Highest paying jobs in Atlanta for high school graduates

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July 20, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Atlanta 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 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. Postal service clerks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,130
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070

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)

#49. Electricians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $55,960
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,810

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)

#48. Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,150
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,950
- Employment: 38,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ($57,520)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($56,150)
--- Reading, PA ($53,660)

#47. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,350
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,290

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)

#46. Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,370
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,580
- Employment: 24,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($56,580)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($56,370)
--- Madison, WI ($54,930)

#45. Advertising sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,450
- #114 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)

#44. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $56,790
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

#43. Chefs and head cooks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,230
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,130

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)

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,580
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,800

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)

#41. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $57,810
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#40. Private detectives and investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $58,370
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

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)

#39. Real estate sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $58,930
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,580

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. Automotive body and related repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $59,050
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,710

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)

#37. Construction and building inspectors

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $59,950
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,660

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)

#36. Millwrights

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,010
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,080
- Employment: 44,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($91,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($80,780)

#35. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $60,430
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,560

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,750
- Employment: 160,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($84,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)

#34. Brokerage clerks

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $62,460
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,960

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)

#32. Photographers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $63,580
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,100

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)

#31. Flight attendants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $64,030
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $64,090
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,400

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)

#29. Gas plant operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $64,860
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,290
- Employment: 14,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $65,410
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,490
- #208 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,510

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. Lodging managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $66,670
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)

#25. Food service managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $68,240
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,940

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)

#24. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $68,750
- #290 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,560

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)

#23. Occupational health and safety technicians

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $70,240
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $70,770
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 24,000

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $71,010
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,910

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)

#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $71,190
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,810

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)

#19. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $71,910
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

#18. Hearing aid specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $73,180
- #2 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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $73,380
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 10,910

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)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $73,430
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 26,490

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)

#15. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $73,950
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,320

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)

#14. Detectives and criminal investigators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $76,030
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,030

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)

#13. Costume attendants

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $76,230
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,780
- Employment: 5,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($76,230)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,160)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($62,350)

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

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $77,990
- #258 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,870

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)

#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $78,920
- #283 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,930

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)

#10. Airfield operations specialists

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $80,230
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,360
- Employment: 10,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($88,510)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($80,230)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,230)

#9. Real estate brokers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $80,710
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#8. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $82,390
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $84,970
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- Employment: 13,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#6. Power plant operators

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $88,530
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)

#5. Transportation inspectors

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $94,600
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

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)

#4. Insurance sales agents

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $95,620
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,830

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)

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $110,860
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,580

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. Power distributors and dispatchers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $116,460
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 9,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#1. Commercial pilots

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
- Annual mean salary: $134,820
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610

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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