Highest paying jobs in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 5,680 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#49. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $77,320
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 3,740 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $77,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.24
- Total employment: 540 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $77,560
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 1,660 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $77,630
- Median hourly wage: $37.32
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $78,630
- Median hourly wage: $37.81
- Total employment: 940 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $78,640
- Median hourly wage: $37.81
- Total employment: 1,870 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Parking enforcement workers
- Median annual wage: $78,860
- Median hourly wage: $37.91
- Total employment: 450 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#42. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $79,050
- Median hourly wage: $38.00
- Total employment: 2,390 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#40. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $81,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.32
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#39. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $82,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.83
- Total employment: 480 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
#38. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $83,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.98
- Total employment: 660 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
#37. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $84,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 9,990 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#36. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $85,050
- Median hourly wage: $40.89
- Total employment: 190 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. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $85,210
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 40 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
#34. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $85,410
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 26,700 people (11.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $86,160
- Median hourly wage: $41.43
- Total employment: 100 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. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $88,650
- Median hourly wage: $42.62
- Total employment: 1,610 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $89,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.92
- Total employment: 70 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
#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $89,460
- Median hourly wage: $43.01
- Total employment: 2,750 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#29. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $92,640
- Median hourly wage: $44.54
- Total employment: 6,220 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $94,840
- Median hourly wage: $45.60
- Total employment: 1,730 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $96,390
- Median hourly wage: $46.34
- Total employment: 12,570 people (5.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $97,660
- Median hourly wage: $46.95
- Total employment: 240 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#25. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $98,340
- Median hourly wage: $47.28
- Total employment: 2,830 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $98,370
- Median hourly wage: $47.29
- Total employment: 1,300 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $99,010
- Median hourly wage: $47.60
- Total employment: 930 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $99,540
- Median hourly wage: $47.86
- Total employment: 1,030 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
#21. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $100,770
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 9,100 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $103,170
- Median hourly wage: $49.60
- Total employment: 720 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $103,730
- Median hourly wage: $49.87
- Total employment: 3,760 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $105,760
- Median hourly wage: $50.85
- Total employment: 160 people (0.06 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: $106,020
- Median hourly wage: $50.97
- Total employment: 580 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $107,420
- Median hourly wage: $51.65
- Total employment: 1,240 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $107,580
- Median hourly wage: $51.72
- Total employment: 120 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $108,120
- Median hourly wage: $51.98
- Total employment: 290 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
#13. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $109,400
- Median hourly wage: $52.60
- Total employment: 2,380 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $110,310
- Median hourly wage: $53.04
- Total employment: 1,020 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
#11. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $114,300
- Median hourly wage: $54.95
- Total employment: 180 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $116,490
- Median hourly wage: $56.00
- Total employment: 120 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Median annual wage: $116,720
- Median hourly wage: $56.12
- Total employment: 40 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
#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $117,650
- Median hourly wage: $56.56
- Total employment: 3,940 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $123,740
- Median hourly wage: $59.49
- Total employment: 890 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
#6. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $124,040
- Median hourly wage: $59.64
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $124,730
- Median hourly wage: $59.97
- Total employment: 90 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $125,580
- Median hourly wage: $60.38
- Total employment: 9,190 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $126,910
- Median hourly wage: $61.01
- Total employment: 110 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $156,300
- Median hourly wage: $75.14
- Total employment: 570 people (0.24 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: $170,350
- Median hourly wage: $81.90
- Total employment: 750 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
