Highest-paying jobs in Spokane 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 Spokane 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.

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,760
- Median hourly wage: $31.13
- Total employment: 140 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

2 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 1,130 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kzenon // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.26
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $65,200
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 390 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,240
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 280 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $66,010
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kot500 // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $66,100
- Median hourly wage: $31.78
- Total employment: 620 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $66,170
- Median hourly wage: $31.81
- Total employment: 530 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $66,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.03
- Total employment: 250 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vadim Ratnikov // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $68,010
- Median hourly wage: $32.70
- Total employment: 580 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kirill Lasis // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $68,070
- Median hourly wage: $32.73
- Total employment: 100 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

13 / 50

#38. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $69,150
- Median hourly wage: $33.25
- Total employment: 180 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,650
- Median hourly wage: $33.97
- Total employment: 1,390 people (5.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

15 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,870
- Median hourly wage: $34.07
- Total employment: 2,530 people (9.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

16 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $70,980
- Median hourly wage: $34.13
- Total employment: 2,410 people (9.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $70,990
- Median hourly wage: $34.13
- Total employment: 310 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $71,690
- Median hourly wage: $34.47
- Total employment: 620 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $72,580
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 100 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $72,760
- Median hourly wage: $34.98
- Total employment: 90 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

fizkes // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $73,000
- Median hourly wage: $35.10
- Total employment: 380 people (1.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $73,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.48
- Total employment: 280 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $74,150
- Median hourly wage: $35.65
- Total employment: 750 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $74,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 70 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $74,350
- Median hourly wage: $35.74
- Total employment: 40 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $74,470
- Median hourly wage: $35.80
- Total employment: 100 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $76,400
- Median hourly wage: $36.73
- Total employment: 590 people (2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $76,550
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Total employment: 410 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Lucky Business // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#21. Sales and related workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 100 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vladeep // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Crane and tower operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,230
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $77,750
- Median hourly wage: $37.38
- Total employment: 130 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $79,090
- Median hourly wage: $38.03
- Total employment: 50 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $79,230
- Median hourly wage: $38.09
- Total employment: 1,150 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $80,670
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 110 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,540
- Median hourly wage: $39.20
- Total employment: 1,100 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $81,770
- Median hourly wage: $39.31
- Total employment: 210 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $82,000
- Median hourly wage: $39.42
- Total employment: 180 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

38 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $89,130
- Median hourly wage: $42.85
- Total employment: 1,240 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $90,080
- Median hourly wage: $43.31
- Total employment: 70 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $92,280
- Median hourly wage: $44.36
- Total employment: 570 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $93,320
- Median hourly wage: $44.87
- Total employment: 120 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Washburn HM // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $101,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.66
- Total employment: 40 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $107,580
- Median hourly wage: $51.72
- Total employment: 260 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $107,760
- Median hourly wage: $51.81
- Total employment: 170 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

45 / 50

#6. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $108,460
- Median hourly wage: $52.15
- Total employment: 60 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $123,700
- Median hourly wage: $59.47
- Total employment: 60 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $124,440
- Median hourly wage: $59.83
- Total employment: 220 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $124,860
- Median hourly wage: $60.03
- Total employment: 170 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $127,290
- Median hourly wage: $61.20
- Total employment: 220 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)