Highest-paying jobs in Enid 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 Enid 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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1 / 50

#50. Light truck drivers

- Median annual wage: $35,190
- Median hourly wage: $16.92
- Total employment: 160 people (6.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $35,380
- Median hourly wage: $17.01
- Total employment: 40 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.17
- Total employment: 60 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Roustabouts, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $35,780
- Median hourly wage: $17.20
- Total employment: 180 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Pharmacy technicians

- Median annual wage: $35,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.27
- Total employment: 100 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Parts salespersons

- Median annual wage: $36,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 70 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $36,250
- Median hourly wage: $17.43
- Total employment: 50 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $36,400
- Median hourly wage: $17.50
- Total employment: 70 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Blanscape // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Conveyor operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $36,420
- Median hourly wage: $17.51
- Total employment: 40 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $36,540
- Median hourly wage: $17.57
- Total employment: 250 people (10.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 80 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $36,860
- Median hourly wage: $17.72
- Total employment: 130 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $37,210
- Median hourly wage: $17.89
- Total employment: 320 people (13.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $37,440
- Median hourly wage: $18.00
- Total employment: 100 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment

- Median annual wage: $38,630
- Median hourly wage: $18.57
- Total employment: 180 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $40,860
- Median hourly wage: $19.64
- Total employment: 40 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $41,910
- Median hourly wage: $20.15
- Total employment: 60 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $42,120
- Median hourly wage: $20.25
- Total employment: 340 people (14.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Billing and posting clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $42,320
- Median hourly wage: $20.35
- Total employment: 30 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $42,320
- Median hourly wage: $20.35
- Total employment: 60 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $44,390
- Median hourly wage: $21.34
- Total employment: 40 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $44,440
- Median hourly wage: $21.37
- Total employment: 40 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Said M // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $44,560
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 50 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $45,160
- Median hourly wage: $21.71
- Total employment: 100 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $45,230
- Median hourly wage: $21.74
- Total employment: 70 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,250
- Median hourly wage: $21.75
- Total employment: 60 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $46,230
- Median hourly wage: $22.23
- Total employment: 130 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,020
- Median hourly wage: $22.61
- Total employment: 90 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $47,550
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Total employment: 50 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $47,800
- Median hourly wage: $22.98
- Total employment: 60 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $48,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Total employment: 90 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $48,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 120 people (5.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 30 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $51,960
- Median hourly wage: $24.98
- Total employment: 180 people (7.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 60 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $52,390
- Median hourly wage: $25.19
- Total employment: 120 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,440
- Median hourly wage: $25.21
- Total employment: 140 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $52,530
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 40 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,340
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Total employment: 40 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 230 people (9.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 40 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 110 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $64,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.79
- Total employment: 70 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 60 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 150 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $66,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 100 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $69,270
- Median hourly wage: $33.30
- Total employment: 30 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,280
- Median hourly wage: $33.31
- Total employment: 150 people (6.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)