Highest paying jobs in Bridgeport for high school graduates

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July 20, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 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. Chefs and head cooks

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

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)

#49. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $63,360
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,990
- Employment: 138,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,900)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,790)

#48. Surveying and mapping technicians

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $63,760
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)

#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $64,000
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#46. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $64,140
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,860
- Employment: 188,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($64,510)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)

#45. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $64,360
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Employment: 549,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($88,150)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($80,420)
--- Odessa, TX ($70,950)

#44. Public safety telecommunicators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $64,720
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

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)

#43. Tree trimmers and pruners

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $66,120
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,040
- Employment: 52,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($66,120)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,000)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,280)

#42. Advertising sales agents

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $68,160
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

#41. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $68,370
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $68,740
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

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)

#39. Industrial machinery mechanics

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $68,910
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

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)

#38. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $69,120
- #33 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)

#37. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $69,160
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,650
- Employment: 248,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,140)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($64,980)

#36. Carpenters

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $69,410
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Employment: 699,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)

#35. Sheet metal workers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $69,960
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)

#34. Opticians, dispensing

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $70,300
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,380
- Employment: 68,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,300)
--- New Haven, CT ($69,460)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($66,670)

#33. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $70,360
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,080
- Employment: 57,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,360)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($54,750)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($52,920)

#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $70,480
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $70,770
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,020

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)

#30. Photographers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $71,160
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

#29. Travel agents

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $72,820
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,650
- Employment: 55,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($72,820)
--- Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($61,710)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,110)

#28. Insurance sales agents

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $73,540
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100

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)

#27. Electricians

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $73,720
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,430

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)

#26. Hearing aid specialists

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $75,130
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,630
- Employment: 7,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($75,130)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($73,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,300)

#25. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $75,150
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $75,250
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730

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)

#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $75,730
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $76,580
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,530

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)

#21. Food service managers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $76,760
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#20. Private detectives and investigators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $77,990
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $79,000
- #57 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

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)

#18. Cargo and freight agents

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $80,300
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,170
- Employment: 96,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($80,300)
--- Yakima, WA ($68,030)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($64,030)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $83,380
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $85,500
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,410

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $85,960
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,090

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)

#14. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $87,740
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 40,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,090)

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $87,760
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,480

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)

#12. Parking enforcement workers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $90,360
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,870
- Employment: 7,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($90,360)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($70,670)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($57,200)

#11. Lodging managers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $92,490
- #7 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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,890

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)

#9. Construction and building inspectors

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $93,460
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $95,200
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

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

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $96,420
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 570

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)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $98,150
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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. Power plant operators

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $98,260
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#4. Real estate sales agents

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $99,880
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $103,040
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $108,010
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
- Annual mean salary: $154,170
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

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