Highest-paying jobs in Fresno 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 Fresno 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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1 / 50

#50. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 420 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

#49. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $61,560
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 170 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 110 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.80
- Total employment: 1,030 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Locksmiths and safe repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,230
- Median hourly wage: $29.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $62,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 120 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $63,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 760 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $63,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 110 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $64,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.80
- Total employment: 290 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 510 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $64,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 90 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 180 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 60 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 120 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 1,200 people (2.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $66,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 950 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $66,630
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 2,870 people (6.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $67,170
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Total employment: 4,010 people (8.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $68,410
- Median hourly wage: $32.89
- Total employment: 1,850 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $69,590
- Median hourly wage: $33.46
- Total employment: 1,630 people (3.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $69,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.48
- Total employment: 780 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.54
- Total employment: 100 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $70,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Psychiatric aides

- Median annual wage: $70,710
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: Not available

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26 / 50

#25. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $71,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 420 people (0.89 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: $73,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.40
- Total employment: 420 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 80 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.14
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $75,880
- Median hourly wage: $36.48
- Total employment: 110 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,210
- Median hourly wage: $36.64
- Total employment: 240 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $76,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.99
- Total employment: 290 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $77,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.39
- Total employment: 960 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,080
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 1,360 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 2,010 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $82,020
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 1,320 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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37 / 50

#14. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $83,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.03
- Total employment: 150 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $85,360
- Median hourly wage: $41.04
- Total employment: 550 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.92
- Total employment: 70 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $92,010
- Median hourly wage: $44.24
- Total employment: 2,640 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.80
- Total employment: 650 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $93,640
- Median hourly wage: $45.02
- Total employment: 380 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $97,740
- Median hourly wage: $46.99
- Total employment: 180 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $101,640
- Median hourly wage: $48.87
- Total employment: 1,540 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $104,980
- Median hourly wage: $50.47
- Total employment: 390 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $105,110
- Median hourly wage: $50.53
- Total employment: 100 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $129,860
- Median hourly wage: $62.43
- Total employment: 340 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $130,740
- Median hourly wage: $62.85
- Total employment: 210 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $132,930
- Median hourly wage: $63.91
- Total employment: 330 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $136,640
- Median hourly wage: $65.69
- Total employment: 150 people (0.31 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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