Highest-paying jobs in Elkhart 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 Elkhart 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.

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,500
- Median hourly wage: $24.28
- Total employment: 510 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $50,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 40 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $50,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.40
- Total employment: 90 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $50,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 290 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $51,280
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 290 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $51,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.66
- Total employment: 80 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $51,700
- Median hourly wage: $24.85
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $52,340
- Median hourly wage: $25.16
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. First-line supervisors of personal service workers

- Median annual wage: $52,370
- Median hourly wage: $25.18
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 180 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $52,720
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $53,400
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Total employment: 170 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $53,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 820 people (6.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: Not available

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 490 people (3.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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M2020 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $56,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 1,640 people (12.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#31. Occupational health and safety technicians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 160 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 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: $58,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Zaiets // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

- Median annual wage: $59,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 390 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $59,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,190
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 250 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $59,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.47
- Total employment: 320 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $59,340
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 510 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 230 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,390
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 130 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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brizmaker // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $60,980
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 90 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 520 people (4.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 790 people (6.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $62,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,090
- Median hourly wage: $30.81
- Total employment: 410 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $64,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 1,380 people (10.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,460
- Median hourly wage: $31.47
- Total employment: 2,430 people (18.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $65,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $66,410
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Recreational vehicle service technicians

- Median annual wage: $66,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 530 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $68,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 100 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.06
- Total employment: 760 people (5.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.99
- Total employment: 2,290 people (17.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 270 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,570
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 70 people (0.51 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: $80,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.63
- Total employment: 160 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,690
- Median hourly wage: $38.80
- Total employment: 400 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 530 people (4.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $92,660
- Median hourly wage: $44.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)