Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville, North Carolina 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 Fayetteville 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.

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $50,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $50,440
- Median hourly wage: $24.25
- Total employment: 410 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 160 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $50,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.30
- Total employment: 910 people (6.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,680
- Median hourly wage: $24.36
- Total employment: 300 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dusan Petkovic // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

- Median annual wage: $51,880
- Median hourly wage: $24.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 720 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,660
- Median hourly wage: $25.80
- Total employment: 110 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,710
- Median hourly wage: $25.82
- Total employment: 300 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $54,190
- Median hourly wage: $26.05
- Total employment: 800 people (6.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $54,700
- Median hourly wage: $26.30
- Total employment: 500 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $55,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $55,500
- Median hourly wage: $26.68
- Total employment: 270 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $55,890
- Median hourly wage: $26.87
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $56,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 240 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 410 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#33. Construction and building inspectors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 190 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Advertising sales agents (tie)

- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $57,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.46
- Total employment: 40 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $57,410
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 130 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

22 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,980
- Median hourly wage: $27.87
- Total employment: 510 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 450 people (3.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 950 people (7.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 720 people (5.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

26 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 490 people (3.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 150 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $59,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $60,210
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 90 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 170 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

David Herraez Calzada // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Automotive glass installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $60,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 50 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $61,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 50 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $61,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 300 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 110 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.26
- Total employment: 330 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: 240 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 210 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,730
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $66,730
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 60 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LuckView // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $67,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.62 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: $67,950
- Median hourly wage: $32.67
- Total employment: 370 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Total employment: 120 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 130 people (0.99 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: $70,240
- Median hourly wage: $33.77
- Total employment: 630 people (4.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

46 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,730
- Median hourly wage: $34.96
- Total employment: 690 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 110 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $81,700
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $88,100
- Median hourly wage: $42.36
- Total employment: 190 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,840
- Median hourly wage: $45.60
- Total employment: 140 people (1.04 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.

Highest-paying jobs in Fayetteville, North Carolina for high school graduates

#50. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

#49. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

#48. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

#47. Industrial truck and tractor operators

#46. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

#45. Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers, recordkeeping

#44. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

#43. Procurement clerks

#42. Information and record clerks, all other

#41. Electricians

#40. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

#38. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

#37. Opticians, dispensing

#36. Insurance sales agents

#35. Healthcare support workers, all other

#33. Construction and building inspectors (tie)

#33. Advertising sales agents (tie)

#32. Maintenance workers, machinery

#31. Lodging managers

#30. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

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

#28. Postal service mail carriers

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

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

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

#24. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

#22. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

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

#20. Automotive glass installers and repairers

#19. Chefs and head cooks

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

#17. Food service managers

#16. Machinists

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

#13. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

#12. Postal service clerks

#11. First-line supervisors of security workers

#10. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

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

#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

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

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

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

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

#3. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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