Highest paying jobs in Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles 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. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $46,440
- Median hourly wage: $22.33
- Total employment: 250 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $46,550
- Median hourly wage: $22.38
- Total employment: 490 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants (tie)
- Median annual wage: $46,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.41
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Payroll and timekeeping clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $46,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.40
- Total employment: 110 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $46,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.41
- Total employment: 100 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $46,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.59
- Total employment: 570 people (6.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $47,440
- Median hourly wage: $22.81
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $47,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Total employment: 370 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $47,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.90
- Total employment: 150 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#40. Procurement clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Riggers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $48,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $48,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $48,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 720 people (7.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 650 people (6.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,370
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $49,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $50,230
- Median hourly wage: $24.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $50,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.31
- Total employment: 940 people (9.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $50,780
- Median hourly wage: $24.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $50,900
- Median hourly wage: $24.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 280 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#28. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $51,150
- Median hourly wage: $24.59
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $53,180
- Median hourly wage: $25.57
- Total employment: 400 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $54,180
- Median hourly wage: $26.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $54,480
- Median hourly wage: $26.19
- Total employment: 350 people (3.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $56,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 170 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 760 people (8.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $60,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 860 people (9.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 360 people (3.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#17. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $61,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 260 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#16. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#14. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 830 people (8.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $64,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Total employment: 950 people (10.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#12. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $64,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 570 people (6.07 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 construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $65,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 1,150 people (12.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $66,880
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 590 people (6.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $66,950
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 130 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $67,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $73,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.27
- Total employment: 270 people (2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#6. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $75,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $76,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.66
- Total employment: 550 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $85,550
- Median hourly wage: $41.13
- Total employment: 500 people (5.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $88,760
- Median hourly wage: $42.67
- Total employment: 640 people (6.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $94,330
- Median hourly wage: $45.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $95,450
- Median hourly wage: $45.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
