Highest-paying jobs in Green Bay 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 Green Bay 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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BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

1 / 50

#50. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $58,520
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 500 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Philip Lange // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $58,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.14
- Total employment: 360 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Chok Chokchai // Shutterstock

3 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

RossHelen // Shutterstock

4 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 1,390 people (8.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

FabrikaSimf // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.01
- Total employment: 1,010 people (5.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Kot500 // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,360
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 490 people (2.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 100 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $60,880
- Median hourly wage: $29.27
- Total employment: 110 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

9 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,130
- Median hourly wage: $29.39
- Total employment: 1,350 people (7.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Gorgev // Shutterstock

10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $61,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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mahc // Shutterstock

11 / 50

#40. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

manine99 // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $61,540
- Median hourly wage: $29.59
- Total employment: 80 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

13 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 770 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

14 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $62,000
- Median hourly wage: $29.81
- Total employment: 2,330 people (13.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $62,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Occupational health and safety technicians

- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bannafarsai_Stock // Shutterstock

17 / 50

#34. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $62,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.10
- Total employment: 310 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

18 / 50

#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 310 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

19 / 50

#32. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $64,220
- Median hourly wage: $30.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

rlat // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 60 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

SritanaN // Shutterstock

21 / 50

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,620
- Median hourly wage: $31.07
- Total employment: 1,070 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

22 / 50

#29. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $64,860
- Median hourly wage: $31.18
- Total employment: 130 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

23 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $64,960
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 60 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

24 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $65,810
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 1,470 people (8.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

25 / 50

#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $67,640
- Median hourly wage: $32.52
- Total employment: 210 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

John Leung // Shutterstock

26 / 50

#25. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Bigflick // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $70,700
- Median hourly wage: $33.99
- Total employment: 320 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Irene Miller // Shutterstock

28 / 50

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $70,910
- Median hourly wage: $34.09
- Total employment: 360 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

29 / 50

#22. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

- Median annual wage: $72,410
- Median hourly wage: $34.81
- Total employment: 70 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,620
- Median hourly wage: $34.91
- Total employment: 220 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

31 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Total employment: 1,830 people (10.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

32 / 50

#19. Personal care and service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,520
- Median hourly wage: $35.35
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Etaphop photo // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $74,080
- Median hourly wage: $35.62
- Total employment: 840 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $74,740
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Total employment: 460 people (2.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Vera Larina // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $75,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: 230 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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michaeljung // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 40 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

muratart // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 60 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

sculpies // Shutterstock

39 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $80,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.48
- Total employment: 880 people (5.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

pio3 // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $80,220
- Median hourly wage: $38.57
- Total employment: 590 people (3.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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N_Sakarin // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Jat306 // Shutterstock

42 / 50

#9. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $81,710
- Median hourly wage: $39.28
- Total employment: 120 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

43 / 50

#8. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.51
- Total employment: 610 people (3.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

M2020 // Shutterstock

44 / 50

#7. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $83,170
- Median hourly wage: $39.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

4 PM production // Shutterstock

45 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $83,400
- Median hourly wage: $40.10
- Total employment: 740 people (4.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Prath // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $91,410
- Median hourly wage: $43.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,210
- Median hourly wage: $45.29
- Total employment: 300 people (1.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

48 / 50

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

- Median annual wage: $95,940
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 380 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ground Picture // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $97,910
- Median hourly wage: $47.07
- Total employment: 60 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

50 / 50

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,610
- Median hourly wage: $49.81
- Total employment: 140 people (0.82 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.

Highest-paying jobs in Green Bay for high school graduates

#50. Machinists

#49. Highway maintenance workers

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

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

#46. Carpenters

#45. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

#44. Advertising sales agents

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

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

#41. First-line supervisors of security workers

#40. Tile and stone setters

#39. Maintenance workers, machinery

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

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

#36. Lodging managers

#35. Occupational health and safety technicians

#34. Cement masons and concrete finishers

#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

#32. Community health workers

#31. Postal service clerks

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

#29. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

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

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

#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

#25. Brickmasons and blockmasons

#24. Correctional officers and jailers

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

#22. Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

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

#19. Personal care and service workers, all other

#18. Electricians

#17. Insurance sales agents

#16. Sheet metal workers

#15. Power plant operators

#14. Pipelayers

#13. Construction and building inspectors

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

#11. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

#10. Structural iron and steel workers

#9. Millwrights

#8. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

#7. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

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

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

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