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1 / 50#50. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 170 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Salinas 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 Salinas 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.
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
anatoliy_gleb // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Solar photovoltaic installers
- Median annual wage: $62,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: Not available
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $62,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.20
- Total employment: 70 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Procurement clerks
- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: Not available
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $64,580
- Median hourly wage: $31.05
- Total employment: 380 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $65,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 150 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SpeedKingz // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Personal service managers, all other
- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $67,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $67,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.58
- Total employment: 130 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $67,850
- Median hourly wage: $32.62
- Total employment: 220 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $68,770
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 540 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $68,800
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Total employment: 230 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $69,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.44
- Total employment: 170 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $71,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.40
- Total employment: 370 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 1,300 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $72,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 340 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 340 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $73,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 140 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $74,270
- Median hourly wage: $35.71
- Total employment: 1,210 people (6.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $75,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: 240 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 190 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $77,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.19
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $77,890
- Median hourly wage: $37.45
- Total employment: 450 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $78,790
- Median hourly wage: $37.88
- Total employment: 380 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $79,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.00
- Total employment: 290 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $79,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 330 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 170 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 1,040 people (5.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $85,700
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: Not available
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,710
- Median hourly wage: $42.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $90,430
- Median hourly wage: $43.48
- Total employment: 500 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 140 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $92,300
- Median hourly wage: $44.37
- Total employment: 510 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $93,310
- Median hourly wage: $44.86
- Total employment: 80 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $99,110
- Median hourly wage: $47.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
socrates471 // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $99,320
- Median hourly wage: $47.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $105,350
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 130 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,960
- Median hourly wage: $50.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $106,490
- Median hourly wage: $51.20
- Total employment: 1,490 people (7.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $122,290
- Median hourly wage: $58.80
- Total employment: 780 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $122,820
- Median hourly wage: $59.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $129,880
- Median hourly wage: $62.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $141,730
- Median hourly wage: $68.14
- Total employment: 140 people (0.77 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.
