Highest-paying jobs in Provo 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 Provo 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.

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,650
- Median hourly wage: $25.31
- Total employment: 780 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $54,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.97
- Total employment: 360 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,170
- Median hourly wage: $26.05
- Total employment: 850 people (2.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Radovan1 / Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $54,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 360 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $54,360
- Median hourly wage: $26.14
- Total employment: 90 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.21
- Total employment: 310 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $54,810
- Median hourly wage: $26.35
- Total employment: 360 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $55,370
- Median hourly wage: $26.62
- Total employment: Not available

Yuriy Golub // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $55,570
- Median hourly wage: $26.72
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $55,640
- Median hourly wage: $26.75
- Total employment: 310 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $56,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 1,210 people (4.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 400 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $57,940
- Median hourly wage: $27.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 120 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 480 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $58,840
- Median hourly wage: $28.29
- Total employment: 120 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $58,930
- Median hourly wage: $28.33
- Total employment: 2,010 people (6.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $58,980
- Median hourly wage: $28.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $59,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Total employment: 180 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $59,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.45
- Total employment: 550 people (1.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $59,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.54
- Total employment: 970 people (3.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $59,540
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 160 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#27. Postal service clerks (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 90 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#25. Transportation security screeners (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 4,900 people (16.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 150 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 370 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $60,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $60,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 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: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 1,960 people (6.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 360 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,960
- Median hourly wage: $29.79
- Total employment: 250 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 3,380 people (11.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 1,550 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $62,710
- Median hourly wage: $30.15
- Total employment: 190 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $63,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.39
- Total employment: 280 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,250
- Median hourly wage: $30.41
- Total employment: 390 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $63,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 230 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $64,540
- Median hourly wage: $31.03
- Total employment: 190 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $65,390
- Median hourly wage: $31.44
- Total employment: 220 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,730
- Median hourly wage: $35.45
- Total employment: 2,240 people (7.51 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: $73,900
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 940 people (3.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,320
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 450 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $75,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 690 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $79,490
- Median hourly wage: $38.22
- Total employment: 130 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 310 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $102,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 200 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $107,480
- Median hourly wage: $51.68
- Total employment: 40 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Neale Cousland // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Athletes and sports competitors

- Median annual wage: $166,250
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 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.