Highest paying jobs in Modesto for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Modesto 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 Modesto, 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: Highest-earning zip codes in Modesto metro area
#50. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $51,970
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,850
- Employment: 47,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($92,800)
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($83,130)
--- Napa, CA ($68,470)
#49. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $52,060
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,290
- Employment: 133,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)

#48. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $52,140
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- Employment: 362,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($67,770)
#47. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $52,950
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,430
- Employment: 137,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
--- Ames, IA ($68,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)

#46. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Annual mean salary: $54,070
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,650
- Employment: 248,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,140)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,980)
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Modesto metro area

#45. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,170
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,200
- Employment: 86,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)

#44. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $54,820
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,930
- Employment: 222,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)
#43. Community health workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,880
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,000
- Employment: 58,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,530)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($61,820)

#42. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $55,680
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,960
- Employment: 65,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($77,890)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($77,690)
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)

#41. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $55,960
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
You may also like: Where people in Modesto are moving to most

#40. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $57,160
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,180
- Employment: 333,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $57,570
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- Employment: 253,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

#38. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $58,430
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 197,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#37. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $59,370
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#36. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $59,550
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- Employment: 103,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($76,040)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)
You may also like: Metros where people in Modesto are getting new jobs

#35. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $59,810
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 660
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Employment: 385,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)
#34. Medical equipment preparers
- Annual mean salary: $60,630
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,070
- Employment: 56,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,170)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($66,150)

#33. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $61,020
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#32. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $61,250
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $61,900
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,520
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)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Modesto

#30. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $62,460
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,100
- Employment: 32,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

#29. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $63,910
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
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)

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $64,670
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)
#26 (tie). Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)
#26 (tie). Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,800
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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: How Modesto feels about climate change

#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $64,900
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370
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)

#24. Structural iron and steel workers
- Annual mean salary: $64,920
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#23. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- #87 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
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)

#22. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $65,440
- #139 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)

#21. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Employment: 699,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Modesto in the last week

#20. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $66,260
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
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)

#19. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $66,990
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780
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)

#18. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $70,190
- #391 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $70,530
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#16. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $71,240
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
You may also like: Highest paying jobs in Modesto that require a graduate degree
#15. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $72,380
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $73,680
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,660
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)

#13. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $74,290
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)

#12. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $74,590
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)

#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $76,080
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
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)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest growing home prices in Modesto metro area

#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $80,620
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $81,160
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
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)

#8. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $83,460
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#6. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $87,930
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Modesto metro area
#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $102,690
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)

#4. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $104,170
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#3. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $105,410
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $106,370
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $147,090
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Modesto