RossHelen // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $45,440
- Median hourly wage: $21.84
- Total employment: 670 people (7.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Macon 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 Macon 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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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $45,560
- Median hourly wage: $21.90
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Efired // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Bill and account collectors
- Median annual wage: $45,910
- Median hourly wage: $22.07
- Total employment: 140 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $45,960
- Median hourly wage: $22.09
- Total employment: 80 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $46,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.30
- Total employment: 160 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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goodluz // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $46,480
- Median hourly wage: $22.35
- Total employment: Not available
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Logging equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $46,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.41
- Total employment: 80 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $46,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.45
- Total employment: 490 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $46,880
- Median hourly wage: $22.54
- Total employment: 130 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $46,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $47,650
- Median hourly wage: $22.91
- Total employment: 120 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
12 / 50#38. Chefs and head cooks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,050
- Median hourly wage: $23.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Automotive body and related repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,050
- Median hourly wage: $23.10
- Total employment: 110 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $48,810
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $49,080
- Median hourly wage: $23.60
- Total employment: 190 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Lucky Business // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $49,180
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 100 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Median annual wage: $50,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 500 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Loan interviewers and clerks
- Median annual wage: $50,210
- Median hourly wage: $24.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $50,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.18
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $51,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 490 people (5.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 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: $51,610
- Median hourly wage: $24.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $51,970
- Median hourly wage: $24.98
- Total employment: 220 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 290 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,080
- Median hourly wage: $25.52
- Total employment: 190 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kot500 // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 180 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $53,490
- Median hourly wage: $25.72
- Total employment: 120 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $53,590
- Median hourly wage: $25.77
- Total employment: 390 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $53,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.80
- Total employment: 120 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $54,550
- Median hourly wage: $26.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $55,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 190 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: 480 people (5.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $59,640
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 200 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 210 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 30 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $60,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 320 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $61,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.51
- Total employment: 620 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 860 people (9.04 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: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 470 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 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: $64,790
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 520 people (5.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $65,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 220 people (2.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,850
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 450 people (4.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $68,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Total employment: 190 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $71,340
- Median hourly wage: $34.30
- Total employment: 1,440 people (15.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $79,820
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 130 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 120 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,540
- Median hourly wage: $50.74
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 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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