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1 / 50#50. Automotive glass installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $63,530
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Providence 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 Providence 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. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $63,870
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 1,510 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
mahc // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Tile and stone setters
- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $66,370
- Median hourly wage: $31.91
- Total employment: 2,520 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $67,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.56
- Total employment: 150 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Locksmiths and safe repairers
- Median annual wage: $69,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 90 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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9 / 50#42. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $69,350
- Median hourly wage: $33.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $69,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.45
- Total employment: 80 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $69,830
- Median hourly wage: $33.57
- Total employment: 90 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $70,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $70,930
- Median hourly wage: $34.10
- Total employment: 1,800 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $71,310
- Median hourly wage: $34.29
- Total employment: 3,280 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $71,620
- Median hourly wage: $34.43
- Total employment: 280 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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16 / 50#35. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 350 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $73,020
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 2,010 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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18 / 50#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $73,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 1,550 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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19 / 50#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $73,710
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 4,050 people (5.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $73,790
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 470 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $73,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.50
- Total employment: 6,700 people (9.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $74,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 2,930 people (4.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $75,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 410 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $75,840
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 6,710 people (9.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $77,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 3,040 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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27 / 50#24. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 340 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 3,940 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $78,390
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 1,020 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 750 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,170
- Median hourly wage: $38.54
- Total employment: 2,580 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Tank car, truck, and ship loaders
- Median annual wage: $80,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 180 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $82,030
- Median hourly wage: $39.44
- Total employment: 1,120 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $83,480
- Median hourly wage: $40.13
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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36 / 50#15. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $84,680
- Median hourly wage: $40.71
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $88,780
- Median hourly wage: $42.68
- Total employment: 490 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $94,880
- Median hourly wage: $45.62
- Total employment: 380 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $94,900
- Median hourly wage: $45.62
- Total employment: 760 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $95,220
- Median hourly wage: $45.78
- Total employment: 3,270 people (4.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $95,430
- Median hourly wage: $45.88
- Total employment: 1,200 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $95,810
- Median hourly wage: $46.06
- Total employment: 670 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $96,820
- Median hourly wage: $46.55
- Total employment: 710 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $97,200
- Median hourly wage: $46.73
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 100 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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46 / 50#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 820 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $103,250
- Median hourly wage: $49.64
- Total employment: 120 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 160 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $103,490
- Median hourly wage: $49.75
- Total employment: 320 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $113,770
- Median hourly wage: $54.70
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 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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