Highest-paying jobs in Boise 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 Boise 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.

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,670
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 500 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 600 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 720 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,400
- Median hourly wage: $28.56
- Total employment: 1,740 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

5 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 1,320 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 150 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 110 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 120 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 2,350 people (6.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 4,150 people (10.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,450
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 140 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

mariakray // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 460 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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GaudiLab // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 4,220 people (10.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Fallers

- Median annual wage: $61,940
- Median hourly wage: $29.78
- Total employment: Not available

SritanaN // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 660 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 1,290 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 2,560 people (6.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 150 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 290 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 540 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

adriaticfoto // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 240 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 480 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $65,680
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: 310 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,830
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 600 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $68,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.83
- Total employment: 180 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $69,210
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 70 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $69,450
- Median hourly wage: $33.39
- Total employment: Not available

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 840 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 950 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: Not available

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: Not available

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 2,910 people (7.54 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: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 1,550 people (4.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $75,440
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $76,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $77,210
- Median hourly wage: $37.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $81,160
- Median hourly wage: $39.02
- Total employment: 120 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $82,310
- Median hourly wage: $39.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $84,840
- Median hourly wage: $40.79
- Total employment: 620 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 230 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $95,880
- Median hourly wage: $46.10
- Total employment: 380 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $102,860
- Median hourly wage: $49.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $106,420
- Median hourly wage: $51.16
- Total employment: Not available

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $123,530
- Median hourly wage: $59.39
- Total employment: 340 people (0.87 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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