Highest-paying jobs in Punta Gorda 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 Punta Gorda 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.

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1 / 50

#50. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $47,410
- Median hourly wage: $22.79
- Total employment: 410 people (7.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SeventyFour // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

- Median annual wage: $47,500
- Median hourly wage: $22.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $47,610
- Median hourly wage: $22.89
- Total employment: 70 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#46. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining (tie)

- Median annual wage: $47,660
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Payroll and timekeeping clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $47,660
- Median hourly wage: $22.92
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $47,700
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 90 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $47,740
- Median hourly wage: $22.95
- Total employment: 90 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,820
- Median hourly wage: $22.99
- Total employment: Not available

Kzenon // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $47,930
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $48,170
- Median hourly wage: $23.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,300
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 100 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $48,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 70 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $48,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.46
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $49,280
- Median hourly wage: $23.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $49,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 30 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mahc // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $50,100
- Median hourly wage: $24.09
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 250 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $51,640
- Median hourly wage: $24.83
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $52,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $52,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.32
- Total employment: 220 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,720
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.27
- Total employment: 470 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,000
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 130 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.42
- Total employment: 200 people (3.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $57,280
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 200 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $57,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 240 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 60 people (1.12 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: $59,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 100 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 70 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,110
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 500 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 100 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 60 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 500 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $63,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 140 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 70 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,420
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 210 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,220
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 500 people (8.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $69,580
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,530
- Median hourly wage: $33.91
- Total employment: 510 people (9.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,680
- Median hourly wage: $36.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.77
- Total employment: 90 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $79,980
- Median hourly wage: $38.45
- Total employment: 240 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)