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1 / 50#50. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $38,900
- Median hourly wage: $18.70
- Total employment: 220 people (4.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Highest-paying jobs in California, Maryland for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in California, Maryland for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
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ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $39,990
- Median hourly wage: $19.23
- Total employment: 100 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $40,670
- Median hourly wage: $19.55
- Total employment: 390 people (8.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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4 / 50#47. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Median annual wage: $42,040
- Median hourly wage: $20.21
- Total employment: 260 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators
- Median annual wage: $43,030
- Median hourly wage: $20.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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6 / 50#44. Office and administrative support workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $43,140
- Median hourly wage: $20.74
- Total employment: 90 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Eligibility interviewers, government programs (tie)
- Median annual wage: $43,140
- Median hourly wage: $20.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $43,890
- Median hourly wage: $21.10
- Total employment: 220 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Median annual wage: $44,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.32
- Total employment: 820 people (17.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $44,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.50
- Total employment: 90 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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11 / 50#40. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $45,510
- Median hourly wage: $21.88
- Total employment: 110 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $45,860
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 50 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
New Africa // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $45,970
- Median hourly wage: $22.10
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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14 / 50#37. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $46,130
- Median hourly wage: $22.18
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $46,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.30
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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16 / 50#35. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $47,040
- Median hourly wage: $22.61
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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17 / 50#34. Procurement clerks
- Median annual wage: $47,090
- Median hourly wage: $22.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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18 / 50#33. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $47,430
- Median hourly wage: $22.80
- Total employment: 150 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $47,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.86
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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20 / 50#31. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $48,100
- Median hourly wage: $23.13
- Total employment: 90 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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21 / 50#30. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.17
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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22 / 50#29. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $48,230
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
fizkes // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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24 / 50#27. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $48,520
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 50 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Kzenon // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $49,970
- Median hourly wage: $24.02
- Total employment: 70 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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26 / 50#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $50,430
- Median hourly wage: $24.24
- Total employment: 30 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $51,780
- Median hourly wage: $24.90
- Total employment: 110 people (2.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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28 / 50#23. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $52,270
- Median hourly wage: $25.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Stokkete // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Information and record clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $53,160
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
rlat // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,200
- Median hourly wage: $26.54
- Total employment: 50 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 190 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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32 / 50#19. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,890
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 90 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,150
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 340 people (7.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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36 / 50#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 140 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,690
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 40 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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39 / 50#12. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $63,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.58
- Total employment: 240 people (5.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 150 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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41 / 50#10. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 170 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $66,420
- Median hourly wage: $31.93
- Total employment: 60 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $69,820
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $69,950
- Median hourly wage: $33.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,770
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 170 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $85,640
- Median hourly wage: $41.18
- Total employment: 60 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $86,500
- Median hourly wage: $41.59
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,480
- Median hourly wage: $49.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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49 / 50#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $107,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.83
- Total employment: 130 people (2.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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50 / 50#1. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $124,610
- Median hourly wage: $59.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
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