Highest-paying jobs in Lafayette 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.

Said M // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $46,290
- Median hourly wage: $22.26
- Total employment: 600 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $47,080
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Total employment: 90 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $47,640
- Median hourly wage: $22.90
- Total employment: 430 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $47,710
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 390 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $47,930
- Median hourly wage: $23.04
- Total employment: 510 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $48,030
- Median hourly wage: $23.09
- Total employment: 140 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,110
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Total employment: 380 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Photographers

- Median annual wage: $48,320
- Median hourly wage: $23.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $48,640
- Median hourly wage: $23.38
- Total employment: Not available

Richard Thornton // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Roustabouts, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $48,760
- Median hourly wage: $23.44
- Total employment: 870 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Communications equipment operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: Not available

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,200
- Median hourly wage: $23.66
- Total employment: 220 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $49,800
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 550 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,850
- Median hourly wage: $23.97
- Total employment: 200 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $50,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.48
- Total employment: 1,170 people (6.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

- Median annual wage: $51,050
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 730 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,320
- Median hourly wage: $24.67
- Total employment: 490 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $51,750
- Median hourly wage: $24.88
- Total employment: 1,050 people (5.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.20
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

21 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.53
- Total employment: 1,710 people (9.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 460 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $54,080
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 1,390 people (7.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.39
- Total employment: 90 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#25. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 580 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $55,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.66
- Total employment: 60 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $56,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.00
- Total employment: 550 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $56,340
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Total employment: 110 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.15
- Total employment: 650 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $56,570
- Median hourly wage: $27.20
- Total employment: 270 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $57,580
- Median hourly wage: $27.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $57,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 80 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 140 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $58,310
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 440 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $59,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 100 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 240 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $60,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 110 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.38
- Total employment: 100 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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welcomia // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 1,070 people (6.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 2,330 people (13.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 700 people (3.98 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: $63,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 200 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $66,750
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 110 people (0.62 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: $68,760
- Median hourly wage: $33.06
- Total employment: 730 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $68,840
- Median hourly wage: $33.10
- Total employment: 1,230 people (7.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $79,500
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: Not available

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $83,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $88,380
- Median hourly wage: $42.49
- Total employment: 150 people (0.84 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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