Highest paying jobs in New York City 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 New York City 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. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $77,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.30
- Total employment: 25,180 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#49. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $77,650
- Median hourly wage: $37.33
- Total employment: 16,280 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#48. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.50
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $78,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 240 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#46. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $79,680
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 9,610 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $79,840
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 130 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $80,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 11,200 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $80,270
- Median hourly wage: $38.59
- Total employment: 19,500 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $80,460
- Median hourly wage: $38.68
- Total employment: 83,340 people (9.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $80,520
- Median hourly wage: $38.71
- Total employment: 81,630 people (8.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#40. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $81,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.12
- Total employment: 52,580 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.93
- Total employment: 420 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
#38. Rail car repairers
- Median annual wage: $83,200
- Median hourly wage: $40.00
- Total employment: 990 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
#37. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $83,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 6,040 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $83,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.21
- Total employment: 27,080 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#35. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $84,460
- Median hourly wage: $40.61
- Total employment: 2,900 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,660
- Median hourly wage: $40.70
- Total employment: 14,610 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#33. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers
- Median annual wage: $85,610
- Median hourly wage: $41.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Signal and track switch repairers
- Median annual wage: $86,770
- Median hourly wage: $41.72
- Total employment: 1,240 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $87,360
- Median hourly wage: $42.00
- Total employment: 4,360 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $87,550
- Median hourly wage: $42.09
- Total employment: 600 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
#29. Subway and streetcar operators
- Median annual wage: $89,180
- Median hourly wage: $42.88
- Total employment: 4,310 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $90,200
- Median hourly wage: $43.36
- Total employment: 4,260 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
#27. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $92,870
- Median hourly wage: $44.65
- Total employment: 10,440 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Median annual wage: $93,160
- Median hourly wage: $44.79
- Total employment: 850 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $93,700
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 820 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $94,090
- Median hourly wage: $45.23
- Total employment: 960 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $95,360
- Median hourly wage: $45.85
- Total employment: 26,820 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $95,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $95,840
- Median hourly wage: $46.08
- Total employment: 2,190 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,180
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 320 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $98,510
- Median hourly wage: $47.36
- Total employment: 17,970 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,630
- Median hourly wage: $47.42
- Total employment: 7,500 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $99,080
- Median hourly wage: $47.63
- Total employment: 3,100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $100,550
- Median hourly wage: $48.34
- Total employment: 310 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $100,910
- Median hourly wage: $48.51
- Total employment: 280 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $101,920
- Median hourly wage: $49.00
- Total employment: 3,300 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#13. Choreographers
- Median annual wage: $102,510
- Median hourly wage: $49.29
- Total employment: 280 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#12. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $107,410
- Median hourly wage: $51.64
- Total employment: 400 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $107,740
- Median hourly wage: $51.80
- Total employment: 22,570 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $108,470
- Median hourly wage: $52.15
- Total employment: 4,160 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $112,740
- Median hourly wage: $54.20
- Total employment: 2,850 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Median annual wage: $112,970
- Median hourly wage: $54.31
- Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $113,490
- Median hourly wage: $54.56
- Total employment: 9,310 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Terrazzo workers and finishers
- Median annual wage: $120,000
- Median hourly wage: $57.69
- Total employment: 150 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#5. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $120,630
- Median hourly wage: $58.00
- Total employment: 1,150 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
#4. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $121,330
- Median hourly wage: $58.33
- Total employment: 2,440 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $128,980
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $129,210
- Median hourly wage: $62.12
- Total employment: 7,100 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $133,320
- Median hourly wage: $64.10
- Total employment: 10,980 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
