Highest-paying jobs in Portland, Oregon 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 Portland 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.

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $74,970
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 4,180 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,020
- Median hourly wage: $36.07
- Total employment: 440 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $75,500
- Median hourly wage: $36.30
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

paul rushton // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Parking enforcement workers

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $76,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.63
- Total employment: 1,270 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Olena Yakobchuk // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Airfield operations specialists

- Median annual wage: $76,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#43. Industrial machinery mechanics (tie)

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 4,370 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Artists and related workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $76,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.92
- Total employment: 2,840 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

10 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 1,790 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: 370 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.48
- Total employment: 2,070 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 840 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $78,220
- Median hourly wage: $37.61
- Total employment: 2,010 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 460 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Photostriker // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 160 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $78,710
- Median hourly wage: $37.84
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Tree trimmers and pruners

- Median annual wage: $78,920
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 800 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,110
- Median hourly wage: $38.04
- Total employment: 230 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,740 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 450 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

APChanel // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Locomotive engineers

- Median annual wage: $80,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.70
- Total employment: 150 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 340 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $81,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.27
- Total employment: 170 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,510
- Median hourly wage: $40.15
- Total employment: 4,410 people (3.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $83,970
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 1,070 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,990
- Median hourly wage: $40.38
- Total employment: 1,680 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Yulyazolotko // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Fallers

- Median annual wage: $84,590
- Median hourly wage: $40.67
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Guiderom // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Rail car repairers

- Median annual wage: $85,380
- Median hourly wage: $41.05
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $85,580
- Median hourly wage: $41.15
- Total employment: 170 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $87,590
- Median hourly wage: $42.11
- Total employment: 1,370 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $91,420
- Median hourly wage: $43.95
- Total employment: 340 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Onk-Q // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $93,280
- Median hourly wage: $44.85
- Total employment: 390 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $93,360
- Median hourly wage: $44.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $93,800
- Median hourly wage: $45.10
- Total employment: 250 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $95,590
- Median hourly wage: $45.96
- Total employment: 470 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $97,070
- Median hourly wage: $46.67
- Total employment: 2,250 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $100,110
- Median hourly wage: $48.13
- Total employment: 4,920 people (4.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 7,290 people (6.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,770
- Median hourly wage: $50.85
- Total employment: 1,780 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $107,920
- Median hourly wage: $51.89
- Total employment: 7,110 people (5.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $110,280
- Median hourly wage: $53.02
- Total employment: 320 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $113,380
- Median hourly wage: $54.51
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $114,940
- Median hourly wage: $55.26
- Total employment: 130 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $121,530
- Median hourly wage: $58.43
- Total employment: 290 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $123,560
- Median hourly wage: $59.40
- Total employment: 120 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $125,160
- Median hourly wage: $60.18
- Total employment: 700 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $127,090
- Median hourly wage: $61.10
- Total employment: 620 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $134,010
- Median hourly wage: $64.43
- Total employment: 180 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $136,300
- Median hourly wage: $65.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.05 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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