Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 450 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Napa 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 Napa 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Napa
4 PM production // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,630
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Office and administrative support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 130 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Napa area by diners
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $64,750
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $66,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 240 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $66,440
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 1,360 people (17.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $66,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Napa by diners
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 120 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $68,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $69,910
- Median hourly wage: $33.61
- Total employment: 140 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $70,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 100 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $70,990
- Median hourly wage: $34.13
- Total employment: 180 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in Napa
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $71,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.38
- Total employment: 400 people (5.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 110 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $71,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.61
- Total employment: 340 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $73,600
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 50 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,180
- Median hourly wage: $35.66
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Napa area by diners
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Total employment: 160 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
22 / 50#28. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 100 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $74,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $76,130
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $76,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 130 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Napa by diners
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 270 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 70 people (0.88 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: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 350 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $78,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Total employment: 640 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 200 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Napa that don't require a college degree
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $78,760
- Median hourly wage: $37.86
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $78,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.95
- Total employment: 570 people (7.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $79,580
- Median hourly wage: $38.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $80,910
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 240 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 210 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Napa
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $81,310
- Median hourly wage: $39.09
- Total employment: 190 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 210 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $84,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 230 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $84,260
- Median hourly wage: $40.51
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $88,610
- Median hourly wage: $42.60
- Total employment: 120 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Napa
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $89,720
- Median hourly wage: $43.14
- Total employment: 930 people (11.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $94,080
- Median hourly wage: $45.23
- Total employment: 220 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $97,520
- Median hourly wage: $46.88
- Total employment: 70 people (0.85 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: $99,060
- Median hourly wage: $47.63
- Total employment: 340 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $99,450
- Median hourly wage: $47.81
- Total employment: 90 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Napa area by diners
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $100,010
- Median hourly wage: $48.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $100,950
- Median hourly wage: $48.53
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $124,170
- Median hourly wage: $59.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $128,980
- Median hourly wage: $62.01
- Total employment: 280 people (3.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $168,580
- Median hourly wage: $81.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 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.
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Napa metro area
