Highest-paying jobs in Wichita 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 Wichita 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.

Efired // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Bill and account collectors

- Median annual wage: $42,120
- Median hourly wage: $20.25
- Total employment: 50 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $42,420
- Median hourly wage: $20.39
- Total employment: 90 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $42,810
- Median hourly wage: $20.58
- Total employment: 30 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Painters, construction and maintenance

- Median annual wage: $42,820
- Median hourly wage: $20.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $43,120
- Median hourly wage: $20.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Irene Miller // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $43,720
- Median hourly wage: $21.02
- Total employment: 150 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $43,830
- Median hourly wage: $21.07
- Total employment: 70 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LuckView // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $44,400
- Median hourly wage: $21.34
- Total employment: 110 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $44,770
- Median hourly wage: $21.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $45,200
- Median hourly wage: $21.73
- Total employment: 300 people (5.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Vera Larina // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $45,350
- Median hourly wage: $21.80
- Total employment: 40 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Industrial truck and tractor operators

- Median annual wage: $45,360
- Median hourly wage: $21.81
- Total employment: 180 people (3.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $45,980
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 60 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $46,060
- Median hourly wage: $22.14
- Total employment: 90 people (1.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,380
- Median hourly wage: $22.30
- Total employment: 50 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $46,430
- Median hourly wage: $22.32
- Total employment: 60 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

17 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $46,530
- Median hourly wage: $22.37
- Total employment: 350 people (6.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $46,570
- Median hourly wage: $22.39
- Total employment: 120 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $46,950
- Median hourly wage: $22.57
- Total employment: 240 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,190
- Median hourly wage: $22.69
- Total employment: 160 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $48,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.39
- Total employment: 150 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $48,720
- Median hourly wage: $23.42
- Total employment: 170 people (3.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

- Median annual wage: $49,290
- Median hourly wage: $23.70
- Total employment: 70 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

giocalde // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Printing press operators

- Median annual wage: $49,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $50,340
- Median hourly wage: $24.20
- Total employment: 280 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,360
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 90 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 550 people (9.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,000
- Median hourly wage: $25.00
- Total employment: 230 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $52,250
- Median hourly wage: $25.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $53,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,150
- Median hourly wage: $25.55
- Total employment: 270 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

32 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 30 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 160 people (2.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $54,440
- Median hourly wage: $26.17
- Total employment: 40 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,310
- Median hourly wage: $26.59
- Total employment: 90 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

36 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 650 people (11.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $56,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.04
- Total employment: 110 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladimir Endovitskiy // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $57,240
- Median hourly wage: $27.52
- Total employment: 40 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,110
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 130 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 270 people (4.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.31
- Total employment: 250 people (4.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 50 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

43 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.37
- Total employment: 320 people (5.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,440
- Median hourly wage: $28.58
- Total employment: 80 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 70 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,270
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 290 people (5.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $70,030
- Median hourly wage: $33.67
- Total employment: 420 people (7.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 40 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)