Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#49. Bus drivers, transit and intercity (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,700
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: Not available
Highest-paying jobs in Iowa City 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 Iowa City 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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2 / 50#49. Maintenance and repair workers, general (tie)
- Median annual wage: $48,700
- Median hourly wage: $23.41
- Total employment: 710 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $48,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.42
- Total employment: 1,250 people (13.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $48,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.49
- Total employment: 230 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $49,080
- Median hourly wage: $23.60
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $49,660
- Median hourly wage: $23.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $49,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.88
- Total employment: 420 people (4.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stokkete // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Information and record clerks, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Healthcare support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $50,710
- Median hourly wage: $24.38
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#39. Refuse and recyclable material collectors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $51,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Loan interviewers and clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $51,270
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 120 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $52,880
- Median hourly wage: $25.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $53,140
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Total employment: 270 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $53,170
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 680 people (7.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,590
- Median hourly wage: $25.76
- Total employment: 140 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.88
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DC Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $54,850
- Median hourly wage: $26.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $55,720
- Median hourly wage: $26.79
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $56,090
- Median hourly wage: $26.97
- Total employment: 210 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $56,470
- Median hourly wage: $27.15
- Total employment: 280 people (3.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 110 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 130 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $57,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 140 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 380 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $59,620
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 230 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,120
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 200 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 150 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 330 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $64,100
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 70 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $64,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 550 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,090
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 110 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.83
- Total employment: 320 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $66,400
- Median hourly wage: $31.92
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $66,920
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 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: $67,260
- Median hourly wage: $32.34
- Total employment: 530 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $68,610
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 70 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: 430 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $72,250
- Median hourly wage: $34.74
- Total employment: 180 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $73,960
- Median hourly wage: $35.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $75,740
- Median hourly wage: $36.41
- Total employment: 240 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,600
- Median hourly wage: $36.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $77,090
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 270 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,440
- Median hourly wage: $42.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $89,350
- Median hourly wage: $42.96
- Total employment: 70 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $91,370
- Median hourly wage: $43.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $110,000
- Median hourly wage: $52.89
- Total employment: 70 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.
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