Highest Paying Jobs in Fort Collins for High School Graduates

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins, 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.

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1 / 50

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

#50. Home appliance repairers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $51,940
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,810
- Employment: 27,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($61,210)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($58,670)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($57,420)

2 / 50

Rob Kim // Getty Images

#49. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $52,040
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710

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)

3 / 50

Canva

#48. Glaziers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $52,060
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,970
- Employment: 52,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($78,840)
--- Salem, OR ($78,000)
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($76,680)

4 / 50

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#47. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $52,160
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)

5 / 50

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#46. Postal service mail carriers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,330
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

6 / 50

Canva

#45. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,340
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

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)

7 / 50

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#44. Chefs and head cooks

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,580
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

8 / 50

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#43. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $53,930
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

9 / 50

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#42. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $55,430
- #313 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

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)

10 / 50

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

#41. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $55,930
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

11 / 50

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,110
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

12 / 50

Pixabay

#39. Hazardous materials removal workers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,170
- Employment: 44,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($76,120)
--- Amarillo, TX ($73,270)
--- Knoxville, TN ($70,000)

13 / 50

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#38. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,320
- #135 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)

14 / 50

welcomia // Shutterstock

#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $56,340
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

15 / 50

Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#36. Electricians

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- #244 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 830

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)

16 / 50

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#35. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- #216 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950

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)

17 / 50

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#34. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

18 / 50

Pixabay

#33. Photographers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,740
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,290
- Employment: 41,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,810)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($71,160)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,440)

19 / 50

Canva

#32. Automotive body and related repairers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $57,770
- #26 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)

20 / 50

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,240
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

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)

21 / 50

Unsplash

#30. Tax preparers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,600
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,710
- Employment: 62,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)

22 / 50

Unsplash

#29. Structural iron and steel workers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $58,830
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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 / 50

Kot500 // Shutterstock

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $59,030
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)

24 / 50

John Leung // Shutterstock

#27. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $59,440
- #79 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)

25 / 50

Canva

#26. Construction and building inspectors

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $60,020
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

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)

26 / 50

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $60,460
- #131 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

27 / 50

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#24. Sheet metal workers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $60,910
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

28 / 50

fizkes // Shutterstock

#23. Public safety telecommunicators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- #27 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)

29 / 50

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#22. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $61,300
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

30 / 50

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $63,060
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230

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)

31 / 50

Pixabay

#20. Meter readers, utilities

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $63,730
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,160
- Employment: 26,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($74,040)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,530)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($67,510)

32 / 50

goodluz // Shutterstock

#19. Real estate sales agents

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $66,630
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

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)

33 / 50

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#18. Food service managers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $67,680
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

34 / 50

Pxhere

#17. Maintenance workers, machinery

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $67,720
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

35 / 50

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#16. Real estate brokers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $68,950
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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)

36 / 50

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $73,310
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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)

37 / 50

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $74,240
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,450

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)

38 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $75,440
- #79 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

39 / 50

Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $75,470
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,510

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)

40 / 50

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $76,370
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190

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)

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41 / 50

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $76,580
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

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)

42 / 50

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Lodging managers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $80,940
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

43 / 50

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $87,130
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)

44 / 50

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $89,820
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

45 / 50

michaeljung // Shutterstock

#6. Power plant operators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $91,940
- #31 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)

46 / 50

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $92,460
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

47 / 50

Prath // Shutterstock

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $93,420
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

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)

48 / 50

Skycolors // Shutterstock

#3. Commercial pilots

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $109,970
- #59 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)

49 / 50

Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $123,910
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

50 / 50

Canva

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Fort Collins, CO
- Annual mean salary: $126,130
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)