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1 / 50#50. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 250 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville for high school graduates
For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.
According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.
With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.
Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $58,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 7,060 people (9.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vagengeim // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Dental laboratory technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.08
- Total employment: 180 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $58,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 280 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 5,970 people (7.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 1,170 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 220 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $59,970
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 1,550 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $60,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 340 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $60,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 110 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 210 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 1,370 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 3,130 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
First Class Photography // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 200 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,390 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 1,850 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 3,210 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $61,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 1,640 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 1,440 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: Not available
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22 / 50#29. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 820 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 950 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: Not available
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25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 8,200 people (10.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $63,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 220 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Recreational vehicle service technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 250 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 2,340 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 480 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 2,890 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $66,370
- Median hourly wage: $31.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photostriker // Shutterstock
34 / 50#16. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door (tie)
- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 270 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $69,250
- Median hourly wage: $33.29
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $70,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.03
- Total employment: 5,070 people (6.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $72,140
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $72,980
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,630
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 510 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 3,340 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $77,380
- Median hourly wage: $37.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $87,790
- Median hourly wage: $42.21
- Total employment: 510 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $87,830
- Median hourly wage: $42.23
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $94,310
- Median hourly wage: $45.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 1,240 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $106,740
- Median hourly wage: $51.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $109,280
- Median hourly wage: $52.54
- Total employment: 650 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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