
Highest paying jobs in Greensboro 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 Greensboro-High Point, NC 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. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $46,820
- #193 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 44,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)
#49. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $46,830
- #381 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340
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)
#48. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,020
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,050
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)
#47. Dental laboratory technicians
- Annual mean salary: $47,770
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,230
- Employment: 30,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($67,730)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($59,560)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($55,140)
#46. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,890
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300
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)
#45. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Annual mean salary: $47,900
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,070
- Employment: 240,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,830)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,120)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($58,380)
#44. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $47,980
- #445 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,510
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)
#43. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $48,040
- #208 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,960
- Employment: 65,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($77,890)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($77,690)
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)
#42. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $48,420
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,380
- Employment: 68,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,300)
--- New Haven, CT ($69,460)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($66,670)
#41. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,880
- Employment: 4,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($84,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,260)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($74,480)
#40. Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $49,010
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,100
- Employment: 23,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($61,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,600)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($55,320)
#39. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $49,210
- #374 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
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)
#38. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Annual mean salary: $49,940
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,850
- Employment: 47,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($92,800)
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($83,130)
--- Napa, CA ($68,470)
#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $50,330
- #213 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 860
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)
#36. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Annual mean salary: $50,430
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,070
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,440
- Employment: 105,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Huntsville, AL ($55,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,260)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,060)
#35. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $51,170
- #330 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)
#34. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- #202 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)
#33. Photographers
- Annual mean salary: $53,080
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,290
- Employment: 41,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,810)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($71,160)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,440)
#32. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $53,250
- #384 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,110
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)
#31. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $53,570
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,630
- Employment: 7,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($75,130)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($73,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,300)
#30. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $53,990
- #175 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
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)
#29. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $55,460
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 790
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)
#28. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
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)
#27. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $56,960
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- Employment: 168,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
#26. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $57,030
- #299 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
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)
#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $57,930
- #232 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,530
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)
#24. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,970
- #449 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350
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)
#23. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $59,010
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
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)
#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $60,800
- #328 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)
#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $61,040
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
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)
#20. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $62,020
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- Employment: 32,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)
#19. Chemical plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,460
- Employment: 29,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lima, OH ($92,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($91,210)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($90,170)
#18. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $63,360
- #136 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)
#17. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $63,400
- #194 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,080
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)
#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $65,090
- #356 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,940
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)
#15. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Annual mean salary: $66,730
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,870
- Employment: 20,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($77,880)
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,690)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($77,100)
#14. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $67,240
- #94 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)
#13. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $67,280
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- Employment: 110,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
#12. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $68,820
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,120
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)
#11. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $70,140
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390
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)
#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $70,380
- #244 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570
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)
#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $72,420
- #221 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,300
- Employment: 105,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)
#8. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $74,260
- #74 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,920
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)
#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $78,340
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)
#6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
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)
#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $89,700
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,200
- Employment: 24,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)
#4. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $91,820
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 27,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)
#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $96,940
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $106,290
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,830
- Employment: 37,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $110,250
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,100
- Employment: 132,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)