Highest-paying jobs in Amarillo 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 Amarillo 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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1 / 50

#50. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $47,720
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 750 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $47,840
- Median hourly wage: $23.00
- Total employment: Not available

4 PM production // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $48,250
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Total employment: 190 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $48,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Total employment: 90 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,510
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 240 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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6 / 50

#45. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $48,930
- Median hourly wage: $23.52
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $48,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.53
- Total employment: 50 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $48,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 150 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,990
- Median hourly wage: $23.55
- Total employment: 90 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rezoff // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $49,450
- Median hourly wage: $23.78
- Total employment: 30 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $49,680
- Median hourly wage: $23.89
- Total employment: 430 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $49,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.03
- Total employment: 100 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,110
- Median hourly wage: $24.09
- Total employment: 670 people (5.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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14 / 50

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $50,310
- Median hourly wage: $24.19
- Total employment: 430 people (3.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $50,950
- Median hourly wage: $24.50
- Total employment: 710 people (5.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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16 / 50

#35. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,300
- Median hourly wage: $25.15
- Total employment: 380 people (3.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $54,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 440 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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18 / 50

#33. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $54,390
- Median hourly wage: $26.15
- Total employment: 590 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $54,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.37
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $54,980
- Median hourly wage: $26.44
- Total employment: 40 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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manine99 // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $55,630
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $57,090
- Median hourly wage: $27.45
- Total employment: 430 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 130 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 320 people (2.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.82
- Total employment: 100 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 1,340 people (10.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 250 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 680 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $58,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Total employment: 230 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 220 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.42
- Total employment: 180 people (1.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $62,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,700
- Median hourly wage: $30.14
- Total employment: 250 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 760 people (6.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Elizaveta Galitckaia // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 50 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.56
- Total employment: 160 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $67,000
- Median hourly wage: $32.21
- Total employment: 80 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.97
- Total employment: 80 people (0.66 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: $68,930
- Median hourly wage: $33.14
- Total employment: 660 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $70,080
- Median hourly wage: $33.69
- Total employment: 670 people (5.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,350
- Median hourly wage: $33.82
- Total employment: 110 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

branislavpudar // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Hazardous materials removal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 130 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 170 people (1.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $79,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.38
- Total employment: 670 people (5.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $85,190
- Median hourly wage: $40.96
- Total employment: 260 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $104,240
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Total employment: 70 people (0.54 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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