Highest paying jobs in Bangor 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 Bangor, ME 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. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $42,750
- #333 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#49. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Annual mean salary: $43,030
- #224 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Employment: 1,357,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,230)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,870)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($56,650)
#48. Pest control workers
- Annual mean salary: $43,210
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,350
- Employment: 79,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($61,210)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,450)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($57,980)
#47. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $43,320
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,860
- Employment: 188,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($64,510)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)
#46. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Annual mean salary: $43,330
- #237 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#45. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $43,520
- #396 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,430
- Employment: 137,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
--- Ames, IA ($68,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)
#44. New accounts clerks
- Annual mean salary: $43,590
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,870
- Employment: 45,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,190)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($53,440)
#43. Procurement clerks
- Annual mean salary: $43,690
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,400
- Employment: 61,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($58,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,800)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($56,330)
#42. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $44,060
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#41. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $44,690
- #278 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#40. Public safety telecommunicators
- Annual mean salary: $45,490
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,800
- Employment: 93,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($97,380)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,790)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($76,950)
#39. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $46,130
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#38. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $46,300
- #273 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
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)
#37. Community health workers
- Annual mean salary: $46,330
- #112 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,000
- Employment: 58,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,530)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($61,820)
#36. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $46,340
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
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)
#35. Recreational vehicle service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $46,920
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,790
- Employment: 15,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($59,830)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($59,220)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($57,770)
#34. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Annual mean salary: $47,020
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#33. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $47,130
- #177 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,440
- Employment: 105,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,060)
#32. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $47,460
- #329 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)
#31. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $47,500
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,140
- Employment: 137,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, MI ($60,190)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($58,940)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($58,790)
#30. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,520
- #146 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,770
- Employment: 53,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)
#29. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,740
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 670
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Employment: 1,063,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($57,830)
--- Boulder, CO ($56,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,930)
#28. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $48,140
- #443 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#27. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $49,000
- #282 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#26. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $49,420
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $50,700
- #341 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#24. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $51,110
- #197 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#23. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $51,310
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
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)
#22. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $53,350
- #451 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
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)
#21. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $53,470
- #154 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)
#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $53,730
- #366 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
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)
#19. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $54,010
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $54,530
- #207 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#17. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,820
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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)
#16. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $55,140
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
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)
#15. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $55,920
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#14. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $56,050
- #268 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#13. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $56,300
- #327 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
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)
#12. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $58,990
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#11. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $60,960
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $62,810
- #398 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#9. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,500
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#8. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $65,340
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
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. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $65,620
- #382 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#6. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $66,560
- #203 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
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)
#5. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $71,500
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
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 police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $84,820
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- #272 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $91,950
- #71 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#1. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $102,200
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)