Highest paying jobs in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis 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. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $64,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.17
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#49. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,010
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 120 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
#48. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 860 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $66,080
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: 6,690 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $67,130
- Median hourly wage: $32.27
- Total employment: 860 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $67,740
- Median hourly wage: $32.57
- Total employment: 15,930 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $68,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,350
- Median hourly wage: $32.86
- Total employment: 240 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $68,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.96
- Total employment: 870 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $68,770
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 90 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $69,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 8,350 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $69,250
- Median hourly wage: $33.30
- Total employment: 470 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#38. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $70,960
- Median hourly wage: $34.11
- Total employment: 560 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Hazardous materials removal workers
- Median annual wage: $71,020
- Median hourly wage: $34.14
- Total employment: 320 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $71,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 4,550 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $72,270
- Median hourly wage: $34.75
- Total employment: 8,160 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $73,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 15,710 people (8.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 150 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
#32. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $76,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 490 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $77,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.08
- Total employment: 20,730 people (11.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 7,380 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#29. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $77,850
- Median hourly wage: $37.43
- Total employment: 220 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 5,400 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 730 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#26. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $79,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Total employment: 470 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $79,730
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Total employment: 880 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $81,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.97
- Total employment: 830 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $82,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 6,040 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $82,540
- Median hourly wage: $39.68
- Total employment: 5,530 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $82,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.87
- Total employment: 360 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $83,390
- Median hourly wage: $40.09
- Total employment: 4,200 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $84,810
- Median hourly wage: $40.77
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $85,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 530 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $85,980
- Median hourly wage: $41.34
- Total employment: 520 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Median annual wage: $89,220
- Median hourly wage: $42.89
- Total employment: 370 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#13. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 320 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $91,380
- Median hourly wage: $43.93
- Total employment: 7,020 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $91,490
- Median hourly wage: $43.99
- Total employment: 2,080 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $94,600
- Median hourly wage: $45.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $95,790
- Median hourly wage: $46.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $99,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 320 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#7. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $101,720
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Total employment: 460 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#6. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $103,030
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 270 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.96
- Total employment: 720 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $104,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.26
- Total employment: 500 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $107,600
- Median hourly wage: $51.73
- Total employment: 2,140 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $108,420
- Median hourly wage: $52.13
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $115,080
- Median hourly wage: $55.33
- Total employment: 110 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
