Highest paying jobs in Wichita for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Wichita for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $49,630
- Median hourly wage: $23.86
- Total employment: 670 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#49. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $49,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 690 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $50,370
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 1,360 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 230 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $51,260
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 940 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $51,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 150 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#43. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 220 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $52,180
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 180 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Brokerage clerks
- Median annual wage: $52,760
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $53,080
- Median hourly wage: $25.52
- Total employment: 1,110 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.53
- Total employment: 1,250 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Postal service mail carriers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.54
- Total employment: 700 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#37. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $54,190
- Median hourly wage: $26.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,730
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 1,310 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Stonemasons
- Median annual wage: $55,750
- Median hourly wage: $26.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $55,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 470 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $55,980
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 2,510 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 290 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#30. Postal service clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 480 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#29. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $57,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 2,530 people (8.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $58,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 1,500 people (5.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#26. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 370 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#25. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 150 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#24. Wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 80 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 2,660 people (8.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 170 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 2,060 people (6.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 1,800 people (6.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 2,600 people (8.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 190 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $65,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 1,730 people (5.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Upholsterers
- Median annual wage: $66,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.10
- Total employment: 180 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 1,220 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 400 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 350 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $83,580
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 240 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 380 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $89,180
- Median hourly wage: $42.88
- Total employment: 190 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $98,180
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 170 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $106,950
- Median hourly wage: $51.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
