fizkes // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. New accounts clerks
- Median annual wage: $46,810
- Median hourly wage: $22.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Ithaca 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 Ithaca 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-rated pizza restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $46,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.55
- Total employment: 30 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $47,360
- Median hourly wage: $22.77
- Total employment: 170 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Median annual wage: $47,440
- Median hourly wage: $22.81
- Total employment: 110 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Maintenance and repair workers, general
- Median annual wage: $47,600
- Median hourly wage: $22.89
- Total employment: 630 people (13.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Coat drives near Ithaca
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive
- Median annual wage: $47,700
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 910 people (18.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $48,350
- Median hourly wage: $23.25
- Total employment: 150 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Security guards
- Median annual wage: $48,480
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 250 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Interviewers, except eligibility and loan
- Median annual wage: $49,190
- Median hourly wage: $23.65
- Total employment: 50 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LuckView // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $49,380
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Total employment: 80 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best restaurants for 6 cuisines in Ithaca
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Social and human service assistants
- Median annual wage: $49,390
- Median hourly wage: $23.75
- Total employment: 320 people (6.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $49,820
- Median hourly wage: $23.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
santypan // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Bartenders
- Median annual wage: $49,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 280 people (5.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $51,110
- Median hourly wage: $24.57
- Total employment: 270 people (5.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vasin Lee // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Residential advisors
- Median annual wage: $51,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.69
- Total employment: 110 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated dessert shops in the Ithaca area by diners
Philip Lange // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $51,810
- Median hourly wage: $24.91
- Total employment: 80 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 110 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LightField Studios // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 260 people (5.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $53,360
- Median hourly wage: $25.66
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $53,850
- Median hourly wage: $25.89
- Total employment: 40 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Ithaca area by diners
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 50 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $56,960
- Median hourly wage: $27.39
- Total employment: 200 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $57,360
- Median hourly wage: $27.58
- Total employment: 80 people (1.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 110 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The highest-value homes in Ithaca
New Africa // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers
- Median annual wage: $59,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 70 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
27 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Tax preparers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $60,610
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 70 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 50 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Lowest-paying jobs in Ithaca
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $60,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 130 people (2.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $61,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 50 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 520 people (10.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,600
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 60 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 30 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Ithaca 7-day weather forecast
fizkes // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $63,010
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,650
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 580 people (12.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $65,020
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 100 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 120 people (2.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Ithaca's 2025 housing market year in review
sculpies // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $68,100
- Median hourly wage: $32.74
- Total employment: 110 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $69,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 220 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $71,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.49
- Total employment: 100 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $75,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 50 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $75,650
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 160 people (3.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in the Ithaca area by diners
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $75,940
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 120 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 40 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $78,130
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 190 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $80,260
- Median hourly wage: $38.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $100,780
- Median hourly wage: $48.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.86 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: Where people in Ithaca are looking to buy homes
