Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Locksmiths and safe repairers
- Median annual wage: $67,370
- Median hourly wage: $32.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Hartford 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 Hartford 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.
You may also like: Best private K-12 schools in the Hartford metro area
mahc // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $67,610
- Median hourly wage: $32.51
- Total employment: 120 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Photostriker // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $67,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $68,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.88
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $68,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.02
- Total employment: 1,160 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Hartford by diners
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 700 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,950
- Median hourly wage: $34.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $71,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $71,800
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 2,900 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $72,080
- Median hourly wage: $34.65
- Total employment: 170 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Hartford that don't require a college degree
Kot500 // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $72,690
- Median hourly wage: $34.95
- Total employment: 950 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $72,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Helpers--brickmasons, blockmasons, stonemasons, and tile and marble setters
- Median annual wage: $73,050
- Median hourly wage: $35.12
- Total employment: 120 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $73,530
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 140 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $74,630
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 1,280 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best colleges in Hartford
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $75,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Total employment: 440 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $75,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.12
- Total employment: 820 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $75,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 90 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 530 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: Not available
You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Hartford by diners
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 8,740 people (14.75 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: $76,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.85
- Total employment: 280 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $76,790
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 2,820 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $76,860
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- Total employment: 480 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $76,920
- Median hourly wage: $36.98
- Total employment: 4,140 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Hartford area by diners
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $77,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.05
- Total employment: 940 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $77,870
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 130 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 2,890 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 500 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 2,680 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Hartford
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $80,130
- Median hourly wage: $38.53
- Total employment: 140 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: Not available
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $80,900
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 330 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $82,860
- Median hourly wage: $39.84
- Total employment: 2,080 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $83,560
- Median hourly wage: $40.17
- Total employment: 3,840 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Hartford
Neale Cousland // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $84,460
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 110 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $84,540
- Median hourly wage: $40.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $84,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.85
- Total employment: 2,180 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $85,340
- Median hourly wage: $41.03
- Total employment: 210 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $85,520
- Median hourly wage: $41.11
- Total employment: 2,360 people (3.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Hartford area by diners
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $87,090
- Median hourly wage: $41.87
- Total employment: 460 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $87,290
- Median hourly wage: $41.97
- Total employment: 2,230 people (3.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $90,420
- Median hourly wage: $43.47
- Total employment: 100 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $95,470
- Median hourly wage: $45.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,650
- Median hourly wage: $45.99
- Total employment: 340 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Hartford that require a graduate degree
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $99,520
- Median hourly wage: $47.85
- Total employment: 160 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $102,260
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $107,850
- Median hourly wage: $51.85
- Total employment: 940 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $111,900
- Median hourly wage: $53.80
- Total employment: 360 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $113,970
- Median hourly wage: $54.80
- Total employment: 710 people (1.2 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Hartford by diners
