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 Carbondale 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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Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,170
- Median hourly wage: $17.87
- Total employment: 80 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,240
- Median hourly wage: $17.90
- Total employment: 570 people (10.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,320
- Median hourly wage: $17.94
- Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,410
- Median hourly wage: $17.99
- Total employment: 190 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $37,850
- Median hourly wage: $18.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 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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G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,360
- Median hourly wage: $18.44
- Total employment: 670 people (12.88 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
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $38,490
- Median hourly wage: $18.51
- Total employment: 60 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,330
- Median hourly wage: $18.91
- Total employment: 390 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Stokkete // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,450
- Median hourly wage: $18.97
- Total employment: 60 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,470
- Median hourly wage: $18.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 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: $39,570
- Median hourly wage: $19.03
- Total employment: 180 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,790
- Median hourly wage: $19.13
- Total employment: 80 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $39,840
- Median hourly wage: $19.16
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $40,260
- Median hourly wage: $19.36
- Total employment: 80 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
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $41,350
- Median hourly wage: $19.88
- Total employment: 80 people (1.56 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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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $42,350
- Median hourly wage: $20.36
- Total employment: 150 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,280
- Median hourly wage: $20.81
- Total employment: 960 people (18.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
New Africa // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,750
- Median hourly wage: $21.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
nullplus // Shutterstock
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $43,890
- Median hourly wage: $21.10
- Total employment: 410 people (7.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $45,630
- Median hourly wage: $21.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.13 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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Stokkete // Shutterstock
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $46,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 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
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $48,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.50
- Total employment: 60 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,060
- Median hourly wage: $24.07
- Total employment: 230 people (4.42 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
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $50,340
- Median hourly wage: $24.20
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
DGLimages // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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GaudiLab // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 380 people (7.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,550
- Median hourly wage: $24.79
- Total employment: 160 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $51,710
- Median hourly wage: $24.86
- Total employment: 160 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,130
- Median hourly wage: $25.06
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $52,870
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 80 people (1.48 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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Philip Lange // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.67
- Total employment: 130 people (2.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Kot500 // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $55,560
- Median hourly wage: $26.71
- Total employment: 40 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Bigflick // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $56,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Total employment: 150 people (2.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,020
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 160 people (3.15 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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rlat // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.19
- Total employment: 100 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 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
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 110 people (2.2 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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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 220 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
pio3 // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.63
- Total employment: 350 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 190 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 180 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $78,420
- Median hourly wage: $37.70
- Total employment: 200 people (3.86 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
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $79,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Total employment: 160 people (2.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
sculpies // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $79,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Total employment: 130 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $87,140
- Median hourly wage: $41.89
- Total employment: 140 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $87,200
- Median hourly wage: $41.92
- Total employment: 60 people (1.23 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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