Highest-paying jobs in Worcester for high school graduates

For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.

According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.

With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.

Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Worcester for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

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Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Locksmiths and safe repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 190 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 310 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 680 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $65,300
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 410 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $66,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.97
- Total employment: Not available

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $67,030
- Median hourly wage: $32.23
- Total employment: 70 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $69,000
- Median hourly wage: $33.17
- Total employment: 820 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 440 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders

- Median annual wage: $70,090
- Median hourly wage: $33.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: Not available

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 3,930 people (11.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $73,430
- Median hourly wage: $35.30
- Total employment: 1,270 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ITisha // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 1,320 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 2,020 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: Not available

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 2,200 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 2,640 people (7.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#29. Food service managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 410 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Glaziers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $78,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $78,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 350 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $78,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 140 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 1,460 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $78,300
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 820 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $79,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 1,490 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 2,080 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $80,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 450 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.03
- Total employment: 730 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Glen Jones // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Layout workers, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $81,530
- Median hourly wage: $39.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $83,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 350 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $84,690
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 720 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $85,730
- Median hourly wage: $41.22
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $86,060
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 420 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ArtSvetlana // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $88,700
- Median hourly wage: $42.65
- Total employment: 1,290 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,430
- Median hourly wage: $42.99
- Total employment: 260 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $92,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.46
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $95,960
- Median hourly wage: $46.14
- Total employment: 1,860 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.27
- Total employment: 390 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,430
- Median hourly wage: $46.84
- Total employment: 350 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $97,450
- Median hourly wage: $46.85
- Total employment: 480 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $98,720
- Median hourly wage: $47.46
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $99,440
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $101,800
- Median hourly wage: $48.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $112,610
- Median hourly wage: $54.14
- Total employment: 660 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $124,030
- Median hourly wage: $59.63
- Total employment: 90 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $133,820
- Median hourly wage: $64.34
- Total employment: Not available

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.