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1 / 50#50. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Anchorage 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 Anchorage 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. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $64,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 250 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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3 / 50#48. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $65,110
- Median hourly wage: $31.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kardasov Films // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sailors and marine oilers
- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $65,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.61
- Total employment: 570 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 2,990 people (17.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $67,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 220 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
flywish // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $68,610
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $69,100
- Median hourly wage: $33.22
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $72,030
- Median hourly wage: $34.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $72,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 250 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $73,060
- Median hourly wage: $35.13
- Total employment: 400 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $73,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.16
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $73,940
- Median hourly wage: $35.55
- Total employment: 1,160 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $74,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $75,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 650 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $77,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: Not available
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $77,670
- Median hourly wage: $37.34
- Total employment: Not available
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,830
- Median hourly wage: $37.42
- Total employment: 890 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $78,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: 150 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $79,680
- Median hourly wage: $38.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $80,040
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Total employment: 300 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $81,440
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Total employment: 130 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 300 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $83,430
- Median hourly wage: $40.11
- Total employment: 130 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $84,020
- Median hourly wage: $40.39
- Total employment: 460 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#19. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,490
- Median hourly wage: $41.58
- Total employment: 160 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $87,010
- Median hourly wage: $41.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Parilov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $87,630
- Median hourly wage: $42.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $89,490
- Median hourly wage: $43.02
- Total employment: 90 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $90,150
- Median hourly wage: $43.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $92,280
- Median hourly wage: $44.36
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $94,950
- Median hourly wage: $45.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,360
- Median hourly wage: $46.81
- Total employment: 1,080 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $97,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $97,820
- Median hourly wage: $47.03
- Total employment: 1,410 people (8.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,170
- Median hourly wage: $47.20
- Total employment: 270 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Said M // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Service unit operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $98,920
- Median hourly wage: $47.56
- Total employment: 140 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $100,400
- Median hourly wage: $48.27
- Total employment: 180 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,970
- Median hourly wage: $49.98
- Total employment: 210 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $110,180
- Median hourly wage: $52.97
- Total employment: 570 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $111,140
- Median hourly wage: $53.43
- Total employment: 590 people (3.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $124,400
- Median hourly wage: $59.81
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $143,520
- Median hourly wage: $69.00
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 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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