Highest-paying jobs in Longview 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 Longview 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. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

- Median annual wage: $55,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.51
- Total employment: 500 people (12.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $55,420
- Median hourly wage: $26.65
- Total employment: 200 people (4.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $56,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.23
- Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $56,790
- Median hourly wage: $27.31
- Total employment: 40 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Randy Hergenrether // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $56,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 510 people (12.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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brizmaker // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $57,010
- Median hourly wage: $27.41
- Total employment: 150 people (3.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

guteksk7 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

- Median annual wage: $57,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

8 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $58,290
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 190 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DGLimages // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $58,320
- Median hourly wage: $28.04
- Total employment: 40 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 90 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 160 people (3.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $59,860
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 50 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $60,490
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 110 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $60,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 100 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Total employment: 140 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $62,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 240 people (5.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $63,040
- Median hourly wage: $30.31
- Total employment: 260 people (6.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

worradirek // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers

- Median annual wage: $63,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.46
- Total employment: 40 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.49
- Total employment: 30 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 40 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $66,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,430
- Median hourly wage: $31.94
- Total employment: 180 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,600
- Median hourly wage: $32.02
- Total employment: 630 people (15.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $66,830
- Median hourly wage: $32.13
- Total employment: 50 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $69,130
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 180 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

27 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,870
- Median hourly wage: $33.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.96 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: $70,560
- Median hourly wage: $33.92
- Total employment: 180 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $71,560
- Median hourly wage: $34.41
- Total employment: 130 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Funtay // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

- Median annual wage: $72,570
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Total employment: 40 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,460
- Median hourly wage: $35.32
- Total employment: 70 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $74,480
- Median hourly wage: $35.81
- Total employment: 90 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $74,840
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 140 people (3.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $75,260
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 30 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $76,490
- Median hourly wage: $36.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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36 / 50

#15. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.91
- Total employment: 110 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 170 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 360 people (8.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $79,300
- Median hourly wage: $38.13
- Total employment: 350 people (8.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $80,890
- Median hourly wage: $38.89
- Total employment: 170 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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41 / 50

#10. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $83,870
- Median hourly wage: $40.32
- Total employment: 270 people (6.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $85,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.00
- Total employment: 430 people (10.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $89,340
- Median hourly wage: $42.95
- Total employment: 510 people (12.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $91,600
- Median hourly wage: $44.04
- Total employment: 160 people (3.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $93,860
- Median hourly wage: $45.13
- Total employment: 110 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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michaeljung // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $95,500
- Median hourly wage: $45.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.38 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: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 240 people (5.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $105,550
- Median hourly wage: $50.75
- Total employment: 50 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

49 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $106,680
- Median hourly wage: $51.29
- Total employment: 350 people (8.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $119,120
- Median hourly wage: $57.27
- Total employment: 50 people (1.33 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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