Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $58,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 280 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Davenport 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 Davenport 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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welcomia // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $59,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.61
- Total employment: 400 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $60,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $60,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 1,110 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $60,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 580 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $60,900
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 570 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 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: $61,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 190 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.60
- Total employment: 490 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $61,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.74
- Total employment: 820 people (4.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Drywall and ceiling tile installers
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $62,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 350 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 310 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 300 people (1.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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goodluz // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,790
- Median hourly wage: $31.15
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 860 people (4.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 160 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 1,660 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $66,250
- Median hourly wage: $31.85
- Total employment: 540 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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welcomia // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $66,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 290 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $66,900
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 100 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $68,650
- Median hourly wage: $33.01
- Total employment: 350 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $69,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.24
- Total employment: 130 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Denys Yelmanov // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bridge and lock tenders
- Median annual wage: $69,530
- Median hourly wage: $33.43
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $72,490
- Median hourly wage: $34.85
- Total employment: 730 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $74,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 820 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 250 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 230 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.61
- Total employment: 140 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $76,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 1,210 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Total employment: 710 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 150 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $78,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.70
- Total employment: 1,350 people (7.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Metal workers and plastic workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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SritanaN // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $80,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: 720 people (4.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,050
- Median hourly wage: $38.97
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 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: $81,880
- Median hourly wage: $39.37
- Total employment: 1,110 people (6.16 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: $82,590
- Median hourly wage: $39.71
- Total employment: 70 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $89,500
- Median hourly wage: $43.03
- Total employment: 40 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $95,270
- Median hourly wage: $45.80
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $99,350
- Median hourly wage: $47.77
- Total employment: 210 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,060
- Median hourly wage: $50.51
- Total employment: 270 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $107,440
- Median hourly wage: $51.66
- Total employment: 130 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $119,770
- Median hourly wage: $57.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 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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