,000–499,999	illinois
Kankakee	IL	278	51.18%	-61.06%	$12,233	80.43%	$22,984	100,000–249,999	illinois
Springfield	IL	294	44.16%	-47.89%	$13,746	74.33%	$22,402	100,000–249,999	illinois
Idaho Falls	ID	37	56.26%	-12.99%	$18,921	87.63%	$21,549	100,000–249,999	Idaho
Boise City-Nampa	ID	40	36.59%	-8.46%	$20,851	92.23%	$22,693	100,000–249,999	Idaho
Coeur d'Alene	ID	101	53.22%	-30.79%	$16,517	88.01%	$22,526	100,000–249,999	Idaho
Boise City	ID	102	48.32%	-22.93%	$17,380	87.63%	$21,882	500,000–999,999	Idaho
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	IA-IL	131	55.02%	-32.57%	$15,318	89.06%	$21,278	250,000–499,999	Iowa-illinois
Waterloo-Cedar Falls	IA	32	55.62%	-12.01%	$19,088	88.07%	$21,528	100,000–249,999	Iowa
Des Moines-West Des Moines	IA	74	43.1%	-14.65%	$19,469	86.64%	$22,547	500,000–999,999	Iowa
Cedar Rapids	IA	97	49.67%	-14.13%	$18,560	85.59%	$21,382	250,000–499,999	Iowa
Iowa City	IA	281	28.58%	-50.4%	$14,017	81.24%	$23,462	100,000–249,999	Iowa
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina	HI	6	54.36%	-29.42%	$22,580	91.05%	$30,368	100,000–249,999	Hawaii
Urban Honolulu	HI	118	48.26%	-61.98%	$17,566	87.81%	$33,342	500,000–999,999	Hawaii
Augusta-Richmond County	GA-SC	215	63.42%	-39.06%	$15,320	77.59%	$22,755	500,000–999,999	Georgia-South Carolina
Columbus	GA-AL	248	57.88%	-51.95%	$13,714	78.71%	$23,338	250,000–499,999	Georgia-Alabama
Savannah	GA	64	47.71%	-21.51%	$19,927	84.13%	$24,731	250,000–499,999	Georgia
Warner Robins	GA	139	52.73%	-34.28%	$16,494	84.62%	$23,317	100,000–249,999	Georgia
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell	GA	160	45.88%	-38.51%	$17,732	82.61%	$26,187	5 Million or More	Georgia
Gainesville	GA	258	52.79%	-51.68%	$14,072	77.27%	$23,878	100,000–249,999	Georgia
Albany	GA	260	58.77%	-52.64%	$13,405	75.68%	$22,984	100,000–249,999	Georgia
Macon-Bibb County	GA	271	52.67%	-51.2%	$13,442	78.7%	$22,693	100,000–249,999	Georgia
Valdosta	GA	285	53.65%	-62.44%	$11,753	76.81%	$22,422	100,000–249,999	Georgia
Athens-Clarke County	GA	290	45.23%	-55.45%	$13,370	72.85%	$23,629	100,000–249,999	Georgia
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Delray Beach	FL	254	49.88%	-54.57%	$14,663	78.98%	$25,667	5 Million or More	Florida
Panama City	FL	14	56.01%	-5.96%	$22,242	85.54%	$23,608	100,000–249,999	Florida
Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin	FL	21	51.18%	-9.87%	$21,991	85.92%	$24,274	100,000–249,999	Florida
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent	FL	52	59.41%	-36.43%	$16,837	89.94%	$24,336	250,000–499,999	Florida
Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island	FL	87	41.41%	-35.7%	$17,529	93.42%	$25,147	250,000–499,999	Florida
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford	FL	130	49.44%	-32.15%	$17,836	82.35%	$24,669	1 Million–2,499,999	Florida
Cape Coral-Fort Myers	FL	135	54.88%	-36.93%	$16,235	84.39%	$23,587	500,000–999,999	Florida
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton	FL	163	52.89%	-52.69%	$14,406	89.56%	$24,710	500,000–999,999	Florida
Lakeland-Winter Haven	FL	173	56.89%	-42.3%	$14,904	85.4%	$22,901	500,000–999,999	Florida
Jacksonville	FL	190	48.19%	-32.58%	$16,275	84.45%	$22,610	1 Million–2,499,999	Florida
Punta Gorda	FL	200	58.97%	-63.57%	$11,811	90.08%	$22,818	100,000–249,999	Florida
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater	FL	202	51.63%	-44.09%	$15,306	84.29%	$23,962	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Florida
Port St. Lucie	FL	210	54.23%	-48.95%	$15,258	81.63%	$25,147	250,000–499,999	Florida
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville	FL	218	49.91%	-38.11%	$14,863	86.41%	$21,861	500,000–999,999	Florida
Ocala	FL	262	60.14%	-66.92%	$11,397	81.32%	$22,859	250,000–499,999	Florida
Tallahassee	FL	263	35.46%	-55.01%	$13,493	85.26%	$23,733	250,000–499,999	Florida
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach	FL	276	56.68%	-75.05%	$10,470	79.11%	$23,046	500,000–999,999	Florida
Vero Beach	FL	291	49.03%	-52.01%	$13,045	75.06%	$22,214	100,000–249,999	Florida
Gainesville	FL	297	43.88%	-61.11%	$12,093	75.32%	$22,734	250,000–499,999	Florida
Wilmington	DE-MD-NJ	106	48.53%	-35.1%	$17,756	84.87%	$25,314	5 Million or More	Delaware-Matyland-New Jersey
Dover	DE	125	54.55%	-41.72%	$17,174	82.49%	$26,229	100,000–249,999	Delaware
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	DC-VA-MD-WV	94	37.95%	-52.52%	$20,530	89.34%	$35,152	5 Million or More	Washington D.C.-Virginia-Maryland
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford	CT	75	46.03%	-34.54%	$18,093	88.21%	$25,646	1 Million–2,499,999	Connecticut
New Haven-Milford	CT	162	50.56%	-45.61%	$17,062	83.7%	$27,144	500,000–999,999	Connecticut
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk	CT	164	38.33%	-50.72%	$16,967	87.38%	$28,496	500,000–999,999	Connecticut
