N_Sakarin // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $52,090
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 230 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Sioux Falls 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 Sioux Falls 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.
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Sioux Falls
flywish // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $52,470
- Median hourly wage: $25.23
- Total employment: 130 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $52,740
- Median hourly wage: $25.35
- Total employment: 110 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GolF2532 // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $52,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.45
- Total employment: 240 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Choreographers
- Median annual wage: $53,010
- Median hourly wage: $25.48
- Total employment: 90 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Sioux Falls area by diners
Bigflick // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $53,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 350 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $53,320
- Median hourly wage: $25.64
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $54,760
- Median hourly wage: $26.33
- Total employment: 240 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $54,830
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 790 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
LStockStudio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Brokerage clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,900
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 80 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Best places to live in the Sioux Falls metro area
Indypendenz // Shutterstock
11 / 50#39. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 160 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 100 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
rlat // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 70 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 740 people (4.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
fizkes // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $58,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sioux Falls that require a bachelor's degree
rezoff // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $58,750
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $59,020
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 80 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $59,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 160 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
M2020 // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $60,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jat306 // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $60,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated Asian restaurants in Sioux Falls by diners
SritanaN // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $60,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.06
- Total employment: 430 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 480 people (2.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $60,930
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 170 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $60,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 1,220 people (6.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $61,250
- Median hourly wage: $29.45
- Total employment: 280 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Sioux Falls that require a graduate degree
Gorgev // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $61,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 160 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lucky Business // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Sales and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $62,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 610 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Car insurance rates in Sioux Falls
John Leung // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Total employment: 140 people (0.78 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: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 770 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 240 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $65,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.28
- Total employment: 310 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $66,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 560 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Sioux Falls?
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Cargo and freight agents
- Median annual wage: $67,820
- Median hourly wage: $32.61
- Total employment: 150 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $70,950
- Median hourly wage: $34.11
- Total employment: 590 people (3.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 660 people (3.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $74,260
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 2,280 people (13.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $74,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants for burgers in the Sioux Falls area by diners
sculpies // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $77,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 960 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $78,350
- Median hourly wage: $37.67
- Total employment: 470 people (2.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,950
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 670 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: Not available
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.29
- Total employment: 640 people (3.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Sioux Falls area by diners
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $99,910
- Median hourly wage: $48.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $103,530
- Median hourly wage: $49.77
- Total employment: 190 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ground Picture // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $103,700
- Median hourly wage: $49.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $105,790
- Median hourly wage: $50.86
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $108,460
- Median hourly wage: $52.14
- Total employment: 310 people (1.79 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.
You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Sioux Falls by diners
