Highest-paying jobs in Bridgeport 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 Bridgeport 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.

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.49
- Total employment: 320 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $65,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.59
- Total employment: 330 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $67,150
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 780 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

alexkich // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics

- Median annual wage: $67,740
- Median hourly wage: $32.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

- Median annual wage: $68,420
- Median hourly wage: $32.90
- Total employment: 90 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,470
- Median hourly wage: $32.92
- Total employment: 240 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $68,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.95
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $69,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

refrina // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Animal control workers

- Median annual wage: $71,700
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $71,740
- Median hourly wage: $34.49
- Total employment: 540 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,160
- Median hourly wage: $34.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $72,750
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 140 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $73,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.09
- Total employment: 390 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $73,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: Not available

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,160
- Median hourly wage: $35.65
- Total employment: 3,270 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $74,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.93
- Total employment: 160 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $75,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 160 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $76,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $77,160
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 120 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 6,450 people (16.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 1,690 people (4.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $78,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 560 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $80,570
- Median hourly wage: $38.74
- Total employment: 560 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,630
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 1,520 people (3.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $80,700
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 390 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $82,570
- Median hourly wage: $39.70
- Total employment: 870 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $83,040
- Median hourly wage: $39.92
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $83,440
- Median hourly wage: $40.12
- Total employment: 3,180 people (7.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $83,940
- Median hourly wage: $40.36
- Total employment: 1,620 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,830
- Median hourly wage: $40.78
- Total employment: 1,250 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $86,200
- Median hourly wage: $41.44
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $86,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.66
- Total employment: 140 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $87,850
- Median hourly wage: $42.24
- Total employment: 1,450 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $88,130
- Median hourly wage: $42.37
- Total employment: 180 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $89,120
- Median hourly wage: $42.85
- Total employment: 60 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $89,750
- Median hourly wage: $43.15
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $90,190
- Median hourly wage: $43.36
- Total employment: 370 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $90,610
- Median hourly wage: $43.56
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $97,340
- Median hourly wage: $46.80
- Total employment: 1,640 people (4.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $97,530
- Median hourly wage: $46.89
- Total employment: 220 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Quality Stock Arts // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $98,690
- Median hourly wage: $47.45
- Total employment: Not available

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $100,980
- Median hourly wage: $48.55
- Total employment: 270 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vladeep // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $104,480
- Median hourly wage: $50.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $105,650
- Median hourly wage: $50.79
- Total employment: 130 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $111,980
- Median hourly wage: $53.84
- Total employment: 530 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $112,970
- Median hourly wage: $54.31
- Total employment: 550 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $132,860
- Median hourly wage: $63.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.23 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.