Highest-paying jobs in Yakima for high school graduates

·Stacker

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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 Yakima 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: Highest-rated Chinese restaurants in Yakima

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

DC Studio // Shutterstock

1 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 140 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services

- Median annual wage: $54,300
- Median hourly wage: $26.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $55,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Postal service mail carriers

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $55,660
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 220 people (2.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Indypendenz // Shutterstock

6 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $56,970
- Median hourly wage: $27.39
- Total employment: 40 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

7 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $57,390
- Median hourly wage: $27.59
- Total employment: 300 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

Dagmara_K // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $57,520
- Median hourly wage: $27.65
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Machinists

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $59,100
- Median hourly wage: $28.41
- Total employment: 190 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

welcomia // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 180 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Industrial machinery mechanics

SritanaN // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,410
- Median hourly wage: $29.04
- Total employment: 510 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $60,860
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 480 people (4.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Highway maintenance workers

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 130 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $61,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 270 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated restaurants in Yakima by diners

#35. Chefs and head cooks

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $61,420
- Median hourly wage: $29.53
- Total employment: 60 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Public safety telecommunicators

fizkes // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $61,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 120 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

19 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 30 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Court, municipal, and license clerks

Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 60 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Best restaurants for 10 cuisines in Yakima

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,800
- Median hourly wage: $30.19
- Total employment: 220 people (2.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

Virrage Images // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 60 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Kot500 // Shutterstock

23 / 50

#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.77
- Total employment: 280 people (2.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

welcomia // Shutterstock

24 / 50

#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,670
- Median hourly wage: $31.09
- Total employment: 100 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $64,900
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 160 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Closest national parks to Yakima

#25. Carpenters

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $65,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 420 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Postal service clerks

rlat // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

28 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $67,500
- Median hourly wage: $32.45
- Total employment: 880 people (8.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $69,120
- Median hourly wage: $33.23
- Total employment: 80 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $71,710
- Median hourly wage: $34.48
- Total employment: 110 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $72,130
- Median hourly wage: $34.68
- Total employment: 150 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

33 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $73,990
- Median hourly wage: $35.57
- Total employment: 100 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Real estate sales agents

goodluz // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $74,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

35 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $75,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 860 people (8.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Biggest sources of immigrants to Yakima

#15. Correctional officers and jailers

Bigflick // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $78,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 210 people (2.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Construction and building inspectors

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.63
- Total employment: 60 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Sheet metal workers

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $79,510
- Median hourly wage: $38.23
- Total employment: 120 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

39 / 50

#12. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,990
- Median hourly wage: $38.46
- Total employment: 50 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Electricians

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $80,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Total employment: 440 people (4.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

You may also like: Highest-rated brunch restaurants in Yakima

#10. Food service managers

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $81,000
- Median hourly wage: $38.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

4 PM production // Shutterstock

42 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $81,430
- Median hourly wage: $39.15
- Total employment: 420 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $84,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $84,550
- Median hourly wage: $40.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

pio3 // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $91,690
- Median hourly wage: $44.08
- Total employment: 300 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

47 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $104,230
- Median hourly wage: $50.11
- Total employment: 40 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

goodluz // Shutterstock

48 / 50

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,870
- Median hourly wage: $52.34
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $119,330
- Median hourly wage: $57.37
- Total employment: 100 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $122,160
- Median hourly wage: $58.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.5 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: How gas prices have changed in Yakima in the last week