Highest-paying jobs in Watertown 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 Watertown 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.

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $45,650
- Median hourly wage: $21.95
- Total employment: 320 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,740
- Median hourly wage: $21.99
- Total employment: 90 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $45,990
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 80 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $46,640
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $46,740
- Median hourly wage: $22.47
- Total employment: 60 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Evgeny Atamanenko // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $47,200
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 750 people (19.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $47,590
- Median hourly wage: $22.88
- Total employment: 110 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $47,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.96
- Total employment: 370 people (9.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DuxX // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Butchers and meat cutters

- Median annual wage: $48,320
- Median hourly wage: $23.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,490
- Median hourly wage: $23.31
- Total employment: 130 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Philip Lange // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $48,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.51
- Total employment: 310 people (7.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $49,220
- Median hourly wage: $23.67
- Total employment: 70 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $49,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 240 people (6.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,790
- Median hourly wage: $23.94
- Total employment: 50 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 110 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $52,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.25
- Total employment: 70 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $53,290
- Median hourly wage: $25.62
- Total employment: 140 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $53,410
- Median hourly wage: $25.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $55,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Total employment: 50 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,420
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 100 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $57,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.61
- Total employment: 260 people (6.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,690
- Median hourly wage: $27.73
- Total employment: 80 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 50 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,200
- Median hourly wage: $28.46
- Total employment: 70 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 60 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 260 people (6.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $61,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.67
- Total employment: 140 people (3.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $62,180
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 230 people (5.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 180 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 60 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 100 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $63,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Total employment: 140 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $63,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 50 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $64,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 30 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 190 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $67,230
- Median hourly wage: $32.32
- Total employment: 210 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $68,590
- Median hourly wage: $32.98
- Total employment: 60 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $71,420
- Median hourly wage: $34.34
- Total employment: 60 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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4 PM production // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $72,440
- Median hourly wage: $34.83
- Total employment: 210 people (5.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $74,700
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 100 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $76,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.59
- Total employment: 50 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $76,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 100 people (2.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $79,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.03
- Total employment: 50 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $84,150
- Median hourly wage: $40.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $84,250
- Median hourly wage: $40.50
- Total employment: 250 people (6.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $100,000
- Median hourly wage: $48.08
- Total employment: 40 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $104,330
- Median hourly wage: $50.16
- Total employment: 70 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $104,530
- Median hourly wage: $50.25
- Total employment: 70 people (1.77 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.

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