Highest paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina 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 Charleston, South Carolina 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. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $48,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 90 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
#49. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $48,590
- Median hourly wage: $23.36
- Total employment: 1,910 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#48. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $48,660
- Median hourly wage: $23.40
- Total employment: 220 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 290 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#46. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $49,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 1,880 people (5.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#45. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $49,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Total employment: 330 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $50,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Total employment: 900 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $50,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 160 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $50,570
- Median hourly wage: $24.31
- Total employment: 570 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $50,980
- Median hourly wage: $24.51
- Total employment: 360 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
#40. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#39. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $52,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.02
- Total employment: 340 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $52,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Total employment: 2,990 people (8.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $52,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 840 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $53,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.53
- Total employment: 1,080 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,790
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Total employment: 690 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $54,600
- Median hourly wage: $26.25
- Total employment: 530 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $54,880
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 810 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 30 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
#30. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $55,130
- Median hourly wage: $26.50
- Total employment: 560 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $56,690
- Median hourly wage: $27.25
- Total employment: 820 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $57,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 740 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#27. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $57,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 1,390 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#26. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $57,730
- Median hourly wage: $27.75
- Total employment: 340 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 4,360 people (12.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#23. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 3,100 people (8.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Total employment: 520 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 620 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 690 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 190 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 440 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 1,650 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $63,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Total employment: 1,860 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 1,090 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $66,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.76
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $68,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Total employment: 270 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 1,610 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,580
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 380 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $72,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.02
- Total employment: 140 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 150 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,540
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 420 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $76,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 140 people (0.39 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: $80,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Total employment: 280 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $82,760
- Median hourly wage: $39.79
- Total employment: 150 people (0.41 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: $100,710
- Median hourly wage: $48.42
- Total employment: 450 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
