
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)