Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 400 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Deltona 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 Deltona 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.
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $47,490
- Median hourly wage: $22.83
- Total employment: 100 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Steve Hamann // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Median annual wage: $47,570
- Median hourly wage: $22.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 100 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $48,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.09
- Total employment: 120 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $48,370
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 130 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
David Herraez Calzada // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Automotive glass installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $48,470
- Median hourly wage: $23.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $48,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 280 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $49,150
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 1,120 people (5.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $49,310
- Median hourly wage: $23.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $50,250
- Median hourly wage: $24.16
- Total employment: 350 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 400 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Loan interviewers and clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,350
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 150 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $50,610
- Median hourly wage: $24.33
- Total employment: 60 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $51,110
- Median hourly wage: $24.57
- Total employment: Not available
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Median annual wage: $51,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $51,990
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: Not available
Kot500 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $52,230
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 230 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $52,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $52,560
- Median hourly wage: $25.27
- Total employment: 90 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $53,580
- Median hourly wage: $25.76
- Total employment: 1,240 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 110 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $54,820
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 400 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $55,960
- Median hourly wage: $26.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.25 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: $56,030
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 1,520 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $56,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 140 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $56,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 1,770 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $57,060
- Median hourly wage: $27.44
- Total employment: 260 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 740 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $58,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 510 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 610 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 1,980 people (9.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $59,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 790 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 310 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $59,410
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 100 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 710 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 140 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Neale Cousland // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Athletes and sports competitors
- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 900 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 610 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 280 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $64,340
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 1,430 people (6.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $77,040
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.16
- Total employment: 470 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 240 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $81,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.03
- Total employment: 210 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $81,290
- Median hourly wage: $39.08
- Total employment: 310 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,040
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 130 people (0.6 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.
