Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,320
- Median hourly wage: $23.23
- Total employment: 150 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff 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. Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $48,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $49,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.56
- Total employment: 100 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $49,070
- Median hourly wage: $23.59
- Total employment: 280 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $49,320
- Median hourly wage: $23.71
- Total employment: 140 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Total employment: 120 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $49,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.81
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anatoliy_gleb // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Solar photovoltaic installers
- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50#42. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.86
- Total employment: 220 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 330 people (4.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#39. Community health workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,850
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Highway maintenance workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,850
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 110 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $52,200
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $52,220
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 60 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $52,260
- Median hourly wage: $25.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $52,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DC Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 90 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,710
- Median hourly wage: $25.82
- Total employment: 130 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $54,060
- Median hourly wage: $25.99
- Total employment: 110 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 80 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $55,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.66
- Total employment: 180 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $57,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $57,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 150 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 570 people (8.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $58,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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29 / 50#22. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $59,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 240 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 110 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 300 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 220 people (3.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 80 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $63,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.45
- Total employment: 100 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $64,600
- Median hourly wage: $31.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $64,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 190 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $66,380
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $69,040
- Median hourly wage: $33.19
- Total employment: 280 people (4.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $74,680
- Median hourly wage: $35.90
- Total employment: 210 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,960
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 320 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $77,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.18
- Total employment: 250 people (3.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 360 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $78,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 120 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $97,210
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $114,520
- Median hourly wage: $55.06
- Total employment: 100 people (1.52 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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