Highest paying jobs in Tucson 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 Tucson 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. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $47,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $47,400
- Median hourly wage: $22.79
- Total employment: 1,450 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#48. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $47,490
- Median hourly wage: $22.83
- Total employment: 180 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Procurement clerks
- Median annual wage: $47,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 160 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $48,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Total employment: 260 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#45. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $48,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $48,270
- Median hourly wage: $23.21
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $48,630
- Median hourly wage: $23.38
- Total employment: 960 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#41. Public safety telecommunicators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 210 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
#41. Production, planning, and expediting clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $48,980
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 1,220 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $49,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.86
- Total employment: 250 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 840 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $49,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Total employment: 30 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
#35. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $50,230
- Median hourly wage: $24.15
- Total employment: 1,380 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $52,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 820 people (2.16 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 landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $53,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.73
- Total employment: 310 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $53,740
- Median hourly wage: $25.84
- Total employment: 3,660 people (9.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 1,810 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 160 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#29. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#28. Woodworkers, all other
- Median annual wage: $56,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.06
- Total employment: 40 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
#27. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $56,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 890 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#25. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $57,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 590 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 290 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $58,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 290 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#21. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Median annual wage: $58,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 1,930 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 470 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#18. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 320 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $59,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $59,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Total employment: 700 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 740 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 1,420 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 1,500 people (3.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 930 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#5. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $66,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 1,750 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.63
- Total employment: 220 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 300 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 170 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Total employment: 410 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