Norwich-New London	CT	206	54.15%	-53.01%	$14,634	83.87%	$25,189	250,000–499,999	Connecticut
Fort Collins	CO	20	40.89%	7.03%	$27,069	87.59%	$25,230	250,000–499,999	Colorado
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood	CO	39	42.18%	-23.23%	$21,331	87.13%	$26,936	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Colorado
Greeley	CO	45	51.89%	-21.16%	$19,074	86.14%	$23,587	250,000–499,999	Colorado
Colorado Springs	CO	127	44.99%	-36.64%	$16,355	92.48%	$23,691	500,000–999,999	Colorado
Boulder	CO	142	30.08%	-28.89%	$20,757	77.23%	$27,768	250,000–499,999	Colorado
Pueblo	CO	216	56.85%	-43.01%	$15,238	80.2%	$23,587	100,000–249,999	Colorado
San Rafael	CA	150	40.34%	-63.44%	$19,150	86.05%	$36,941	2.5 Million–4,999,999	California
Napa	CA	17	44.47%	-20.98%	$23,101	91.31%	$28,517	100,000–249,999	California
Stockton-Lodi	CA	27	54.87%	-5.63%	$21,824	84.15%	$23,088	500,000–999,999	California
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	CA	41	49.3%	-38.91%	$20,181	90.76%	$29,931	500,000–999,999	California
Vallejo-Fairfield	CA	58	57.57%	-43.07%	$16,787	89.7%	$26,000	250,000–499,999	California
Santa Rosa	CA	68	47.3%	-42.12%	$18,880	89.62%	$28,954	250,000–499,999	California
Salinas	CA	82	61.25%	-50.16%	$16,557	86.31%	$27,643	250,000–499,999	California
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	CA	138	39.71%	-63.13%	$18,230	88.32%	$35,048	1 Million–2,499,999	California
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade	CA	148	51.58%	-35.81%	$17,191	82%	$24,690	1 Million–2,499,999	California
Modesto	CA	153	60.54%	-39.01%	$15,874	82.75%	$23,566	500,000–999,999	California
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	CA	174	56.14%	-45.87%	$16,039	81.67%	$25,584	2.5 Million–4,999,999	California
Bakersfield	CA	177	56.44%	-31.83%	$16,809	76.1%	$23,171	500,000–999,999	California
Hanford-Corcoran	CA	183	58.94%	-37.04%	$15,886	80.26%	$23,109	100,000–249,999	California
San Diego-Carlsbad	CA	195	46.68%	-63.12%	$16,241	85.79%	$31,221	2.5 Million–4,999,999	California
Madera	CA	197	67.61%	-51.71%	$14,006	83.52%	$23,774	100,000–249,999	California
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana	CA	208	51.14%	-55.52%	$16,418	81.4%	$29,037	5 Million or More	California
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	CA	217	50.96%	-63.67%	$15,777	83.06%	$30,514	250,000–499,999	California
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande	CA	239	42.24%	-66.77%	$13,369	87.73%	$26,770	250,000–499,999	California
Redding	CA	241	50.5%	-39.32%	$15,864	76.47%	$23,629	100,000–249,999	California
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	CA	251	47.06%	-63.96%	$15,523	78.86%	$30,118	250,000–499,999	California
Fresno	CA	261	55.52%	-52.16%	$13,963	73.27%	$23,816	500,000–999,999	California
Visalia-Porterville	CA	265	60.32%	-67.89%	$11,694	78.33%	$23,712	250,000–499,999	California
Chico	CA	266	54.56%	-88.87%	$9,082	82.21%	$23,608	100,000–249,999	California
El Centro	CA	286	61%	-78.84%	$9,463	73.37%	$21,778	100,000–249,999	California
Merced	CA	295	55.92%	-70.6%	$10,414	66.71%	$21,778	100,000–249,999	California
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale	AZ	189	50.86%	-30.99%	$17,076	79.5%	$23,338	2.5 Million–4,999,999	Arizona
Yuma	AZ	214	61.4%	-42.91%	$15,226	78.41%	$23,546	100,000–249,999	Arizona
Prescott	AZ	236	48.25%	-56.47%	$13,514	86.31%	$24,149	100,000–249,999	Arizona
Tucson	AZ	257	53.17%	-41.61%	$14,644	77.52%	$22,339	500,000–999,999	Arizona
Fort Smith	AR-OK	155	57.74%	-29.93%	$15,677	84.35%	$21,195	250,000–499,999	Arkansas-Oklahoma
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	AR-MO	50	53.55%	-12.17%	$19,280	85.76%	$21,778	250,000–499,999	Arkansas-MIssouri
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	AR	116	49.93%	-27.15%	$16,936	86.4%	$22,256	500,000–999,999	Arkansas
Pine Bluff	AR	233	58.38%	-28.35%	$15,213	75.19%	$20,238	100,000–249,999	Arkansa
Huntsville	AL	107	50.67%	-17.99%	$18,757	81.78%	$22,464	250,000–499,999	Alabama
Decatur	AL	124	68.57%	-31.8%	$15,168	86.8%	$20,904	100,000–249,999	Alabama
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley	AL	176	51.33%	-56%	$14,683	87.65%	$26,104	100,000–249,999	Alabama
Auburn-Opelika	AL	178	46.08%	-26.55%	$17,214	82.93%	$22,485	100,000–249,999	Alabama
Mobile	AL	196	54.17%	-40.56%	$16,570	76.92%	$25,002	250,000–499,999	Alabama
Birmingham-Hoover	AL	198	52.74%	-43.22%	$15,433	83.65%	$23,941	1 Million–2,499,999	Alabama
Florence	AL	201	54.41%	-40.92%	$14,723	85.24%	$22,298	100,000–249,999	Alabama
Montgomery	AL	203	50.99%	-38.95%	$15,562	84.06%	$23,088	250,000–499,999	Alabama
Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville	AL	255	54.09%	-58.75%	$11,491	86.47%	$21,050	100,000–249,999	Alabama
Tuscaloosa	AL	287	39.62%	-42.06%	$14,794	70.87%	$22,672	100,000–249,999	Alabama

