
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)