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1 / 50#50. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $58,650
- Median hourly wage: $28.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Allentown 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 Allentown 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.
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2 / 50#49. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $58,820
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 350 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $59,000
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 1,270 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $59,130
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 260 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $59,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.71
- Total employment: 320 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $59,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.77
- Total employment: 820 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
manine99 // Shutterstock
8 / 50#42. Maintenance workers, machinery (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 110 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dagmara_K // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Drywall and ceiling tile installers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Aleksandar Malivuk // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Mechanical door repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 90 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 270 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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12 / 50#39. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $61,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.63
- Total employment: 200 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Total employment: 130 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $62,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 3,550 people (9.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 880 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.59
- Total employment: 620 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $63,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 700 people (1.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,710
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 330 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $65,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 760 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,610
- Median hourly wage: $31.54
- Total employment: 100 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 2,340 people (6.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $66,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.83
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.07
- Total employment: 520 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 1,140 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $71,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.50
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $72,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.88
- Total employment: 1,440 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $72,780
- Median hourly wage: $34.99
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $73,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.28
- Total employment: 3,300 people (8.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $76,140
- Median hourly wage: $36.60
- Total employment: 1,950 people (5.28 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: $77,780
- Median hourly wage: $37.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $78,060
- Median hourly wage: $37.53
- Total employment: 450 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
adriaticfoto // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Miscellaneous construction and related workers
- Median annual wage: $78,690
- Median hourly wage: $37.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 1,350 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $79,350
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,330 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $81,420
- Median hourly wage: $39.14
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $86,060
- Median hourly wage: $41.37
- Total employment: 1,460 people (3.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $86,920
- Median hourly wage: $41.79
- Total employment: 270 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $91,840
- Median hourly wage: $44.16
- Total employment: 290 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $91,930
- Median hourly wage: $44.20
- Total employment: 210 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $93,500
- Median hourly wage: $44.95
- Total employment: 440 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,920
- Median hourly wage: $46.12
- Total employment: 200 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $102,790
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 630 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $107,840
- Median hourly wage: $51.85
- Total employment: 260 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $108,390
- Median hourly wage: $52.11
- Total employment: 370 people (0.99 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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