Highest-paying jobs in Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon 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.

rlat // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#48. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 70 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DC Studio // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 70 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $60,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.23
- Total employment: 90 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.28
- Total employment: 110 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,950
- Median hourly wage: $29.30
- Total employment: 120 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,210
- Median hourly wage: $29.43
- Total employment: 230 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 60 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zahovaev K // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $62,200
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 370 people (7.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $62,280
- Median hourly wage: $29.94
- Total employment: 60 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: The 30 most popular homes for sale in Mount Vernon

brizmaker // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 80 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 40 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kardasov Films // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 90 people (1.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $62,970
- Median hourly wage: $30.27
- Total employment: 200 people (3.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Roman Korotkov // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Crossing guards and flaggers

- Median annual wage: $63,510
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 40 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 70 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $64,200
- Median hourly wage: $30.86
- Total employment: 130 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,210
- Median hourly wage: $30.87
- Total employment: 50 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

PHILIPIMAGE // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $64,510
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 80 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 510 people (9.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

LightField Studios // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $67,040
- Median hourly wage: $32.23
- Total employment: 170 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $67,400
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 30 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

flywish // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Structural metal fabricators and fitters

- Median annual wage: $69,360
- Median hourly wage: $33.35
- Total employment: 50 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $69,610
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 30 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

25 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $69,940
- Median hourly wage: $33.62
- Total employment: 200 people (3.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Cheapest gas stations in Mount Vernon

Steve Hamann // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $71,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $71,650
- Median hourly wage: $34.45
- Total employment: 30 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $71,680
- Median hourly wage: $34.46
- Total employment: 30 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,070
- Median hourly wage: $34.65
- Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

30 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.49
- Total employment: 500 people (9.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Most expensive homes for sale in Mount Vernon

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $74,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.91
- Total employment: 60 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 170 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $76,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.93
- Total employment: 150 people (2.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 150 people (2.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $77,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 500 people (9.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $77,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.47
- Total employment: 70 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $78,170
- Median hourly wage: $37.58
- Total employment: 70 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,580
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 80 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $78,940
- Median hourly wage: $37.95
- Total employment: 360 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Total employment: 230 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $80,550
- Median hourly wage: $38.73
- Total employment: 180 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.29
- Total employment: 80 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $83,580
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 60 people (1.07 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: $90,370
- Median hourly wage: $43.45
- Total employment: 280 people (5.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $101,010
- Median hourly wage: $48.56
- Total employment: 40 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $101,650
- Median hourly wage: $48.87
- Total employment: 170 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $103,270
- Median hourly wage: $49.65
- Total employment: 520 people (10.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $113,700
- Median hourly wage: $54.66
- Total employment: 70 people (1.28 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: $123,410
- Median hourly wage: $59.33
- Total employment: 480 people (9.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $126,350
- Median hourly wage: $60.75
- Total employment: 60 people (1.08 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: Car insurance rates in Mount Vernon October 2025