Highest-paying jobs in San Diego 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 San Diego 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: The most expensive homes sold in San Diego this year

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $73,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $73,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 9,690 people (6.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 5,080 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $74,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 490 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Coat drives near San Diego

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $74,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 11,750 people (7.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $74,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 200 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 250 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.11
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $75,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.14
- Total employment: 350 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: San Diego 7-day weather forecast

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: Not available

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 7,330 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wonderlustpicstravel // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Subway and streetcar operators

- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $75,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 840 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.54
- Total employment: 4,260 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best private high schools in the San Diego metro area

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 540 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 160 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#32. Media and communication workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 390 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 1,370 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 690 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $78,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.87
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,830
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Total employment: 900 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Bib Gourmand restaurants in San Diego

BearFotos // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 4,030 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,820 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $82,740
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,810 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 2,700 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in San Diego by diners

mariakray // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $83,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 170 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,390
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 790 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $93,670
- Median hourly wage: $45.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.07 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: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 7,720 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in San Diego

4 PM production // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 910 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $98,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,580
- Median hourly wage: $47.88
- Total employment: 500 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best places to live in the San Diego metro area

HannaTor // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $102,780
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $106,720
- Median hourly wage: $51.31
- Total employment: 920 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $109,000
- Median hourly wage: $52.40
- Total employment: 2,180 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $109,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.49
- Total employment: 4,990 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in San Diego

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $116,160
- Median hourly wage: $55.85
- Total employment: Not available

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $118,830
- Median hourly wage: $57.13
- Total employment: 2,780 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $136,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $147,340
- Median hourly wage: $70.84
- Total employment: 890 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $166,600
- Median hourly wage: $80.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 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: Car insurance rates in San Diego October 2025