Sources: IPUMS-USA, University of Minnesota

Utilizing our interactive display, you can explore how Americans without a college degree fair in various metropolitan areas.

Below are the most important factors when considering where to live according to 20 respondents without a college degree. Metropolitan areas were based on a living wage (the minimum amount a full-time employee needs to earn to support a family), average salary, and poverty rates. Overall, the most important factor was the ratio of income to living wage.

In Good Company

The Percentage Of People Without A College Degree

On average, more than 1 in 3 working Americans today has a college degree – but that doesn’t necessarily hold true everywhere in the U.S. Our research found the top metropolitan areas by population where it was significantly less common to have completed any higher education.

In Chambersburg-Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, where agricultural production ranked as the leading industry and the cost of living was 9 percent below the national average, 70 percent of adults didn’t have a college degree. Earning nearly $20,470 annually without a degree, this small Pennsylvania town could be one of the most popular areas for Americans without a postsecondary education.

Small cities aren’t the only places where people without a degree can make some money, though. In more populated areas like Rockford, Illinois, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, more than half of Americans had no college degree and earned over $20,000 annually.

Still, in more populated areas like Palm Beach, Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles, higher percentages of uneducated workers don’t always go hand in hand with higher wages, particularly when the cost of living can be far steeper.

Are They Earning Enough?

Comparing Living Wage to Average Salary

For the millions of employed Americans without a college degree, earning a living wage (the approximate income families need to earn to meet their basic needs) with enough left over for savings, retirement, or entertainment isn’t always guaranteed.

While the average annual salaries Americans without a higher education make in some of the biggest cities fail to qualify as a fully livable wage, Americans living in smaller parts of the country may have more than a few dollars left at the end of the month.

