
Highest paying jobs in Topeka for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Topeka 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 Topeka, KS 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.
You may also like: Metros where people in Topeka are getting new jobs

#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $44,900
- #329 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#49. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $45,090
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,650
- Employment: 179,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($49,970)
--- Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH ($49,680)
--- La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($49,470)

#48. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $45,430
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,930
- Employment: 222,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)
#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $45,810
- #489 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050
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)

#46. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Annual mean salary: $46,170
- #147 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Employment: 549,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($88,150)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($80,420)
--- Odessa, TX ($70,950)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Topeka

#45. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $46,490
- #235 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
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)
#44. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Annual mean salary: $47,040
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,300
- Employment: 149,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($70,030)
--- Waco, TX ($63,080)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($57,930)

#43. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $47,150
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Annual mean salary: $47,190
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,070
- Employment: 240,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,830)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,120)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($58,380)

#41. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $47,370
- #395 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in Topeka metro area

#40. Structural iron and steel workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,930
- #135 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)

#39. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $48,310
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)

#38. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $48,390
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,440
- Employment: 63,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area ($55,580)
--- Roanoke, VA ($52,760)
--- Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area ($52,710)
#37. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $48,430
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,290
- Employment: 133,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)

#36. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Annual mean salary: $48,630
- #49 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,040
- Employment: 52,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($66,120)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,000)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,280)
You may also like: Metros sending the most people to Topeka

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $48,840
- #289 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
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)

#34. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $48,980
- #416 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#33. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $49,020
- #393 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#32. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $49,120
- #229 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#31. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $49,920
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
You may also like: Zip codes with the most expensive homes in Topeka metro area
#30. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $50,270
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,350
- Employment: 35,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($61,910)
--- Bellingham, WA ($61,210)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,760)

#29. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $50,990
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- Employment: 362,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($67,770)

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $51,170
- #330 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)

#27. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $52,270
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)

#26. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $53,260
- #330 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
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)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Topeka that don't require a college degree

#25. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $53,760
- #239 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,180
- Employment: 333,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

#24. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Annual mean salary: $54,250
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,150
- Employment: 68,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Eugene, OR ($70,940)
--- Salem, OR ($68,640)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($68,520)

#23. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $54,390
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
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)
#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,610
- #329 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,190
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)

#21. Millwrights
- Annual mean salary: $54,760
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
You may also like: How Topeka feels about climate change

#20. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $54,910
- #253 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)

#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $55,600
- #363 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)

#18. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $55,700
- #298 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)

#17. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $55,760
- #277 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)

#16. Bailiffs
- Annual mean salary: $55,930
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,730
- Employment: 18,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($69,600)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,050)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($66,980)
You may also like: People from these metros are finding new jobs in Topeka

#15. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,380
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#14. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $56,810
- #310 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)

#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $58,020
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)

#12. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $60,480
- #288 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)

#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $63,330
- #323 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410
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)
You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Topeka

#10. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $65,130
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $66,420
- #360 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)

#8. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $66,850
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
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)

#7. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $67,200
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)

#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- #218 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520
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)
You may also like: Most common jobs in Topeka

#5. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $72,540
- #110 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 610
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)

#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $73,750
- #336 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $78,080
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $84,940
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $92,720
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Topeka