Highest-paying jobs in Norfolk 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 Norfolk 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. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $60,700
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 3,950 people (5.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 6,260 people (8.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $60,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 230 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 210 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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5 / 50

#46. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $60,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 2,650 people (3.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,020
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Total employment: 4,980 people (6.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.47
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $61,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 2,950 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $61,730
- Median hourly wage: $29.68
- Total employment: 1,220 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $61,800
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 1,880 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

#40. Material moving workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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12 / 50

#39. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,110
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: Not available

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13 / 50

#38. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 1,050 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $62,740
- Median hourly wage: $30.17
- Total employment: 80 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 990 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 1,340 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $63,030
- Median hourly wage: $30.30
- Total employment: Not available

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18 / 50

#33. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,060
- Median hourly wage: $30.32
- Total employment: 1,540 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $63,720
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 6,810 people (9.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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20 / 50

#31. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 420 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $63,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.75
- Total employment: 70 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,720
- Median hourly wage: $31.12
- Total employment: Not available

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23 / 50

#28. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $64,980
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,140
- Median hourly wage: $31.80
- Total employment: 170 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $66,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.96
- Total employment: 260 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $66,630
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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27 / 50

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,650
- Median hourly wage: $32.04
- Total employment: 1,210 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $67,210
- Median hourly wage: $32.31
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $67,410
- Median hourly wage: $32.41
- Total employment: 540 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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30 / 50

#20. Layout workers, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 570 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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31 / 50

#20. Electrical power-line installers and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $67,580
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Total employment: 480 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,970
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 660 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $68,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.71
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,630
- Median hourly wage: $34.92
- Total employment: 60 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,510
- Median hourly wage: $35.34
- Total employment: 360 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $74,110
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

37 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,200
- Median hourly wage: $35.67
- Total employment: 1,000 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $76,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.69
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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40 / 50

#11. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $77,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

41 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,310
- Median hourly wage: $37.17
- Total employment: 2,490 people (3.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,820
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: 3,580 people (4.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $80,400
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 300 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,850
- Median hourly wage: $38.87
- Total employment: 5,880 people (7.79 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: $84,040
- Median hourly wage: $40.40
- Total employment: 1,360 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,960
- Median hourly wage: $44.21
- Total employment: 440 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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47 / 50

#4. Animal trainers

- Median annual wage: $94,390
- Median hourly wage: $45.38
- Total employment: 110 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $96,130
- Median hourly wage: $46.22
- Total employment: 630 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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49 / 50

#2. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $99,920
- Median hourly wage: $48.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)