Highest-paying jobs in Lafayette, Indiana 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 Lafayette 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.

4 PM production // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,680
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: 100 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

hedgehog94 // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Pest control workers

- Median annual wage: $48,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $49,110
- Median hourly wage: $23.61
- Total employment: 60 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $49,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.68
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.75
- Total employment: 100 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

brizmaker // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $49,550
- Median hourly wage: $23.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $50,330
- Median hourly wage: $24.20
- Total employment: 760 people (7.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $50,410
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $50,870
- Median hourly wage: $24.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Agricultural equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $51,200
- Median hourly wage: $24.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,210
- Median hourly wage: $24.62
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $51,470
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 140 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $54,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 490 people (4.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,780
- Median hourly wage: $27.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $57,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.86
- Total employment: 130 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $58,040
- Median hourly wage: $27.90
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,070
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 150 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 200 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $58,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,370
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 350 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,420
- Median hourly wage: $28.57
- Total employment: 310 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $59,690
- Median hourly wage: $28.70
- Total employment: 50 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 90 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 310 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nikita M production // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 150 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 190 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.94
- Total employment: 30 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 320 people (3.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.17
- Total employment: 210 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,760
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 280 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 140 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $63,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 220 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $63,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 70 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.58
- Total employment: 980 people (9.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 200 people (1.92 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: $68,690
- Median hourly wage: $33.03
- Total employment: 680 people (6.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 540 people (5.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $72,430
- Median hourly wage: $34.82
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 690 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $75,200
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: 380 people (3.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $76,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 770 people (7.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,460
- Median hourly wage: $37.24
- Total employment: 350 people (3.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 350 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 450 people (4.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)