Highest paying jobs in Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield, MA 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. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Annual mean salary: $43,140
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Employment: 891,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($52,950)
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($52,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,140)
#49. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $43,160
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- Employment: 370,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Battle Creek, MI ($60,150)
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($54,930)
--- Albany, GA ($53,570)
#48. Light truck drivers
- Annual mean salary: $43,250
- #111 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,050
- Employment: 929,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,560)
--- Waterbury, CT ($50,100)
#47. Helpers--production workers
- Annual mean salary: $43,910
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $32,000
- Employment: 239,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN ($48,190)
--- Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area ($44,860)
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($43,950)
#46. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Annual mean salary: $43,990
- #152 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,490
- Employment: 156,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($62,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($60,730)
#45. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Annual mean salary: $44,310
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,420
- Employment: 1,850,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($54,450)
#44. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Annual mean salary: $44,550
- #167 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Annual mean salary: $45,200
- #173 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#42. Social and human service assistants
- Annual mean salary: $45,320
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,230
- Employment: 399,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($55,360)
--- Danbury, CT ($54,870)
#41. Printing press operators
- Annual mean salary: $45,370
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,200
- Employment: 160,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($56,850)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($51,730)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($50,370)
#40. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $45,770
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#39. Billing and posting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $46,320
- #36 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- Employment: 445,160
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,850)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,130)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,960)
#38. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Annual mean salary: $46,790
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $37,640
- Employment: 173,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($57,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,920)
--- Salinas, CA ($52,980)
#37. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $47,090
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#36. Loan interviewers and clerks
- Annual mean salary: $47,320
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $42,780
- Employment: 204,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($59,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,710)
#35. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Annual mean salary: $48,360
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,500
- Employment: 141,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)
#34. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Annual mean salary: $48,660
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,990
- Employment: 138,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,570)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($67,900)
--- New Haven, CT ($63,790)
#33. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Annual mean salary: $48,980
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)
#32. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $49,140
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#31. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $49,430
- #64 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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)
#30. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- #60 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)
#29. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $51,640
- #302 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#28. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $51,910
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,750
- Employment: 160,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area ($84,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)
#27. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $52,600
- #406 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
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)
#26. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Annual mean salary: $54,050
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $54,330
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
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)
#24. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $55,220
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
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)
#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $55,270
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#22. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $56,150
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#21. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $56,290
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#20. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $56,420
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#19. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,190
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
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)
#18. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,590
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $33,960
- Employment: 91,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Pittsfield, MA ($58,590)
--- Reno, NV ($50,700)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($50,600)
#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $59,660
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
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)
#16. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $60,520
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
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. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $61,220
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $62,620
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#13. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $63,360
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $64,520
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
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)
#11. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $65,840
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $65,890
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
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)
#9. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $65,920
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)
#8. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $67,560
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
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)
#7. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $70,980
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
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)
#6. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $74,590
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $74,710
- #124 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
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)
#4. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,800
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#3. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $76,960
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
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)
#2. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $77,810
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
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)
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $102,890
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
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)