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1 / 50#50. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Median annual wage: $55,410
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 970 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg 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. Procurement clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,470
- Median hourly wage: $26.67
- Total employment: 270 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $55,700
- Median hourly wage: $26.78
- Total employment: 430 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Virrage Images // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Refuse and recyclable material collectors
- Median annual wage: $56,860
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
5 / 50#45. Brokerage clerks (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: Not available
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Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Cement masons and concrete finishers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,530
- Median hourly wage: $27.66
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 220 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $59,590
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 110 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $59,630
- Median hourly wage: $28.67
- Total employment: 70 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $59,890
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 270 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 750 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $60,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 370 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vera Larina // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $61,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 110 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $61,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Leung // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $61,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
chalermphon_tiam // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $61,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 730 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $61,660
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,670
- Median hourly wage: $29.65
- Total employment: 1,750 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 350 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $62,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 420 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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24 / 50#27. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 160 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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25 / 50#26. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 870 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $63,820
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 170 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 410 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $64,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 2,690 people (8.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $64,700
- Median hourly wage: $31.11
- Total employment: 2,140 people (6.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $66,040
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 4,510 people (13.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $66,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.18
- Total employment: 710 people (2.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $68,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.89
- Total employment: 60 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $68,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.00
- Total employment: 830 people (2.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $70,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.96
- Total employment: 960 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $71,970
- Median hourly wage: $34.60
- Total employment: 400 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.79
- Total employment: 1,180 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,370
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 820 people (2.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,510
- Median hourly wage: $36.78
- Total employment: 1,160 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 290 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $78,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,630
- Median hourly wage: $38.77
- Total employment: 80 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $82,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.64
- Total employment: 1,260 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $85,320
- Median hourly wage: $41.02
- Total employment: 1,440 people (4.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $89,860
- Median hourly wage: $43.20
- Total employment: 30 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 120 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $104,250
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $105,570
- Median hourly wage: $50.76
- Total employment: 560 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $121,950
- Median hourly wage: $58.63
- Total employment: 330 people (1.0 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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