Highest paying jobs in Colorado Springs for high school graduates

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July 20, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs, CO 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.

#50. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $49,850
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,510
- Employment: 38,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($64,250)
--- Savannah, GA ($62,660)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($59,890)

#49. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $49,880
- #280 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

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)

#48. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $50,200
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Employment: 1,063,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($57,830)
--- Boulder, CO ($56,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,930)

#47. Insurance sales agents

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $51,620
- #390 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,360

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)

#46. Recreational vehicle service technicians

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $51,930
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Employment: 15,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($59,830)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($59,220)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($57,770)

#45. Postal service mail carriers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $52,480
- #424 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780

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)

#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $52,770
- #293 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,450
- #128 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

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)

#42. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,600
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#41. Postal service clerks

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,610
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#40. Surveying and mapping technicians

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,860
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#39. Electricians

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,960
- #307 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470

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)

#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $54,350
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#37. Advertising sales agents

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $54,790
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

#36. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $54,970
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,420
- Employment: 22,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area ($85,480)
--- Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area ($77,330)
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)

#35. Correctional officers and jailers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $54,990
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

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)

#34. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $55,350
- #149 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#33. Automotive body and related repairers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $55,810
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

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)

#32. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,610
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#31. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,150
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

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)

#30. Sheet metal workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

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)

#29. Chefs and head cooks

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,900
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- Employment: 101,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($79,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)

#28. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $60,090
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $60,990
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#26. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,950
- Employment: 54,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,460)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($73,070)

#25. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $61,120
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,150
- Employment: 68,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Eugene, OR ($70,940)
--- Salem, OR ($68,640)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($68,520)

#24. Real estate sales agents

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $62,120
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090

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)

#23. Construction and building inspectors

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $62,570
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $62,680
- #101 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,680

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)

#21. Crane and tower operators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $63,030
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $63,180
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#19. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $68,080
- #153 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

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. Food service managers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $68,390
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $68,790
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#15 (tie). Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $69,170
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170

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)

#15 (tie). Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $69,170
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900

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)

#14. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $70,700
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,570

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)

#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $70,840
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,840

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)

#12. Real estate brokers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $71,180
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#11. Lodging managers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $72,750
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $75,690
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

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)

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $76,910
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#8. Power plant operators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $78,160
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

#7. Private detectives and investigators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $79,000
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $79,920
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#5. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $87,170
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $90,140
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $101,450
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $103,870
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#1. Commercial pilots

Colorado Springs, CO
- Annual mean salary: $110,930
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

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