ST. LOUIS — If you don't have a bachelor's degree, consider working in the Midwest.
And avoid the beach.
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia and Cleveland ranked U.S. metros by the percentage of available high-paying jobs that don't require a four-year degree. So-called "opportunity occupations" are jobs that pay more than the nation's median wage ($37,690) and are accessible to workers who lack a bachelor's degree.
Click here to see the top 10 metros.
On average, opportunity employment accounts for 21.6% of total employment across the 121 metro areas studied. The 10 metros with the highest opportunity employment rates, which include St. Louis, tend to be located in regional Midwest cities. The 10 lowest-ranking metros include sunny, coastal locales like Miami, Los Angeles and Myrtle Beach.
Nationally, the largest opportunity occupations are registered nurses; heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers; bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks; maintenance and repair workers; and carpenters.
Click here to see the bottom 10 metros.
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