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 The Villages 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.
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Dragon Images // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $35,720
- Median hourly wage: $17.18
- Total employment: 70 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,160
- Median hourly wage: $17.38
- Total employment: 120 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,330
- Median hourly wage: $17.47
- Total employment: 670 people (18.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
John Leung // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,800
- Median hourly wage: $17.69
- Total employment: 100 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $36,930
- Median hourly wage: $17.76
- Total employment: 370 people (10.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,180
- Median hourly wage: $17.88
- Total employment: 120 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,810
- Median hourly wage: $18.18
- Total employment: 340 people (9.36 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
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,370
- Median hourly wage: $18.45
- Total employment: 80 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
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,550
- Median hourly wage: $18.53
- Total employment: 40 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Mirnes // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,940
- Median hourly wage: $18.72
- Total employment: 60 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Canva
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,020
- Median hourly wage: $18.76
- Total employment: 30 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,520
- Median hourly wage: $19.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Fusionstudio // Shutterstock
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,900
- Median hourly wage: $19.19
- Total employment: 140 people (3.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
New Africa // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $41,380
- Median hourly wage: $19.89
- Total employment: 50 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $42,440
- Median hourly wage: $20.41
- Total employment: 220 people (5.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,130
- Median hourly wage: $20.74
- Total employment: 50 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
DGLimages // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,330
- Median hourly wage: $20.83
- Total employment: 60 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,670
- Median hourly wage: $21.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,540
- Median hourly wage: $21.42
- Total employment: 40 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,770
- Median hourly wage: $21.52
- Total employment: 310 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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21 / 50- Median annual wage: $44,950
- Median hourly wage: $21.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,680
- Median hourly wage: $21.96
- Total employment: 350 people (9.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,750
- Median hourly wage: $21.99
- Total employment: 40 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,850
- Median hourly wage: $22.04
- Total employment: 210 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Stokkete // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.38
- Total employment: 50 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,740
- Median hourly wage: $22.47
- Total employment: 100 people (2.63 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
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,010
- Median hourly wage: $22.60
- Total employment: 100 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
SritanaN // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 80 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $47,360
- Median hourly wage: $22.77
- Total employment: 150 people (4.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Kot500 // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Total employment: 80 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,120
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $49,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 210 people (5.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,300
- Median hourly wage: $24.18
- Total employment: 90 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
goodluz // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,130
- Median hourly wage: $24.58
- Total employment: 170 people (4.64 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
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 270 people (7.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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36 / 50- Median annual wage: $54,650
- Median hourly wage: $26.28
- Total employment: 880 people (24.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.79
- Total employment: 320 people (8.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,320
- Median hourly wage: $27.08
- Total employment: 140 people (3.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Total employment: 50 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,540
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 50 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Canva
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 40 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
pio3 // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 280 people (7.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 100 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 110 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 120 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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sculpies // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 300 people (8.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
4 PM production // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,750
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 160 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,620
- Median hourly wage: $35.88
- Total employment: 100 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 60 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $93,950
- Median hourly wage: $45.17
- Total employment: 50 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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