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 Grand Junction 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: Most expensive homes for sale in Grand Junction
Canva
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,680
- Median hourly wage: $21.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.56 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
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,120
- Median hourly wage: $21.21
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,910
- Median hourly wage: $21.59
- Total employment: 60 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.98
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
New Africa // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,730
- Median hourly wage: $21.99
- Total employment: 80 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Highest-rated Mexican restaurants in the Grand Junction area by diners
Canva
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,800
- Median hourly wage: $22.02
- Total employment: 440 people (6.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,100
- Median hourly wage: $22.17
- Total employment: 150 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,340
- Median hourly wage: $22.28
- Total employment: 790 people (12.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,660
- Median hourly wage: $22.44
- Total employment: 340 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,660
- Median hourly wage: $22.44
- Total employment: 180 people (2.85 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 Asian restaurants in Grand Junction by diners
Canva
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 100 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,370
- Median hourly wage: $22.78
- Total employment: 140 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
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 70 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 90 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Grand Junction?
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,620
- Median hourly wage: $23.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
VH-studio // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,740
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 80 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 260 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,590
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 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 cafes in the Grand Junction area by diners
Canva
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.40
- Total employment: 70 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 170 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 230 people (3.54 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: $51,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 190 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in the Grand Junction metro area
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,580
- Median hourly wage: $25.28
- Total employment: 280 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $53,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Total employment: 110 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,520
- Median hourly wage: $26.21
- Total employment: 140 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,340
- Median hourly wage: $26.60
- Total employment: 350 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
You may also like: Grand Junction's 2025 housing market year in review
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.16
- Total employment: 250 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 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
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Kot500 // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 150 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,330
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Total employment: 210 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants with outdoor seating in Grand Junction by diners
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 50 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
welcomia // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,490
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 130 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 550 people (8.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,150
- Median hourly wage: $28.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,870
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
You may also like: Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Grand Junction buyers
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 630 people (9.78 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
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.14
- Total employment: 310 people (4.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,630
- Median hourly wage: $31.55
- Total employment: 380 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 690 people (10.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: How much house $1 million buys you in Grand Junction
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 100 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
pio3 // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,140
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 250 people (3.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Prath // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $82,560
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $97,770
- Median hourly wage: $47.01
- Total employment: 70 people (1.1 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: $102,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Grand Junction metro area
