Highest paying jobs in Columbia for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Columbia 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 Columbia 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. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $46,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 100 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#49. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $46,670
- Median hourly wage: $22.44
- Total employment: 400 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Telecommunications line installers and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 250 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Structural iron and steel workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 100 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#46. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $47,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $47,420
- Median hourly wage: $22.80
- Total employment: 210 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#44. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $47,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.88
- Total employment: 170 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $47,730
- Median hourly wage: $22.95
- Total employment: 2,720 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $48,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.09
- Total employment: 180 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $48,170
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 670 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#40. New accounts clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,410
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- 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
#39. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $48,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 520 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#37. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $49,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Total employment: 660 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $49,300
- Median hourly wage: $23.70
- Total employment: 1,060 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#35. Mechanical door repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $49,750
- Median hourly wage: $23.92
- Total employment: 890 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#33. Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $50,070
- Median hourly wage: $24.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#32. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $50,760
- Median hourly wage: $24.41
- Total employment: 430 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#31. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $50,820
- Median hourly wage: $24.43
- Total employment: 850 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
#30. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.76
- Total employment: 590 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#29. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $51,950
- Median hourly wage: $24.98
- Total employment: 1,570 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Total employment: 2,010 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Choreographers
- Median annual wage: $54,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $55,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#25. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $55,790
- Median hourly wage: $26.82
- Total employment: 250 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#24. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $55,990
- Median hourly wage: $26.92
- Total employment: 1,310 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 130 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#22. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $58,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 350 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
#21. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $58,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 310 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $58,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 530 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 6,340 people (16.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 1,600 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 1,340 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 3,540 people (9.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 1,490 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 80 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $64,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $65,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Total employment: 290 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 1,150 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 1,860 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $66,900
- Median hourly wage: $32.16
- Total employment: 290 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $68,470
- Median hourly wage: $32.92
- Total employment: 630 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 600 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
#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $88,110
- Median hourly wage: $42.36
- Total employment: 160 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
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $93,380
- Median hourly wage: $44.89
- Total employment: 460 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $103,800
- Median hourly wage: $49.91
- 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
#1. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $115,210
- Median hourly wage: $55.39
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
