Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. Community health workers
- Median annual wage: $60,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 300 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Richmond 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 Richmond 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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2 / 50#49. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 280 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
John Gress Media Inc // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Engine and other machine assemblers
- Median annual wage: $60,620
- Median hourly wage: $29.14
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 5,590 people (8.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $61,060
- Median hourly wage: $29.36
- Total employment: 160 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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6 / 50#45. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $61,400
- Median hourly wage: $29.52
- Total employment: 2,480 people (3.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $61,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 710 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 4,010 people (6.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Chay_Tee // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 350 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 80 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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11 / 50#40. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 3,240 people (4.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Transportation security screeners
- Median annual wage: $62,570
- Median hourly wage: $30.08
- Total employment: 140 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Akimov Igor // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $62,620
- Median hourly wage: $30.11
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $62,670
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 130 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.22
- Total employment: 1,080 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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manine99 // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $63,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 90 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 170 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
- Median annual wage: $63,920
- Median hourly wage: $30.73
- Total employment: 500 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $64,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.02
- Total employment: 6,850 people (10.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 700 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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21 / 50#30. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $64,970
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 70 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
SritanaN // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $66,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.76
- Total employment: 1,900 people (2.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $66,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock
24 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of correctional officers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Total employment: 500 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. Real estate sales agents (tie)
- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $32.00
- Total employment: 630 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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26 / 50#25. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $69,180
- Median hourly wage: $33.26
- Total employment: 850 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
BearFotos // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $69,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.56
- Total employment: 90 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Flight attendants
- Median annual wage: $72,380
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorgev // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $73,090
- Median hourly wage: $35.14
- Total employment: 220 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $73,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.33
- Total employment: 2,140 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $73,720
- Median hourly wage: $35.44
- Total employment: 4,370 people (6.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $75,040
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Total employment: 2,110 people (3.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $76,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: Not available
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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $76,570
- Median hourly wage: $36.81
- Total employment: 240 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $77,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 1,560 people (2.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $78,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Total employment: 2,960 people (4.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,200
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 510 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $79,800
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 750 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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41 / 50#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $82,550
- Median hourly wage: $39.69
- Total employment: 520 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Prath // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $88,500
- Median hourly wage: $42.55
- Total employment: 460 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $93,350
- Median hourly wage: $44.88
- Total employment: 1,430 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $93,560
- Median hourly wage: $44.98
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $94,250
- Median hourly wage: $45.31
- Total employment: 30 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
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Ground Picture // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $100,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.40
- Total employment: 660 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,140
- Median hourly wage: $48.62
- Total employment: 560 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $102,190
- Median hourly wage: $49.13
- Total employment: 70 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $105,140
- Median hourly wage: $50.55
- Total employment: 230 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Washburn HM // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $115,110
- Median hourly wage: $55.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 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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