GaudiLab // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $76,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 29,130 people (10.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Boston 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 Boston 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. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders
- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 130 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pixel B // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.37
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 1,300 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $78,200
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: 15,620 people (5.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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pio3 // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $78,610
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 11,420 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,660
- Median hourly wage: $37.82
- Total employment: 8,720 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kojala // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Artists and related workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Construction and building inspectors (tie)
- Median annual wage: $79,560
- Median hourly wage: $38.25
- Total employment: 2,950 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $79,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.30
- Total employment: 350 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Joey Chung // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 25,020 people (9.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $79,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $81,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Total employment: 12,790 people (4.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $81,830
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 1,640 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $81,850
- Median hourly wage: $39.35
- Total employment: 4,450 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $83,450
- Median hourly wage: $40.12
- Total employment: 12,540 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 120 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $83,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.21
- Total employment: 11,320 people (4.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $84,110
- Median hourly wage: $40.44
- Total employment: 100 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 330 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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mrak.hr // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $84,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.77
- Total employment: 200 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Radovan1 / Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Plasterers and stucco masons
- Median annual wage: $85,810
- Median hourly wage: $41.26
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,030
- Median hourly wage: $41.36
- Total employment: 3,200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $86,840
- Median hourly wage: $41.75
- Total employment: 3,000 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $88,090
- Median hourly wage: $42.35
- Total employment: 9,160 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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goodluz // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $91,290
- Median hourly wage: $43.89
- Total employment: Not available
John Leung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $91,880
- Median hourly wage: $44.17
- Total employment: 730 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $92,870
- Median hourly wage: $44.65
- Total employment: 410 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $93,490
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 4,970 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $93,550
- Median hourly wage: $44.98
- Total employment: 350 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $93,730
- Median hourly wage: $45.06
- Total employment: 1,080 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
motodan // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Hoist and winch operators
- Median annual wage: $96,030
- Median hourly wage: $46.17
- Total employment: Not available
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $96,450
- Median hourly wage: $46.37
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $98,550
- Median hourly wage: $47.38
- Total employment: 180 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $99,430
- Median hourly wage: $47.80
- Total employment: 14,540 people (5.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,680
- Median hourly wage: $49.85
- Total employment: 1,780 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $104,370
- Median hourly wage: $50.18
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $105,080
- Median hourly wage: $50.52
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $106,210
- Median hourly wage: $51.06
- Total employment: 210 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $107,100
- Median hourly wage: $51.49
- Total employment: 3,570 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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michaeljung // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $107,650
- Median hourly wage: $51.76
- Total employment: 690 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Tapers
- Median annual wage: $107,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.77
- Total employment: 240 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $108,910
- Median hourly wage: $52.36
- Total employment: Not available
Prath // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $111,460
- Median hourly wage: $53.59
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $115,240
- Median hourly wage: $55.41
- Total employment: 5,060 people (1.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $115,430
- Median hourly wage: $55.50
- Total employment: 1,420 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $115,760
- Median hourly wage: $55.66
- Total employment: 3,160 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $116,900
- Median hourly wage: $56.20
- Total employment: 1,450 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Parilov // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $118,960
- Median hourly wage: $57.19
- Total employment: 170 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $143,180
- Median hourly wage: $68.84
- Total employment: Not available
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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