Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Home appliance repairers
- Median annual wage: $45,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.07
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Athens 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 Athens 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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2 / 50#49. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $46,100
- Median hourly wage: $22.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping
- Median annual wage: $46,140
- Median hourly wage: $22.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vagengeim // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Dental laboratory technicians
- Median annual wage: $46,170
- Median hourly wage: $22.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $46,500
- Median hourly wage: $22.36
- Total employment: 50 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Joey Chung // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $46,920
- Median hourly wage: $22.56
- Total employment: 370 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $47,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $47,330
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 290 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $47,520
- Median hourly wage: $22.85
- Total employment: 170 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $47,640
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 90 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $47,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.01
- Total employment: 300 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $48,140
- Median hourly wage: $23.15
- Total employment: 120 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $48,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $48,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.34
- Total employment: 220 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $49,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.77
- Total employment: 470 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $50,380
- Median hourly wage: $24.22
- Total employment: 310 people (3.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $50,520
- Median hourly wage: $24.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $50,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.49
- Total employment: 150 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 140 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $52,190
- Median hourly wage: $25.09
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Akarawut // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
- Median annual wage: $52,220
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
23 / 50#27. Postal service mail carriers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 210 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Machinists (tie)
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $53,230
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 190 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $54,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $54,820
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $54,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 340 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $55,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.87
- Total employment: 90 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $56,230
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 220 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $56,920
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 500 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $58,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.05
- Total employment: 380 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 760 people (7.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 150 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 190 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 520 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 440 people (4.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,190
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 570 people (5.93 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: $66,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 350 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 260 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $71,180
- Median hourly wage: $34.22
- Total employment: 120 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.36
- Total employment: 110 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Crossing guards and flaggers
- Median annual wage: $82,400
- Median hourly wage: $39.62
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $98,590
- Median hourly wage: $47.40
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $110,350
- Median hourly wage: $53.05
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 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.
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