
Highest paying jobs in Miami for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Miami 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 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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#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $53,030
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,640
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)

#49. Photographers
- Annual mean salary: $53,090
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)
#48. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $53,450
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,490
- Employment: 20,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($66,390)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($59,690)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,930)

#47. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,170
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000
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)

#46. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,390
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,000
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)
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#45. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,670
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,160
- Employment: 19,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,990)
--- Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY ($65,510)

#44. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $54,730
- #337 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,140
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)

#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $55,890
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,130
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. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $56,040
- #83 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,070
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)

#41. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,200
- #327 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,560
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)
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#40. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Annual mean salary: $56,420
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,130
- Employment: 2,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)

#39. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,530
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,940
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)

#38. Riggers
- Annual mean salary: $56,690
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 21,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($89,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,310)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,160)

#37. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $57,040
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,250
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. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $57,950
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
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)
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#35. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Annual mean salary: $58,320
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,890
- Employment: 14,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($104,560)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($68,920)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($60,810)

#34. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,370
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)

#33. Traffic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $58,610
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,140
- Employment: 7,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,160)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,500)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($76,460)

#32. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $60,430
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,650
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)
#31. Flight attendants
- Annual mean salary: $60,460
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,520
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,150
- Employment: 116,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($94,320)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($72,130)
--- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL ($67,620)
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#30. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $62,210
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880
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)

#29. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Annual mean salary: $62,260
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,140
- Employment: 16,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($73,600)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($63,500)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($62,260)

#28. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Annual mean salary: $62,790
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,620
- Employment: 10,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($79,660)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($72,800)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($71,910)

#27. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,910
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,230
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)

#26. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $64,260
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,610
- Employment: 40,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($101,900)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
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#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $64,500
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 33,390
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)

#24. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,790
- #54 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)

#23. Brokerage clerks
- Annual mean salary: $65,120
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,460
- Employment: 44,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $65,470
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,880
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)

#21. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $65,570
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,870
- Employment: 20,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)
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#20. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $65,650
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 720
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)

#19. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $66,260
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,800
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)

#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,440
- #331 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,390
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)

#17. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $67,550
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,280
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)

#16. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,750
- #305 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,010
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)
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#15. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $67,930
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,300
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. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $68,540
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,990
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)

#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,370
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,820
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. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

#11. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $75,910
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
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#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $82,670
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- Employment: 24,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

#9. Gambling managers
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $85,440
- Employment: 3,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($106,830)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($104,140)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($103,210)

#8. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $86,810
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 27,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#7. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,070
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
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)

#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $93,000
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,870
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)
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#5. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $96,610
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,220
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)

#4. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $101,610
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,810
- Employment: 5,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $111,420
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,160
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)
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $115,520
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,720
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. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $116,980
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,070
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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