Highest paying jobs in Phoenix for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Phoenix for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Phoenix for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $58,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 310 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Real estate sales agents (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 7,200 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 5,020 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 1,310 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 200 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $59,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $59,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 990 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,910
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 19,090 people (8.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 11,030 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 23,400 people (10.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#40. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 2,560 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#39. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 310 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#38. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $61,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 4,740 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 920 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#36. New accounts clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 18,100 people (8.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $62,900
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 700 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#33. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 5,890 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $63,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners
- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $63,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 1,700 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 170 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Subway and streetcar operators
- Median annual wage: $65,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 170 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 1,990 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 310 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Lodging managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 350 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,150
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 4,190 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $66,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,880
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 7,210 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.26
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#19. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#18. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $69,830
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Total employment: 410 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $71,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $73,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 550 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $73,990
- Median hourly wage: $35.57
- Total employment: 2,410 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $74,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 13,030 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $79,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 7,790 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $79,770
- Median hourly wage: $38.35
- Total employment: 120 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $80,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.68
- Total employment: 270 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $83,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Airfield operations specialists
- Median annual wage: $85,180
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $85,520
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,240 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $93,540
- Median hourly wage: $44.97
- Total employment: 2,070 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $95,830
- Median hourly wage: $46.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $96,280
- Median hourly wage: $46.29
- Total employment: 1,250 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $104,060
- Median hourly wage: $50.03
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $105,340
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $105,390
- Median hourly wage: $50.67
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $106,050
- Median hourly wage: $50.99
- Total employment: 1,350 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
