Highest-paying jobs in Riverside 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 Riverside 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. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $66,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 420 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $67,200
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 240 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 5,320 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $67,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 10,140 people (5.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Total employment: 3,060 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $69,720
- Median hourly wage: $33.52
- Total employment: 430 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $69,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.54
- Total employment: 230 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $69,900
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 2,810 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $69,930
- Median hourly wage: $33.62
- Total employment: 1,510 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $70,110
- Median hourly wage: $33.71
- Total employment: 140 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $70,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.76
- Total employment: 4,110 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mrak.hr // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $70,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 90 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.07
- Total employment: 14,860 people (8.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $71,420
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 2,820 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $72,740
- Median hourly wage: $34.97
- Total employment: 400 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $72,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.02
- Total employment: Not available

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17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,170
- Median hourly wage: $35.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $73,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 750 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $73,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.56
- Total employment: 7,570 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $74,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.74
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $75,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.17
- Total employment: 460 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $75,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $76,030
- Median hourly wage: $36.56
- Total employment: 280 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $76,120
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 310 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $76,350
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 850 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $76,410
- Median hourly wage: $36.74
- Total employment: 3,520 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.76
- Total employment: 310 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 4,750 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 1,520 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 540 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 1,580 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,640
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,540 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $83,830
- Median hourly wage: $40.30
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,920
- Median hourly wage: $40.35
- Total employment: 8,720 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $85,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 200 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $86,590
- Median hourly wage: $41.63
- Total employment: 1,330 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $93,690
- Median hourly wage: $45.04
- Total employment: 4,920 people (2.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,720
- Median hourly wage: $45.54
- Total employment: 240 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $96,080
- Median hourly wage: $46.19
- Total employment: 4,420 people (2.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $96,720
- Median hourly wage: $46.50
- Total employment: 140 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $98,460
- Median hourly wage: $47.34
- Total employment: 80 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $105,340
- Median hourly wage: $50.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $106,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.37
- Total employment: 5,920 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.29
- Total employment: 1,820 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $118,250
- Median hourly wage: $56.85
- Total employment: 130 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $123,470
- Median hourly wage: $59.36
- Total employment: 360 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $126,380
- Median hourly wage: $60.76
- Total employment: 1,430 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $126,640
- Median hourly wage: $60.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,380
- Median hourly wage: $61.24
- Total employment: 620 people (0.37 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: $159,820
- Median hourly wage: $76.84
- Total employment: 1,260 people (0.74 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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