Highest-paying jobs in Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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.

You may also like: Car insurance rates in Roanoke October 2025

John Leung // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $49,570
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 60 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $49,650
- Median hourly wage: $23.87
- Total employment: 110 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Loan interviewers and clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,710
- Median hourly wage: $23.90
- Total employment: 210 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $49,900
- Median hourly wage: $23.99
- Total employment: 90 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $49,920
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 230 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Roanoke

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $50,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 350 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $50,190
- Median hourly wage: $24.13
- Total employment: 470 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $50,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $50,600
- Median hourly wage: $24.33
- Total employment: 140 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rido // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $51,260
- Median hourly wage: $24.65
- Total employment: 80 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

11 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $51,480
- Median hourly wage: $24.75
- Total employment: 790 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $52,330
- Median hourly wage: $25.16
- Total employment: 390 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $52,340
- Median hourly wage: $25.17
- Total employment: 140 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

New Africa // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $52,460
- Median hourly wage: $25.22
- Total employment: 240 people (1.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $52,630
- Median hourly wage: $25.30
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated ice cream shops in Roanoke by diners

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $53,020
- Median hourly wage: $25.49
- Total employment: 100 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $54,320
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 820 people (5.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $56,840
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 700 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $56,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.40
- Total employment: 50 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 250 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $57,660
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 370 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 60 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $59,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.40
- Total employment: 610 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $59,350
- Median hourly wage: $28.53
- Total employment: 160 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 80 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Roanoke this year

welcomia // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,600
- Median hourly wage: $28.65
- Total employment: 350 people (2.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LStockStudio // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,800
- Median hourly wage: $28.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 960 people (6.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#21. Lodging managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 30 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.90
- Total employment: 780 people (5.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Roanoke

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,690
- Median hourly wage: $29.18
- Total employment: 1,330 people (8.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.48
- Total employment: 180 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,580
- Median hourly wage: $29.61
- Total employment: 1,300 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $62,120
- Median hourly wage: $29.87
- Total employment: 240 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.23
- Total employment: 140 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Recently opened restaurants in the Roanoke area

Carolina K. Smith MD // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $62,960
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ramon Espelt Photography // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Home appliance repairers

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.82
- Total employment: 930 people (6.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

40 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.11
- Total employment: 980 people (6.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Where people in Roanoke are looking to buy homes

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,430
- Median hourly wage: $33.86
- Total employment: 710 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $71,520
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,410
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 150 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

44 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.50
- Total employment: 790 people (5.18 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: $79,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.20
- Total employment: 340 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated delis in Roanoke by diners

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.51
- Total employment: 300 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $92,380
- Median hourly wage: $44.41
- Total employment: 120 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 120 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $106,810
- Median hourly wage: $51.35
- Total employment: 140 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $111,840
- Median hourly wage: $53.77
- Total employment: 70 people (0.45 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.

You may also like: Coat drives near Roanoke