Highest paying jobs in Atlanta for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Atlanta for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Locksmiths and safe repairers
- Median annual wage: $57,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 280 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Brokerage clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,390
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $57,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 26,550 people (9.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,640
- Median hourly wage: $27.71
- Total employment: 1,080 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#46. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 830 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#45. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $58,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 1,900 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $58,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.17
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $58,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 5,940 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 5,140 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 3,930 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#39. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 15,610 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $59,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 450 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $59,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.52
- Total employment: 5,530 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 4,060 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#36. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,620
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 2,380 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 610 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Photographers
- Median annual wage: $60,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 1,320 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 9,770 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $60,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 1,990 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $61,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 870 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 28,030 people (10.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Rail car repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 280 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $63,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 11,640 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 27,930 people (10.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $67,170
- Median hourly wage: $32.29
- Total employment: 11,720 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $67,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $68,450
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 1,890 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $69,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 7,360 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $71,930
- Median hourly wage: $34.58
- Total employment: 440 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Locker room, coatroom, and dressing room attendants
- Median annual wage: $74,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.92
- Total employment: 210 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: 13,610 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,000
- Median hourly wage: $36.54
- Total employment: 9,430 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $76,270
- Median hourly wage: $36.67
- Total employment: 5,690 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $76,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 420 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 3,800 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 360 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $79,140
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Costume attendants
- Median annual wage: $79,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 260 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#7. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $84,300
- Median hourly wage: $40.53
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $85,450
- Median hourly wage: $41.08
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $87,170
- Median hourly wage: $41.91
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,280
- Median hourly wage: $47.25
- Total employment: 330 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $102,690
- Median hourly wage: $49.37
- Total employment: 500 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $104,580
- Median hourly wage: $50.28
- Total employment: 4,370 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $131,800
- Median hourly wage: $63.37
- Total employment: 310 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
