Highest-paying jobs in San Francisco 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 Francisco 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. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $84,840
- Median hourly wage: $40.79
- Total employment: 270 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

paul rushton // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Parking enforcement workers

- Median annual wage: $85,090
- Median hourly wage: $40.91
- Total employment: 480 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $86,120
- Median hourly wage: $41.41
- Total employment: 2,650 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $90,160
- Median hourly wage: $43.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $90,850
- Median hourly wage: $43.68
- Total employment: Not available

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6 / 50

#45. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $92,270
- Median hourly wage: $44.36
- Total employment: 2,520 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $93,290
- Median hourly wage: $44.85
- Total employment: 540 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $93,750
- Median hourly wage: $45.07
- Total employment: 9,520 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $95,310
- Median hourly wage: $45.82
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $95,430
- Median hourly wage: $45.88
- Total employment: 340 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $95,670
- Median hourly wage: $46.00
- Total employment: 200 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $98,140
- Median hourly wage: $47.18
- Total employment: 1,020 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $99,300
- Median hourly wage: $47.74
- Total employment: 26,820 people (11.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $99,350
- Median hourly wage: $47.76
- Total employment: 160 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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15 / 50

#36. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $99,420
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 2,840 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $100,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 6,250 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $100,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.20
- Total employment: 3,040 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $100,540
- Median hourly wage: $48.34
- Total employment: 1,620 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $101,130
- Median hourly wage: $48.62
- Total employment: 11,920 people (4.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $102,090
- Median hourly wage: $49.08
- Total employment: 2,460 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Model makers, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $102,130
- Median hourly wage: $49.10
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $103,090
- Median hourly wage: $49.56
- Total employment: 10,110 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $103,110
- Median hourly wage: $49.57
- Total employment: 1,130 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,560
- Median hourly wage: $49.79
- Total employment: 1,210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $105,350
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 240 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $105,800
- Median hourly wage: $50.87
- Total employment: 410 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $108,370
- Median hourly wage: $52.10
- Total employment: 250 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $109,900
- Median hourly wage: $52.84
- Total employment: 540 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $110,830
- Median hourly wage: $53.29
- Total employment: 410 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $110,990
- Median hourly wage: $53.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $115,980
- Median hourly wage: $55.76
- Total employment: 1,010 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $117,350
- Median hourly wage: $56.42
- Total employment: 4,560 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $118,520
- Median hourly wage: $56.98
- Total employment: 290 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $121,790
- Median hourly wage: $58.56
- Total employment: 80 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

- Median annual wage: $122,760
- Median hourly wage: $59.02
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $123,390
- Median hourly wage: $59.32
- Total employment: 1,160 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $124,120
- Median hourly wage: $59.67
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $125,150
- Median hourly wage: $60.17
- Total employment: 2,430 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $125,300
- Median hourly wage: $60.24
- Total employment: 690 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $127,850
- Median hourly wage: $61.47
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $128,470
- Median hourly wage: $61.77
- Total employment: 750 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $130,940
- Median hourly wage: $62.95
- Total employment: 4,070 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Parilov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $133,080
- Median hourly wage: $63.98
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $133,190
- Median hourly wage: $64.03
- Total employment: 7,860 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

HannaTor // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $135,990
- Median hourly wage: $65.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $138,790
- Median hourly wage: $66.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $145,830
- Median hourly wage: $70.11
- Total employment: 190 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $164,020
- Median hourly wage: $78.86
- Total employment: 390 people (0.16 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: $173,900
- Median hourly wage: $83.61
- Total employment: 1,720 people (0.72 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.