Highest paying jobs in Reading 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 Reading 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. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $49,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 30 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
#49. Travel agents
- Median annual wage: $49,170
- Median hourly wage: $23.64
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $49,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Total employment: 290 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Pourers and casters, metal
- Median annual wage: $49,350
- Median hourly wage: $23.72
- Total employment: 150 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $49,760
- Median hourly wage: $23.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#45. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $49,930
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 170 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
#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $50,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 160 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $50,730
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 550 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 230 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $51,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.80
- Total employment: 50 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
#40. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $52,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#39. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $52,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#38. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,440
- Median hourly wage: $25.69
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#37. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $53,740
- Median hourly wage: $25.84
- Total employment: 290 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $53,850
- Median hourly wage: $25.89
- Total employment: 190 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Median annual wage: $55,260
- Median hourly wage: $26.57
- Total employment: 40 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
#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $55,790
- Median hourly wage: $26.82
- Total employment: 590 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $56,030
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 100 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $56,300
- Median hourly wage: $27.07
- Total employment: 170 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#30. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,880
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 440 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $57,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 130 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
#28. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $57,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 380 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $57,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Hazardous materials removal workers
- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $58,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 140 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $58,140
- Median hourly wage: $27.95
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.42
- Total employment: 1,700 people (10.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#22. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 780 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 900 people (5.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $59,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.83
- Total employment: 110 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Total employment: 380 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#17. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 240 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 260 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 940 people (5.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 120 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 1,260 people (7.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#11. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 690 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#10. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $71,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.36
- Total employment: 1,510 people (9.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,210
- Median hourly wage: $35.68
- Total employment: 710 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,200
- Median hourly wage: $36.16
- Total employment: 640 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 630 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 240 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $80,810
- Median hourly wage: $38.85
- Total employment: 110 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,970
- Median hourly wage: $39.41
- Total employment: 90 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#3. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,710
- Median hourly wage: $40.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 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: $95,250
- Median hourly wage: $45.79
- Total employment: 160 people (0.98 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: $97,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
