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 Fort Collins 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.
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Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,790
- Median hourly wage: $25.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,800
- Median hourly wage: $25.38
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
BearFotos // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $53,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
welcomia // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 160 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
rlat // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,180
- Median hourly wage: $26.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,800
- Median hourly wage: $26.35
- Total employment: 220 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,940
- Median hourly wage: $26.41
- Total employment: 200 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 550 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Canva
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.18
- Total employment: 700 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 90 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
goodluz // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,050
- Median hourly wage: $27.91
- Total employment: 110 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
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,700
- Median hourly wage: $28.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 280 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Kot500 // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 150 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 870 people (5.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 1,030 people (6.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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SritanaN // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 260 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.76
- Total employment: 110 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
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 1,410 people (8.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 60 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 170 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 100 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 80 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
John Leung // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
rezoff // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Canva
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 200 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.74
- Total employment: 290 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $67,800
- Median hourly wage: $32.60
- Total employment: 1,380 people (8.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $68,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.87
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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DuxX // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 660 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 670 people (3.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 750 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,660
- Median hourly wage: $35.89
- Total employment: 1,740 people (10.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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sculpies // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 1,280 people (7.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $78,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 510 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
michaeljung // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,790
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 30 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,040
- Median hourly wage: $39.92
- Total employment: 160 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $85,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 350 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $93,150
- Median hourly wage: $44.79
- Total employment: 600 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $98,120
- Median hourly wage: $47.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $101,480
- Median hourly wage: $48.79
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $125,880
- Median hourly wage: $60.52
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 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: $130,710
- Median hourly wage: $62.84
- Total employment: 80 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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