Highest paying jobs in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh 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. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 110 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
#49. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 1,950 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#48. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,900
- Median hourly wage: $28.80
- Total employment: 12,800 people (12.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 4,910 people (4.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $60,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 540 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 1,270 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $60,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 840 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#42. Choreographers
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 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
#41. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 90 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
#40. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 1,120 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $61,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 1,290 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
#38. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 1,190 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $61,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 170 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 1,600 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 2,500 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 4,210 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#33. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 70 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $63,950
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 450 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#30. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 4,400 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Median annual wage: $65,940
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 40 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
#28. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 50 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
#27. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $68,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Total employment: 4,360 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 130 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $69,500
- Median hourly wage: $33.42
- Total employment: 470 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 80 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
#23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 8,480 people (8.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $73,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.25
- Total employment: 1,530 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $73,770
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 270 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $74,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.80
- Total employment: 3,690 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#19. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $74,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.95
- Total employment: 300 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
#18. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: 620 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.58
- Total employment: 4,730 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 470 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#15. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators
- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 50 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
#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 6,340 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $79,340
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Total employment: 40 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
#12. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $79,650
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Total employment: 190 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#11. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 30 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
#10. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $82,380
- Median hourly wage: $39.61
- Total employment: 180 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $82,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.82
- Total employment: 150 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
#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $84,010
- Median hourly wage: $40.39
- Total employment: 720 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $86,510
- Median hourly wage: $41.59
- Total employment: 140 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
#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $86,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $87,400
- Median hourly wage: $42.02
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $92,630
- Median hourly wage: $44.54
- Total employment: 200 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,760
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Total employment: 920 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $99,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.93
- Total employment: 800 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,230
- Median hourly wage: $48.67
- Total employment: 770 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
