Highest paying jobs in Boston for high school graduates

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July 20, 2022
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Highest paying jobs in Boston 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 Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 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. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)

#49. Chefs and head cooks

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,560

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)

#48. Sheet metal workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $71,330
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,330

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)

#47. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $72,290
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,070

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. Riggers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $72,320
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

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)

#44 (tie). First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $72,620
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 28,910

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 (tie). Power plant operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $72,620
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $72,950
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,950

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)

#42. Correctional officers and jailers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,380
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 405,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#41. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,400
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,110

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)

#40. Millwrights

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,620
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)

#39. Advertising sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $73,920
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,520

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)

#38. Crane and tower operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,510
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)

#37. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,550
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,400
- Employment: 44,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
--- Nevada nonmetropolitan area ($81,690)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)

#36. Glaziers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $74,990
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

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)

#35. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $75,030
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,830
- Employment: 10,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($75,030)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($69,840)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($68,890)

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $75,740
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,590

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. Model makers, metal and plastic

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,210
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,180
- Employment: 3,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,140)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($76,210)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($74,210)

#32. Occupational health and safety technicians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,420
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,870
- Employment: 20,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)

#31. Electricians

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $76,860
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,990

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $77,350
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,670

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)

#29. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- Employment: 29,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ($101,630)

#28. Insulation workers, mechanical

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $80,580
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

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)

#27. Real estate brokers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $81,170
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)

#26. Structural iron and steel workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $83,340
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $84,400
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,100

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $84,430
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590

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)

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $85,340
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,590

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $85,370
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,420

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)

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $87,450
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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)

#20. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,110
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- Employment: 13,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,210
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,340

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)

#18. Lodging managers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,260
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)

#17. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $88,350
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,700
- Employment: 18,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($97,000)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($88,350)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($75,440)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $89,560
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,270

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)

#15. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,750

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)

#14. Insurance sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $90,410
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,400

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)

#13. Real estate sales agents

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $92,480
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,910

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)

#12. Gas plant operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $94,200
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,290
- Employment: 14,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#11. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $95,980
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,260

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)

#10. Pile driver operators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $96,350
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,880
- Employment: 3,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($106,620)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($106,340)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,880)

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $96,850
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $99,090
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,380

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)

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

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $99,230
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,720

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)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $103,060
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370

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)

#5. Power distributors and dispatchers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $104,470
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 9,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $108,790
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

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)

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $112,560
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,140

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. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $115,720
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,520

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. Commercial pilots

Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
- Annual mean salary: $122,770
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

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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