
Highest paying jobs in Punta Gorda for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Punta Gorda 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 Punta Gorda, 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.
You may also like: Highest-earning zip codes in Punta Gorda metro area
#50. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $35,610
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,090
- Employment: 31,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($60,540)
--- New Haven, CT ($56,490)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($54,740)
#49. Office clerks, general
- Annual mean salary: $36,280
- #276 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Employment: 2,788,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($49,740)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($48,850)
#48. Social and human service assistants
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- #279 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,230
- Employment: 399,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($55,360)
--- Danbury, CT ($54,870)
#47. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Annual mean salary: $36,810
- #352 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,490
- Employment: 156,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($62,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($60,730)

#46. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Annual mean salary: $37,480
- #446 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Employment: 1,357,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,230)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,870)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($56,650)
You may also like: How Punta Gorda feels about climate change

#45. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Annual mean salary: $38,230
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Employment: 891,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,950)
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($52,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,140)

#44. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $38,910
- #228 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#43. Billing and posting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $39,020
- #259 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- Employment: 445,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,850)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,960)
#42. Pest control workers
- Annual mean salary: $39,390
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,350
- Employment: 79,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($61,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,450)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($57,980)
#41. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $39,940
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,900
- Employment: 93,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($59,920)
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($58,870)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($56,220)
You may also like: Cities with the fastest growing home prices in Punta Gorda metro area

#40. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $40,040
- #482 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,690
- Employment: 397,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($72,500)
--- Anchorage, AK ($71,840)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($71,250)

#39. Light truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,050
- Employment: 929,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,560)
--- Waterbury, CT ($50,100)
#38. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $41,410
- #380 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#37. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Annual mean salary: $41,970
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,500
- Employment: 141,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)

#36. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $42,410
- #406 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
You may also like: Where people in Punta Gorda are moving to most

#35. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $42,570
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
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. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks
- Annual mean salary: $42,920
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,710
- Employment: 110,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tulsa, OK ($58,060)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($55,720)
--- Columbus, OH ($53,800)

#33. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Annual mean salary: $43,220
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#32. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $43,580
- #338 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350
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)

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $44,320
- #344 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
You may also like: People from these metros are finding new jobs in Punta Gorda

#30. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $44,430
- #499 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
#29. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $44,490
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#28. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#27. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $44,870
- #164 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)

#26. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $45,480
- #359 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Punta Gorda in the last week

#25. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $46,440
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
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)
#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $46,940
- #483 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)

#23. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $47,620
- #326 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#22. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $47,980
- #401 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)

#21. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $48,610
- #304 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Punta Gorda
#20. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $49,940
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#19. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $50,810
- #251 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#18. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $53,210
- #386 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#17. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,290
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#16. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $55,130
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
You may also like: Highest paying jobs in Punta Gorda that require a graduate degree

#15. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $55,270
- #319 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)

#14. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,510
- #317 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $57,130
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#12. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,140
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
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)

#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,670
- #473 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Punta Gorda

#10. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $58,430
- #346 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
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)

#9. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $58,900
- #215 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $61,810
- #182 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)

#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,370
- #408 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
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)

#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $63,270
- #454 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Punta Gorda metro area

#5. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $64,130
- #343 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)

#4. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $69,940
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $74,770
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,280
- #185 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $91,730
- #270 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Punta Gorda