
Highest paying jobs in Hilton Head Island for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Hilton Head Island for high school graduates
The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.
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#50. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Annual mean salary: $39,600
- #352 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,500
- Employment: 141,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,770)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,250)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($59,160)

#49. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $39,650
- #275 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 405,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#48. Machinists
- Annual mean salary: $39,990
- #474 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Employment: 360,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($76,230)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($71,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($69,300)

#47. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Annual mean salary: $40,480
- #372 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Employment: 549,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($88,150)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($80,420)
--- Odessa, TX ($70,950)

#46. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Annual mean salary: $40,700
- #355 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $44,860
- Employment: 188,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($64,510)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($64,140)
--- Decatur, IL ($60,740)
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#45. Self-enrichment teachers
- Annual mean salary: $41,540
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,930
- Employment: 222,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($70,350)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($66,650)
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($63,470)

#44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $41,590
- #429 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,280
- Employment: 402,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)
#43. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $41,610
- #266 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,770
- Employment: 53,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)
#42. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $41,770
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,050
- Employment: 18,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($70,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,120)
--- Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR ($57,460)

#41. Procurement clerks
- Annual mean salary: $42,170
- #191 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,400
- Employment: 61,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($58,310)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,800)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($56,330)
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#40. Carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $42,780
- #353 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,200
- Employment: 699,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,730)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,280)

#39. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $42,810
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Employment: 1,063,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($57,830)
--- Boulder, CO ($56,520)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,930)
#38. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Annual mean salary: $43,080
- #179 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $43,490
- Employment: 156,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($62,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($60,730)

#37. Tax preparers
- Annual mean salary: $43,420
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,710
- Employment: 62,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)
#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $44,680
- #496 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- Employment: 503,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)
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#35. Social and human service assistants
- Annual mean salary: $44,770
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,230
- Employment: 399,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($56,140)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($55,360)
--- Danbury, CT ($54,870)
#34. Automotive body and related repairers
- Annual mean salary: $44,830
- #340 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,430
- Employment: 137,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ann Arbor, MI ($71,350)
--- Ames, IA ($68,340)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,060)

#33. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $45,080
- #493 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 656,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)
#32. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Annual mean salary: $45,110
- #245 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,290
- Employment: 133,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($66,600)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,240)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($60,930)
#31. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters
- Annual mean salary: $45,140
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $38,900
- Employment: 93,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($59,920)
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($58,870)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($56,220)
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#30. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Annual mean salary: $45,400
- #427 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- Employment: 362,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($74,970)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($71,160)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($67,770)
#29. Opticians, dispensing
- Annual mean salary: $45,670
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $41,380
- Employment: 68,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,300)
--- New Haven, CT ($69,460)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($66,670)
#28. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Annual mean salary: $46,050
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $45,070
- Employment: 240,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,830)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($59,120)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($58,380)

#27. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Annual mean salary: $47,780
- #292 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- Employment: 103,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Madera, CA ($76,040)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,800)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($73,360)

#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $49,590
- #362 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- Employment: 417,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)
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#25. Sheet metal workers
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- #198 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 128,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)

#24. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,040
- Employment: 110,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

#23. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $51,920
- #222 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- Employment: 101,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($79,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)

#22. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $52,850
- #403 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Employment: 385,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $53,640
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)
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#20. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $53,900
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,890
- Employment: 119,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

#19. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,160
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,180
- Employment: 333,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)

#18. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $55,000
- #420 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Employment: 977,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)
#17. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $55,210
- #310 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 770
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Employment: 1,427,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $56,170
- #498 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,278,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
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#15. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $57,480
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,200
- Employment: 86,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)

#14. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $57,790
- #299 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 409,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $58,230
- #461 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Employment: 599,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)

#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $59,890
- #506 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Employment: 475,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#11. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $60,600
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,990
- Employment: 168,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
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#10. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $61,250
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 197,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#9. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $61,280
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,470
- Employment: 113,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $63,730
- #300 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)

#7. Real estate brokers
- Annual mean salary: $64,220
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $66,980
- #296 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Employment: 614,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)
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#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $69,700
- #284 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)

#4. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $71,390
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 219,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)

#3. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $77,280
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 31,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($122,290)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)

#2. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $77,640
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $78,590
- #286 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,180
- Employment: 122,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)
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