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1 / 50#50. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 270 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Modesto 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 Modesto 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. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 840 people (4.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 170 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 300 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $63,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 200 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $63,930
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 150 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anatoliy_gleb // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Solar photovoltaic installers
- Median annual wage: $64,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.78
- Total employment: 90 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 320 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $64,260
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Total employment: 130 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $64,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 100 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,450
- Median hourly wage: $30.98
- Total employment: 360 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $64,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 140 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $64,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 1,450 people (7.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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15 / 50#36. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $66,450
- Median hourly wage: $31.95
- Total employment: 120 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $67,270
- Median hourly wage: $32.34
- Total employment: 140 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $68,280
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 380 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $69,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.51
- Total employment: 150 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $71,010
- Median hourly wage: $34.14
- Total employment: 1,580 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $71,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.37
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $72,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $72,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.05
- Total employment: 220 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 300 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $73,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 420 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $75,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.24
- Total employment: 760 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $77,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 1,380 people (7.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 930 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $78,510
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 810 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Food cooking machine operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $80,310
- Median hourly wage: $38.61
- Total employment: 150 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rezoff // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $80,930
- Median hourly wage: $38.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $82,050
- Median hourly wage: $39.45
- Total employment: 150 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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34 / 50#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $82,080
- Median hourly wage: $39.46
- Total employment: 400 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 220 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $83,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.19
- Total employment: 180 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $85,790
- Median hourly wage: $41.25
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,050
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Mirnes // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $86,150
- Median hourly wage: $41.42
- Total employment: 160 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $87,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.84
- Total employment: 470 people (2.39 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: $87,430
- Median hourly wage: $42.03
- Total employment: 630 people (3.22 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: $95,040
- Median hourly wage: $45.69
- Total employment: 780 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 310 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $97,840
- Median hourly wage: $47.04
- Total employment: 140 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $98,270
- Median hourly wage: $47.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $101,980
- Median hourly wage: $49.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $107,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.49
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $109,770
- Median hourly wage: $52.77
- Total employment: 770 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $110,920
- Median hourly wage: $53.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $155,550
- Median hourly wage: $74.78
- Total employment: 130 people (0.66 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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