Highest paying jobs in Honolulu for high school graduates

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July 20, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Honolulu 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 Honolulu, HI 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. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $59,930
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $60,150
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

#48. Maintenance workers, machinery

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $60,420
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,960
- Employment: 65,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($77,890)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($77,690)
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)

#47. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $60,730
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $61,060
- #430 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,370

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $61,140
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,380

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $61,580
- #265 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,370

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $61,900
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#42. Insurance sales agents

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $63,560
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740

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)

#41. Riggers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $65,680
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,020
- Employment: 21,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($89,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,310)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,160)

#40. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $66,920
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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. Glaziers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,970
- Employment: 52,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($78,840)
--- Salem, OR ($78,000)
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($76,680)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $70,090
- #107 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,040

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)

#37. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $70,500
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)

#36. Construction and building inspectors

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $70,800
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

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)

#35. Machinists

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $71,070
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Employment: 360,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($76,230)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $72,520
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770

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)

#33. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $73,070
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,950
- Employment: 54,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,390)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,460)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($73,070)

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $73,620
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800

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)

#31. Insulation workers, mechanical

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $74,030
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,470
- Employment: 27,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,380)
--- Syracuse, NY ($97,670)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,740)

#30. Chefs and head cooks

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $74,280
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $74,360
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300

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)

#28. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $74,870
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#27. Boilermakers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $76,720
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,430
- Employment: 14,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,660)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($96,080)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($90,620)

#26. Transportation inspectors

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $76,880
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #271 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

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)

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $77,350
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670

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. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $78,890
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)

#22. Sheet metal workers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $79,200
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 128,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)

#21. Industrial machinery mechanics

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $79,800
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

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)

#20. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,610
- Employment: 40,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($101,900)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)

#19. Food service managers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $80,510
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#18. Electricians

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $80,530
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,360

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)

#17. Carpenters

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $81,730
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,050

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)

#16. Structural iron and steel workers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $82,330
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,650
- Employment: 71,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
--- Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($84,570)

#15. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $82,520
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $82,710
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170

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)

#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $84,290
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $87,950
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,110

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)

#11. Crane and tower operators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $89,620
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 44,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#10. Power plant operators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $90,100
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

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)

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

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $91,190
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,170

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)

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $104,170
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

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)

#7. Lodging managers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $111,410
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

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)

#6. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $113,480
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $113,840
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

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)

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $115,050
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

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)

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $120,740
- #34 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

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)

#2. Real estate brokers

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $123,880
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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)

#1. Commercial pilots

Honolulu, HI
- Annual mean salary: $143,720
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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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