Highest-paying jobs in Bremerton 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 Bremerton 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.

Dragon Images // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 140 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $63,290
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 30 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Drazen Zigic // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $63,770
- Median hourly wage: $30.66
- Total employment: 220 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,120
- Median hourly wage: $30.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $64,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.91
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $65,210
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 910 people (9.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#43. Bus drivers, school (tie)

- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 310 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Sailors and marine oilers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $65,480
- Median hourly wage: $31.48
- Total employment: 210 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $67,090
- Median hourly wage: $32.26
- Total employment: 70 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $67,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 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: $67,710
- Median hourly wage: $32.55
- Total employment: 280 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

12 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,010
- Median hourly wage: $33.18
- Total employment: 200 people (2.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $69,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $69,140
- Median hourly wage: $33.24
- Total employment: 770 people (8.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#33. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 120 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Alba_alioth // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#33. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 190 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

branislavpudar // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#33. Hazardous materials removal workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Insulation workers, mechanical (tie)

- Median annual wage: $72,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 190 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $73,030
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 80 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $73,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.39
- Total employment: 30 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $74,360
- Median hourly wage: $35.75
- Total employment: 480 people (5.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $74,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 140 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $74,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.83
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,340
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 770 people (8.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,540
- Median hourly wage: $36.32
- Total employment: 170 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#21. Riggers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 580 people (6.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#21. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 990 people (10.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#21. Electricians (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 1,110 people (11.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: 1,340 people (14.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#19. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (tie)

- Median annual wage: $76,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 340 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $76,620
- Median hourly wage: $36.84
- Total employment: 90 people (0.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,770
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 190 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

34 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 430 people (4.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $78,400
- Median hourly wage: $37.69
- Total employment: 130 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 320 people (3.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.19
- Total employment: 60 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $80,380
- Median hourly wage: $38.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $82,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.66
- Total employment: 150 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $84,770
- Median hourly wage: $40.76
- Total employment: 270 people (2.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $84,780
- Median hourly wage: $40.76
- Total employment: 80 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $86,700
- Median hourly wage: $41.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $93,090
- Median hourly wage: $44.75
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $102,420
- Median hourly wage: $49.24
- Total employment: 740 people (7.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $102,420
- Median hourly wage: $49.24
- Total employment: 480 people (5.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $102,640
- Median hourly wage: $49.34
- Total employment: 280 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $110,140
- Median hourly wage: $52.95
- Total employment: 1,090 people (11.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $113,590
- Median hourly wage: $54.61
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $115,770
- Median hourly wage: $55.66
- Total employment: 50 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $124,170
- Median hourly wage: $59.70
- Total employment: 90 people (0.92 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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