Ruslan Galiullin // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Office clerks, general
- Median annual wage: $44,590
- Median hourly wage: $21.44
- Total employment: 460 people (14.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Carson 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 Carson 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.
You may also like: Closest national parks to Carson City
nullplus // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Light truck drivers
- Median annual wage: $44,840
- Median hourly wage: $21.56
- Total employment: 180 people (5.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Median annual wage: $44,850
- Median hourly wage: $21.56
- Total employment: Not available
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $45,130
- Median hourly wage: $21.70
- Total employment: 60 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Median annual wage: $45,500
- Median hourly wage: $21.88
- Total employment: 120 people (3.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Carson City by diners
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Billing and posting clerks
- Median annual wage: $46,460
- Median hourly wage: $22.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Median annual wage: $46,840
- Median hourly wage: $22.52
- Total employment: 930 people (29.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $47,320
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 220 people (6.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $47,540
- Median hourly wage: $22.85
- Total employment: 170 people (5.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $47,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.90
- Total employment: 40 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated campgrounds in the Carson City area by visitors
LuckView // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $47,680
- Median hourly wage: $22.92
- Total employment: 30 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Pharmacy technicians
- Median annual wage: $47,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.00
- Total employment: 70 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $47,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 210 people (6.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $48,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 60 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $48,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- Total employment: 60 people (1.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Carson City October 2025
Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Median annual wage: $48,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.35
- Total employment: 280 people (8.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Construction laborers
- Median annual wage: $48,820
- Median hourly wage: $23.47
- Total employment: 180 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rido // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Opticians, dispensing
- Median annual wage: $49,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Financial clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $49,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.80
- Total employment: 70 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Median annual wage: $49,760
- Median hourly wage: $23.92
- Total employment: 30 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs for people with 2-year degrees in Carson City
DC Studio // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Median annual wage: $50,800
- Median hourly wage: $24.42
- Total employment: 50 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $51,180
- Median hourly wage: $24.60
- Total employment: 170 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $55,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.63
- Total employment: 70 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $55,690
- Median hourly wage: $26.78
- Total employment: 80 people (2.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mahc // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $55,780
- Median hourly wage: $26.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Carson City this year
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $56,350
- Median hourly wage: $27.09
- Total employment: 40 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 90 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $58,060
- Median hourly wage: $27.91
- Total employment: 140 people (4.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $58,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.98
- Total employment: 30 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $59,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 80 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated pizza restaurants in the Carson City area by diners
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 30 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 170 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $61,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 50 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 40 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 40 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Carson City
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 70 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 60 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 130 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 90 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $65,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.40
- Total employment: 280 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Carson City
welcomia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $67,840
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 30 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $71,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.31
- Total employment: 90 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bigflick // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $71,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.38
- Total employment: 310 people (10.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.37
- Total employment: 130 people (4.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Community health workers
- Median annual wage: $75,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 130 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Carson City area by diners
4 PM production // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,360
- Median hourly wage: $36.71
- Total employment: 110 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $76,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 300 people (9.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $77,040
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 110 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $95,530
- Median hourly wage: $45.93
- Total employment: 40 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $108,160
- Median hourly wage: $52.00
- Total employment: 60 people (1.92 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.
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Carson City that require a graduate degree
