A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Boulder for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Boulder
New Africa // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.71
- Total employment: 130 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 80 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,370
- Median hourly wage: $27.10
- Total employment: 320 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Viktoriia Hnatiuk // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,560
- Median hourly wage: $27.19
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Boulder
Canva
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 410 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,000
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 300 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.77
- Total employment: 480 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.83
- Total employment: 430 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Boulder?
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 380 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 100 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 640 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 240 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Boulder by diners
Canva
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 290 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Arsenii Palivoda // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 120 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 50 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 360 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
You may also like: Highest-rated cheap eats in Boulder by diners
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 900 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.16
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 120 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.78
- Total employment: 250 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.80
- Total employment: 130 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Boulder
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.89
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 200 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Kot500 // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 160 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,570
- Median hourly wage: $31.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,130
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 80 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Boulder's 2025 housing market year in review
Canva
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,950
- Median hourly wage: $31.71
- Total employment: 130 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 1,690 people (8.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,070
- Median hourly wage: $33.21
- Total employment: 850 people (4.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.53
- Total employment: 3,340 people (17.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Boulder area by visitors
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,200
- Median hourly wage: $36.64
- Total employment: 2,250 people (11.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,240
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 110 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 90 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 550 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Boulder by diners
sculpies // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,530
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 580 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,600
- Median hourly wage: $37.31
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.79
- Total employment: 160 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
pio3 // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,170
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 460 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $95,030
- Median hourly wage: $45.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Boulder area by diners
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $104,840
- Median hourly wage: $50.41
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $107,130
- Median hourly wage: $51.51
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $111,450
- Median hourly wage: $53.58
- Total employment: 510 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $122,460
- Median hourly wage: $58.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $123,130
- Median hourly wage: $59.20
- Total employment: 120 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Boulder
