Aleksandar Malivuk // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Mechanical door repairers
- Median annual wage: $58,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.24
- Total employment: 300 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Tampa for high school graduates
For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.
According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.
With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.
Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Tampa for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.
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2 / 50#49. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 14,210 people (9.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers
- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 750 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 4,680 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 1,180 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 190 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $60,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: Not available
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10 / 50#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $60,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 2,450 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 7,320 people (5.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $61,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 520 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $61,600
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 1,460 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.62
- Total employment: 1,460 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 17,170 people (11.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: Not available
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18 / 50#33. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Media and communication workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: Not available
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 4,610 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,850
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 1,550 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $63,380
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 2,660 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $63,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.61
- Total employment: 640 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,470
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 1,750 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $64,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $65,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 3,970 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $65,290
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 2,090 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mariakray // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: 290 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $67,320
- Median hourly wage: $32.36
- Total employment: 10,380 people (7.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $69,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.58
- Total employment: 2,830 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 7,340 people (5.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 5,290 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 5,120 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $75,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 330 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $78,440
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 440 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $83,980
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 2,820 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $89,320
- Median hourly wage: $42.94
- Total employment: 1,710 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Washburn HM // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $91,330
- Median hourly wage: $43.91
- Total employment: 130 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $91,400
- Median hourly wage: $43.94
- Total employment: 1,140 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $91,880
- Median hourly wage: $44.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $95,000
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 200 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $101,940
- Median hourly wage: $49.01
- Total employment: 430 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.93
- Total employment: 270 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $106,490
- Median hourly wage: $51.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 110 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $110,300
- Median hourly wage: $53.03
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.
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