Highest paying jobs in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,260
- Median hourly wage: $31.37
- Total employment: 18,270 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 5,840 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#48. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $65,780
- Median hourly wage: $31.63
- Total employment: 19,320 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.68
- Total employment: 110 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
#46. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 59,680 people (9.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#45. Choreographers
- Median annual wage: $66,380
- Median hourly wage: $31.91
- Total employment: 900 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.14
- Total employment: 4,360 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 16,710 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $67,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 710 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
#41. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,350
- Median hourly wage: $32.38
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#40. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $67,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.39
- Total employment: 6,000 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,680
- Median hourly wage: $32.54
- Total employment: 940 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 22,960 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#37. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $67,990
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 8,700 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $68,310
- Median hourly wage: $32.84
- Total employment: 2,130 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#35. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $68,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.98
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $68,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Total employment: 90 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
#33. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $72,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.84
- Total employment: 810 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#32. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 4,680 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $73,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 20,870 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#30. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $76,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 2,080 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $76,880
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 1,190 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
#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $78,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 2,160 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 3,020 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#26. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 820 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Media and communication workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 9,270 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 13,680 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $81,350
- Median hourly wage: $39.11
- Total employment: 7,500 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 7,800 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#21. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $83,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 7,960 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $84,750
- Median hourly wage: $40.74
- Total employment: 3,720 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $85,860
- Median hourly wage: $41.28
- Total employment: 18,990 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $86,190
- Median hourly wage: $41.44
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Median annual wage: $86,990
- Median hourly wage: $41.82
- Total employment: 90 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
#16. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $88,940
- Median hourly wage: $42.76
- Total employment: 110 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
#15. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 120 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
#14. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $99,710
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Total employment: 220 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: $48.19
- Total employment: 1,690 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,290
- Median hourly wage: $48.70
- Total employment: 10,920 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $101,610
- Median hourly wage: $48.85
- Total employment: 320 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Gambling managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.74
- Total employment: 2,230 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $103,840
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Total employment: 330 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $104,160
- Median hourly wage: $50.08
- Total employment: 25,700 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $104,240
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Total employment: 250 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $106,540
- Median hourly wage: $51.22
- Total employment: 220 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $109,100
- Median hourly wage: $52.45
- Total employment: 450 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $117,850
- Median hourly wage: $56.66
- Total employment: 2,930 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $129,800
- Median hourly wage: $62.41
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $164,150
- Median hourly wage: $78.92
- Total employment: 3,510 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
