fizkes // Shutterstock
1 / 50#50. First-line supervisors of personal service workers
- Median annual wage: $41,700
- Median hourly wage: $20.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Highest-paying jobs in Morgantown 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 Morgantown 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: How much house does $500,000 buy you in Morgantown?
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Financial clerks, all other
- Median annual wage: $41,840
- Median hourly wage: $20.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DGLimages // Shutterstock
3 / 50#48. Healthcare support workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $42,080
- Median hourly wage: $20.23
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
worradirek // Shutterstock
4 / 50#47. Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
- Median annual wage: $42,110
- Median hourly wage: $20.25
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Glenn Highcove // Shutterstock
5 / 50#46. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Median annual wage: $42,250
- Median hourly wage: $20.31
- Total employment: 80 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated steak restaurants in the Morgantown area by diners
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $42,480
- Median hourly wage: $20.42
- Total employment: 110 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oleksandr Berezko // Shutterstock
7 / 50#44. Painters, construction and maintenance
- Median annual wage: $43,310
- Median hourly wage: $20.82
- Total employment: 30 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,350
- Median hourly wage: $20.84
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 50#42. Medical equipment preparers
- Median annual wage: $43,530
- Median hourly wage: $20.93
- Total employment: 120 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $43,580
- Median hourly wage: $20.95
- Total employment: 40 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated sushi restaurants in the Morgantown area by diners
Dragon Images // Shutterstock
11 / 50#40. Procurement clerks
- Median annual wage: $43,830
- Median hourly wage: $21.07
- Total employment: 50 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kzenon // Shutterstock
12 / 50#39. Self-enrichment teachers
- Median annual wage: $45,590
- Median hourly wage: $21.92
- Total employment: 50 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
13 / 50#38. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $45,860
- Median hourly wage: $22.05
- Total employment: 30 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Zahovaev K // Shutterstock
14 / 50#37. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $46,630
- Median hourly wage: $22.42
- Total employment: 150 people (2.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
15 / 50#36. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $47,060
- Median hourly wage: $22.62
- Total employment: 230 people (3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying computer and engineering jobs in Morgantown
BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock
16 / 50#35. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $47,260
- Median hourly wage: $22.72
- Total employment: 110 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock
17 / 50#34. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Median annual wage: $47,530
- Median hourly wage: $22.85
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock
18 / 50#33. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $47,950
- Median hourly wage: $23.05
- Total employment: 290 people (4.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Joey Chung // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $47,970
- Median hourly wage: $23.06
- Total employment: 160 people (2.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $48,000
- Median hourly wage: $23.08
- Total employment: 160 people (2.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Morgantown
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
21 / 50#30. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $48,300
- Median hourly wage: $23.22
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
22 / 50#29. Automotive body and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $48,410
- Median hourly wage: $23.28
- Total employment: 60 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kot500 // Shutterstock
23 / 50#28. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $48,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.45
- Total employment: 60 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
welcomia // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $50,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.05
- Total employment: 120 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock
25 / 50#26. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $50,830
- Median hourly wage: $24.44
- Total employment: 230 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Morgantown area by diners
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $51,670
- Median hourly wage: $24.84
- Total employment: 90 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Irene Miller // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $51,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.93
- Total employment: 540 people (8.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
28 / 50#23. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $53,150
- Median hourly wage: $25.56
- Total employment: 110 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
29 / 50#22. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 160 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
pio3 // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $54,040
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 210 people (3.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: People from these metros are looking to buy homes in Morgantown
GaudiLab // Shutterstock
31 / 50#20. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $55,010
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 730 people (10.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
32 / 50#19. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $60,430
- Median hourly wage: $29.05
- Total employment: 110 people (1.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Etaphop photo // Shutterstock
33 / 50#18. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 280 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Meter readers, utilities
- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Kmpzzz // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $61,640
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 30 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Where people in Morgantown are looking to buy homes
SritanaN // Shutterstock
36 / 50#15. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 150 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 210 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
38 / 50#13. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
goodluz // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,500
- Median hourly wage: $31.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
4 PM production // Shutterstock
40 / 50#11. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $65,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.50
- Total employment: 320 people (4.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: The most expensive homes sold in Morgantown this year
rlat // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $65,770
- Median hourly wage: $31.62
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 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: $73,850
- Median hourly wage: $35.51
- Total employment: 140 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
43 / 50#8. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
sculpies // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,830
- Median hourly wage: $36.46
- Total employment: 350 people (5.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 40 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
You may also like: Highest-paying jobs in Morgantown that don't require a college degree
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock
46 / 50#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.44
- Total employment: 70 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $81,500
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $83,790
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 70 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
49 / 50#2. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $87,280
- Median hourly wage: $41.96
- Total employment: 60 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
michaeljung // Shutterstock
50 / 50#1. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $103,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 50 people (0.77 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: Coat drives near Morgantown