In more rural areas like Odessa, Texas, the cost of living might be 3 percent less than the national average, but Americans working in this energy- and education-focused region earned more than 40 percent over a living wage without a college degree. Similarly, Americans living in more densely populated areas like Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Fort Collins, Colorado, earned more than 7 percent over the living wage without a college degree – usually focusing on industries ranging from health care to bioscience.

In more major metropolitan areas, Americans without a college degree were less likely to find work that earned them a living wage. At best, cities like Salt Lake City (8 percent below a living wage), Austin, Texas (almost 15 percent below), and Oklahoma City (17 percent below) represented the highest average incomes for non-degree holding workers.

Money, Money, Money

Average Annual Income for People Without a College Degree, By Metro

While metropolitan areas of various sizes reporting the highest average incomes failed to match the median combined U.S. income ($44,148), several came close.

Based on our study, smaller cities may be more financially viable for employed Americans without a college degree. In Odessa, Texas, the average American without a college degree earned nearly $37,800 – more than twice what Americans in New York, Los Angeles, and West Palm Beach, Florida, made. Other small areas like Midland, Texas; Olympia-Tumwater, Washington; and California-Lexington Park, Maryland; also posted the highest average incomes.

Conclusion

Studies have shown employed Americans with college degrees generally earn more than those without – and the gap between college grads and everyone else only seems to be widening. Still, for the millions of working Americans without a degree, there are metropolitan areas where they can earn more than a living wage.

Before deciding on a job change, you may also want to take the cost of living into account and consider the potential value of moving to a smaller city where more Americans than not work despite the absence of a college degree.

Methodology

We collected data from the University of Minnesota’s IPUMS-CPS database. We reached out to the agency and received permission to use the data for website content. We pulled the following variables for 2013 to 2017 from the database for our analysis:

YEAR
STATEFIP
CBSASZ
METFIPS
CPSID
WTSUPP
AGE
SEX
EDUC99
EMPSTAT
LABFORCE
OCC2010
IND1950
INCWAGE
OFFPOV

Across the years analyzed, we looked at 972,615 records that were then weighted. WTSUPP is the variable used to calculate weights applied to this survey. All values seen are weighted using these provided variables, which are calculated to be a more accurate representation of the American population. For the purposes of this analysis, anyone who had any type of college degree was excluded. We focused on those who had education through to some college but no degree. There were multiple metropolitan codes that changed between years, so we made all of the codes uniform. There were also multiple metropolitan areas that were classified as being two sizes. This happened from year to year as well as within the same year. We contacted IPUMS about this, but at the time of publication, we had not received a response. Because of this, any metropolitan area that fell under two size categories was classified as the size that matched the current population data from https://datausa.io/.

Metropolitan area names and groupings were defined using two census data sets, which can be seen here and here.

For the analysis on living wage, we used data from MIT’s Living Wage Calculator for all metropolitan areas. Not all metropolitan areas in the IPUMS data corresponded to living wage metropolitan areas. Because of this, those areas were not included in our overall ranking of cities, nor were they represented in the visual focused on living wage and salary. The metropolitan codes for these areas are as follows:

11300
11340
26100
39100
72850
74500
77350
78700

The living wage data we obtained was in the form of hourly payment. It was multiplied by 2,080 to arrive at the annual living wage – defined by MIT as the wage an individual would need to earn to support his or her family if they were the only provider and working full time (or 2,080 hours a year).

To arrive at our meta ranking for the best overall cities, which we did not have an established source to calculate, we conducted a short survey among 20 people using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk service to determine our own score. Respondents were asked their highest level of education, and those with any degree were disqualified. The remaining respondents were then asked to rate the factors used in our score on how important they would be when deciding on a place to live. There were no attention check questions in this survey.

The weights for the scenarios are as follows:

Answer Choices	Weighted Average (Scale of 1–5)	Percentage of Total Points
Minimum wage you need to make to survive in this area (living wage)	3.6	0.213018
The living wage compared to the average salary of people with your level of education in that area	3.75	0.221893
The average poverty level in the area for people with your level of education	3.4	0.201183
The number of people in the area with a similar education level as you	2.6	0.153846
The average salary of people with a similar education level as you	3.55	0.210059
Total points	16.9

We then ranked every metropolitan area 1 through 306 in each of these categories and multiplied the rank position by the percentage that corresponded to that category. This produced an overall composite score, which was used to determine the “best” area. Best was considered the lowest overall score after our rankings and weighting.

Limitations

We did not include an attention check question in the survey on the ranking values, so it is possible our results are skewed by respondents who did not take the survey seriously.

The data we are presenting rely on self-reporting. There are many issues with self-reported data. These issues include but are not limited to: selective memory, telescoping, attribution, and exaggeration.

No statistical testing was performed, so the claims listed above are based on means alone. As such, this content is purely exploratory, and future research should approach this topic in a more rigorous way.

Fair Use Statement

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