Highest paying jobs in San Diego 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 San Diego 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. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,050
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 1,330 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 13,110 people (8.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $63,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.37
- Total employment: 170 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
#47. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $63,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 4,290 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#46. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 630 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $63,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 230 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 590 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $65,060
- Median hourly wage: $31.28
- Total employment: 820 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 410 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $65,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 120 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
#40. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 240 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $65,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 10,190 people (6.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $66,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 310 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,350
- Median hourly wage: $31.90
- Total employment: 670 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#36. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $67,150
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 260 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
#35. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $67,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Total employment: 840 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 4,230 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $68,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.72
- Total employment: 60 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
#32. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 1,770 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#31. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $70,610
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 520 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $70,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.03
- Total employment: 160 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
#29. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $71,380
- Median hourly wage: $34.32
- Total employment: 1,230 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,960
- Median hourly wage: $34.59
- Total employment: 110 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. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 150 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
#26. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 3,980 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $77,330
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.19
- Total employment: 2,450 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 5,260 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.62
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#21. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $79,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 2,800 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 1,200 people (0.8 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 non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $79,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.40
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Median annual wage: $82,020
- Median hourly wage: $39.43
- Total employment: 60 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
#17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $82,540
- Median hourly wage: $39.68
- Total employment: 610 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#15. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $84,070
- Median hourly wage: $40.42
- Total employment: 820 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $86,070
- Median hourly wage: $41.38
- Total employment: 6,610 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $91,960
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 180 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#12. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $92,680
- Median hourly wage: $44.56
- Total employment: 180 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 40 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
#10. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $96,750
- Median hourly wage: $46.51
- Total employment: 100 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $98,990
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,890 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $99,480
- Median hourly wage: $47.83
- Total employment: 820 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $100,160
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $100,590
- Median hourly wage: $48.36
- Total employment: 5,200 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $105,800
- Median hourly wage: $50.86
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $106,250
- Median hourly wage: $51.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $107,240
- Median hourly wage: $51.56
- Total employment: 2,800 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $139,290
- Median hourly wage: $66.97
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 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: $154,980
- Median hourly wage: $74.51
- Total employment: 400 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
