
Highest paying jobs in Los Angeles for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Los Angeles for high school graduates
The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.
You may also like: Dogs available for adoption in Los Angeles

#50. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $66,560
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Employment: 599,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)

#49. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $66,910
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,630
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- Employment: 417,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

#48. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $67,580
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- Employment: 3,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,140)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($76,210)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($74,210)

#47. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $68,810
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 44,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)
#46. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $69,090
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 20,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- Employment: 503,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor

#45. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $69,240
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 39,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Employment: 977,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)
#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,480
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 54,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Employment: 1,427,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#43. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $69,730
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,740
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- Employment: 29,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ($101,630)

#42. Structural iron and steel workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,850
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,650
- Employment: 71,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
--- Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($84,570)

#41. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $69,940
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,220
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Los Angeles

#40. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,950
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,150
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 128,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)
#39. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $70,910
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,800
- Employment: 93,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,790)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($76,950)

#38. Riggers
- Annual mean salary: $71,200
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 21,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($89,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,310)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,160)

#37. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $72,450
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 656,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)
#36. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $72,500
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,400
- Employment: 44,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
--- Nevada nonmetropolitan area ($81,690)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)
You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor

#35. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,420
- Employment: 59,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)

#34. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $73,370
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 27,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#33. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $73,950
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 31,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($122,290)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)

#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $74,260
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,890
- Employment: 119,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)
#31. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Annual mean salary: $74,480
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,880
- Employment: 4,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($84,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,260)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($74,480)
You may also like: Highest paying jobs that require a 2 year degree in Los Angeles

#30. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $74,550
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 405,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#29. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $74,820
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- Employment: 168,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

#28. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $75,550
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 54,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,278,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
#27. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Annual mean salary: $76,460
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 40,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,090)

#26. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 219,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor

#25. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $77,780
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- Employment: 110,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
#24. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,840
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,770
- Employment: 53,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)

#23. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $78,140
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

#22. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $78,530
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 409,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#21. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $78,850
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,280
- Employment: 402,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,740
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)

#19. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $81,710
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 44,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#18. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,290
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $85,710
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Employment: 475,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,340
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Employment: 614,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Los Angeles

#15. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $86,750
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,810
- Employment: 5,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#14. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $92,810
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,610
- Employment: 40,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($101,900)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)

#13. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $93,080
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,470
- Employment: 113,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#12. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $93,400
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- Employment: 13,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#11. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $93,870
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- Employment: 32,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)

#9. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $98,750
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,290
- Employment: 14,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#8. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $102,060
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 9,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#7. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Annual mean salary: $104,060
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,130
- Employment: 2,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)

#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $105,300
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $106,930
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- Employment: 24,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,030
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,100
- Employment: 132,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $115,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,930
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,300
- Employment: 105,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $155,890
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,180
- Employment: 122,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#1. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $184,260
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,830
- Employment: 37,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
You may also like: Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Los Angeles, according to Tripadvisor