Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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.

You may also like: Highest-rated cafes in the Des Moines area by diners

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 660 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,940
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 1,970 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 180 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $60,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 820 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Des Moines

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 350 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 200 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SpeedKingz // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 2,260 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 660 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Des Moines

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 320 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 420 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 1,250 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 210 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Top 10 Cities to Rent an Apartment: Des Moines, Iowa

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 420 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 2,260 people (5.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 1,620 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 2,440 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,820
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 1,230 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 400 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,950
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 680 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 2,500 people (6.18 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: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 4,620 people (11.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 830 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $66,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 330 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $67,480
- Median hourly wage: $32.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 3,120 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,590
- Median hourly wage: $33.46
- Total employment: 1,390 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $71,240
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Des Moines

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $74,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.01
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $75,300
- Median hourly wage: $36.20
- Total employment: 2,630 people (6.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 210 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.13
- Total employment: 2,900 people (7.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Des Moines 7-day weather forecast

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $84,890
- Median hourly wage: $40.81
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $88,580
- Median hourly wage: $42.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 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: $89,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 840 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Des Moines October 2025

goodluz // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 520 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,000
- Median hourly wage: $49.52
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $111,110
- Median hourly wage: $53.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $117,020
- Median hourly wage: $56.26
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $157,100
- Median hourly wage: $75.53
- Total employment: 330 people (0.8 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.