Washburn HM // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo 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 Buffalo 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: Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo that don't require a college degree
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 1,110 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 110 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 740 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Closest national parks to Buffalo
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 120 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,750
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 4,650 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 200 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $66,910
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 720 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 290 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Buffalo by diners
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $67,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 400 people (0.76 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: $69,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 3,340 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $70,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 1,850 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: 1,530 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $71,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.31
- Total employment: 3,920 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best public middle schools in the Buffalo metro area
Vladeep // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $73,350
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 1,340 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 2,920 people (5.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ITisha // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Bailiffs
- Median annual wage: $74,160
- Median hourly wage: $35.65
- Total employment: 170 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in Buffalo in the last week
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $74,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 1,340 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
APChanel // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Transportation workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $74,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
muratart // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $74,950
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 600 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Buffalo by diners
Bigflick // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 1,580 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $76,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 2,390 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 390 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 220 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Buffalo
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 2,260 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,360
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,820 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 2,070 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 1,750 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Onk-Q // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Median annual wage: $81,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best colleges in Buffalo
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $83,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.02
- Total employment: 240 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $90,930
- Median hourly wage: $43.72
- Total employment: 370 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $92,670
- Median hourly wage: $44.55
- Total employment: 180 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $93,850
- Median hourly wage: $45.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo that require a bachelor's degree
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $95,870
- Median hourly wage: $46.09
- Total employment: 380 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $95,950
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $96,040
- Median hourly wage: $46.17
- Total employment: 830 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $98,220
- Median hourly wage: $47.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 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: $99,460
- Median hourly wage: $47.82
- Total employment: 810 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best high schools in the Buffalo metro area
goodluz // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $100,810
- Median hourly wage: $48.47
- Total employment: 430 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $100,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.50
- Total employment: 490 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $103,230
- Median hourly wage: $49.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $117,500
- Median hourly wage: $56.49
- Total employment: 190 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $121,580
- Median hourly wage: $58.45
- Total employment: 120 people (0.22 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 Buffalo that require a graduate degree
