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1 / 50#50. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Median annual wage: $52,810
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Lexington 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 Lexington 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. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $52,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.44
- Total employment: 110 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $52,940
- Median hourly wage: $25.45
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $53,490
- Median hourly wage: $25.72
- Total employment: 260 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vagengeim // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Dental laboratory technicians
- Median annual wage: $53,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.84
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $53,760
- Median hourly wage: $25.85
- Total employment: Not available
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 230 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $54,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.08
- Total employment: 130 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vladeep // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $54,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $54,710
- Median hourly wage: $26.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $54,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.37
- Total employment: 170 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $55,620
- Median hourly wage: $26.74
- Total employment: 1,860 people (6.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $57,610
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 1,350 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $57,800
- Median hourly wage: $27.79
- Total employment: 420 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $57,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.84
- Total employment: 330 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 530 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 1,290 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 2,000 people (7.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $59,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 200 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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20 / 50#31. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $59,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 780 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $59,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 640 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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22 / 50#29. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.99
- Total employment: 260 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 740 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 650 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,860 people (10.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Structural iron and steel workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 140 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $63,070
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,020 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
32 / 50#18. Real estate brokers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 40 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Postal service clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 80 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $64,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 240 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitreel // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Food batchmakers
- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: Not available
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36 / 50#15. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $65,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 900 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $66,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.01
- Total employment: 220 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 230 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Median annual wage: $67,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $70,680
- Median hourly wage: $33.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.12 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: $71,850
- Median hourly wage: $34.54
- Total employment: 1,240 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $72,550
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 420 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,720
- Median hourly wage: $34.96
- Total employment: 370 people (1.3 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: $73,210
- Median hourly wage: $35.20
- Total employment: 1,190 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $73,570
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 180 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,040
- Median hourly wage: $37.52
- Total employment: 1,990 people (7.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $82,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 220 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $94,780
- Median hourly wage: $45.57
- Total employment: 110 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $104,150
- Median hourly wage: $50.07
- Total employment: 300 people (1.06 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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