Highest-paying jobs in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville 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.

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $42,250
- Median hourly wage: $20.31
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $42,520
- Median hourly wage: $20.44
- Total employment: 70 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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3 / 50

#48. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $42,610
- Median hourly wage: $20.49
- Total employment: 70 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $44,220
- Median hourly wage: $21.26
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $44,820
- Median hourly wage: $21.55
- Total employment: 610 people (11.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $45,060
- Median hourly wage: $21.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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7 / 50

#44. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $45,850
- Median hourly wage: $22.04
- Total employment: 180 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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8 / 50

#43. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $45,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.07
- Total employment: 80 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $46,080
- Median hourly wage: $22.16
- Total employment: 130 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $46,620
- Median hourly wage: $22.41
- Total employment: 70 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $46,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 110 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,590
- Median hourly wage: $22.88
- Total employment: 200 people (3.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,010
- Median hourly wage: $23.08
- Total employment: 340 people (6.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,120
- Median hourly wage: $23.14
- Total employment: 100 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Self-enrichment teachers

- Median annual wage: $48,400
- Median hourly wage: $23.27
- Total employment: 80 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,440
- Median hourly wage: $23.29
- Total employment: 160 people (3.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 30 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,530
- Median hourly wage: $23.33
- Total employment: 130 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors (tie)

- Median annual wage: $48,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 140 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $49,130
- Median hourly wage: $23.62
- Total employment: 140 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 110 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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23 / 50

#28. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $50,010
- Median hourly wage: $24.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $50,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $50,650
- Median hourly wage: $24.35
- Total employment: 70 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $51,460
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 80 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $51,540
- Median hourly wage: $24.78
- Total employment: 170 people (3.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $51,820
- Median hourly wage: $24.92
- Total employment: 220 people (4.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.02
- Total employment: 400 people (7.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $52,170
- Median hourly wage: $25.08
- Total employment: 360 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,130
- Median hourly wage: $25.54
- Total employment: 220 people (4.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $53,240
- Median hourly wage: $25.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 230 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 50 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 150 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 60 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 70 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Motor vehicle operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 80 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 380 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.95
- Total employment: 240 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $65,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 70 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $67,460
- Median hourly wage: $32.43
- Total employment: 130 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $70,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 40 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $84,640
- Median hourly wage: $40.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $90,690
- Median hourly wage: $43.60
- Total employment: 120 people (2.3 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.