A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Cleveland for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
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Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
1 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 2,320 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Canva
2 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 1,190 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Photostriker // Shutterstock
3 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,830
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
4 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.81
- Total employment: 160 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
welcomia // Shutterstock
5 / 50- Median annual wage: $57,920
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 820 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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Canva
6 / 50- Median annual wage: $58,050
- Median hourly wage: $27.91
- Total employment: 200 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
7 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 750 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
8 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 6,880 people (6.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
9 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 1,920 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
10 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.59
- Total employment: 1,790 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Canva
11 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 60 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
SritanaN // Shutterstock
12 / 50- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Total employment: 2,710 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
Canva
13 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 2,150 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
14 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 3,940 people (3.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,710
- Median hourly wage: $29.19
- Total employment: 2,970 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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rlat // Shutterstock
16 / 50- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 330 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
17 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 130 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
18 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,270
- Median hourly wage: $29.46
- Total employment: 2,560 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
19 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.56
- Total employment: 530 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
20 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 8,350 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
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Canva
21 / 50- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
22 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.88
- Total employment: 90 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
BearFotos // Shutterstock
23 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 100 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
24 / 50- Median annual wage: $62,830
- Median hourly wage: $30.21
- Total employment: 5,630 people (5.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 50- Median annual wage: $63,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 1,910 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
26 / 50- Median annual wage: $64,240
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 260 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
27 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.32
- Total employment: 1,990 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
michaeljung // Shutterstock
28 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,800
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
John Leung // Shutterstock
29 / 50- Median annual wage: $65,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.72
- Total employment: 600 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Canva
30 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.98
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock
31 / 50- Median annual wage: $66,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
32 / 50- Median annual wage: $67,860
- Median hourly wage: $32.62
- Total employment: 580 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
33 / 50- Median annual wage: $68,380
- Median hourly wage: $32.88
- Total employment: 12,720 people (12.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
4 PM production // Shutterstock
34 / 50- Median annual wage: $68,850
- Median hourly wage: $33.10
- Total employment: 3,280 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
35 / 50- Median annual wage: $70,160
- Median hourly wage: $33.73
- Total employment: 400 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
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Jat306 // Shutterstock
36 / 50- Median annual wage: $70,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.92
- Total employment: 270 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
37 / 50- Median annual wage: $70,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.95
- Total employment: 130 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
sculpies // Shutterstock
38 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,190
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 3,120 people (3.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
pio3 // Shutterstock
39 / 50- Median annual wage: $74,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 5,040 people (5.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
40 / 50- Median annual wage: $75,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.45
- Total employment: 200 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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Prath // Shutterstock
41 / 50- Median annual wage: $76,850
- Median hourly wage: $36.95
- Total employment: 510 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
42 / 50- Median annual wage: $77,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.35
- Total employment: 100 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
43 / 50- Median annual wage: $79,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 160 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
44 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,230
- Median hourly wage: $40.01
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
45 / 50- Median annual wage: $83,920
- Median hourly wage: $40.35
- Total employment: 400 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
46 / 50- Median annual wage: $86,960
- Median hourly wage: $41.81
- Total employment: 40 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50- Median annual wage: $90,570
- Median hourly wage: $43.54
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
48 / 50- Median annual wage: $92,630
- Median hourly wage: $44.54
- Total employment: 1,520 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
Canva
49 / 50- Median annual wage: $96,620
- Median hourly wage: $46.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Canva
50 / 50- Median annual wage: $99,890
- Median hourly wage: $48.02
- Total employment: 750 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
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