Highest paying jobs in Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 460 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $55,220
- Median hourly wage: $26.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,880
- Median hourly wage: $26.87
- Total employment: 240 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
#47. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $55,940
- Median hourly wage: $26.90
- Total employment: 700 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,070
- Median hourly wage: $26.96
- Total employment: 860 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 2,500 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $57,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Total employment: 370 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#43. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,300
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 420 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $57,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.62
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $57,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 1,890 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $57,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 640 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#39. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $57,740
- Median hourly wage: $27.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $58,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 230 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#37. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $58,960
- Median hourly wage: $28.35
- Total employment: 100 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
#36. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 1,280 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#35. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 1,540 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#34. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 240 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Real estate brokers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 1,310 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $60,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.16
- Total employment: 120 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 190 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#29. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,230 people (6.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 930 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $61,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 30 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
#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 1,430 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 260 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $61,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- 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
#23. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $62,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 390 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
#22. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 440 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#21. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 3,180 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 1,730 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#19. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $64,870
- Median hourly wage: $31.19
- Total employment: 1,640 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 4,390 people (11.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $65,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 130 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 330 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $68,630
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $72,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.63
- Total employment: 360 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#13. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $72,280
- Median hourly wage: $34.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 1,170 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $73,150
- Median hourly wage: $35.17
- Total employment: 1,090 people (2.95 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 construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 2,430 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.40
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $80,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- 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
#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $83,780
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 390 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $84,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $86,900
- Median hourly wage: $41.78
- Total employment: 840 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $94,620
- Median hourly wage: $45.49
- Total employment: 40 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
#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,010
- Median hourly wage: $46.64
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $104,370
- Median hourly wage: $50.18
- Total employment: 310 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
