Highest paying jobs in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids 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. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,680
- Median hourly wage: $25.81
- Total employment: 1,040 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#49. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $53,770
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $54,350
- Median hourly wage: $26.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $54,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.16
- Total employment: 570 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $54,480
- Median hourly wage: $26.19
- Total employment: 210 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
#45. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $54,490
- Median hourly wage: $26.20
- Total employment: 480 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#44. Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $55,470
- Median hourly wage: $26.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $55,600
- Median hourly wage: $26.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $56,250
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 890 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#40. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 390 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 2,190 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $57,920
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 3,640 people (6.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $58,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 240 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 90 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 480 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 180 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,450
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 3,290 people (5.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $59,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 130 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#29. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $59,780
- Median hourly wage: $28.74
- Total employment: 3,160 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $59,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 580 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 550 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 540 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 1,890 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 970 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 3,440 people (6.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 4,720 people (8.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 7,220 people (13.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 2,440 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 180 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $70,740
- Median hourly wage: $34.01
- Total employment: 140 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $71,280
- Median hourly wage: $34.27
- Total employment: 1,320 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $72,190
- Median hourly wage: $34.71
- Total employment: 1,850 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $73,040
- Median hourly wage: $35.12
- Total employment: 230 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#12. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $76,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 930 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $78,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.77
- Total employment: 230 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $81,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.21
- Total employment: 680 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 140 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $86,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.48
- Total employment: 280 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $91,190
- Median hourly wage: $43.84
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $93,120
- Median hourly wage: $44.77
- Total employment: 790 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $94,330
- Median hourly wage: $45.35
- Total employment: 200 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
#2. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,180
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $115,140
- Median hourly wage: $55.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
