Highest-paying jobs in Brunswick for high school graduates

For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.

According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.

With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.

Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Brunswick for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

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1 / 50

#50. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $41,930
- Median hourly wage: $20.16
- Total employment: 150 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Billing and posting clerks

- Median annual wage: $43,830
- Median hourly wage: $21.07
- Total employment: 70 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $44,000
- Median hourly wage: $21.16
- Total employment: 60 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $45,110
- Median hourly wage: $21.69
- Total employment: 70 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $46,280
- Median hourly wage: $22.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $46,460
- Median hourly wage: $22.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $46,470
- Median hourly wage: $22.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $46,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.40
- Total employment: 170 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $47,180
- Median hourly wage: $22.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,320
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,450
- Median hourly wage: $22.81
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $47,650
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 210 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $47,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 100 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

hedgehog94 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Pest control workers

- Median annual wage: $47,930
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 80 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $48,080
- Median hourly wage: $23.12
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $48,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,230
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.57
- Total employment: 140 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $49,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 140 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $49,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.88
- Total employment: 150 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $49,870
- Median hourly wage: $23.98
- Total employment: 130 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $51,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 110 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#26. Carpenters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 120 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $52,450
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 200 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $53,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.91
- Total employment: 300 people (6.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,320
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 340 people (7.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,430
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 130 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 210 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 230 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 50 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $58,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.10
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 70 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 150 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 100 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 100 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,600
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: 230 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $66,330
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: Not available

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41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 180 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $69,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,770
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 200 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 50 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 100 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: Not available

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $94,940
- Median hourly wage: $45.64
- Total employment: 90 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)