
Highest paying jobs in Nashville for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Nashville for high school graduates
The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.
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#50. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Annual mean salary: $51,750
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- Employment: 253,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)
#49. Layout workers, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $52,130
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,980
- Employment: 7,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,050)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($62,170)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($57,820)
#48. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Annual mean salary: $52,250
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $39,800
- Employment: 134,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Mankato-North Mankato, MN ($54,510)
--- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC ($52,470)
--- Lafayette, LA ($52,280)

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Annual mean salary: $52,630
- #281 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 147,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#46. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Annual mean salary: $52,870
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,160
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,960
- Employment: 65,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area ($77,890)
--- Alaska nonmetropolitan area ($77,690)
--- Savannah, GA ($76,260)
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#45. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $52,920
- #342 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,470
- Employment: 113,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#44. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $53,110
- #325 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,720
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 656,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

#43. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $53,260
- #196 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,400
- Employment: 50,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

#42. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $53,280
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 590
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,420
- Employment: 59,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)

#41. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $53,450
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,860
- Employment: 122,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)
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#40. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $53,550
- #394 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,310
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 197,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#39. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $53,800
- #144 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,010
- Employment: 44,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

#38. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $54,450
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,170
- Employment: 29,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ($101,630)

#37. Postal service clerks
- Annual mean salary: $54,630
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,200
- Employment: 86,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($59,410)
--- Florence, SC ($59,360)
--- Monroe, MI ($59,320)

#36. Hearing aid specialists
- Annual mean salary: $54,640
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,630
- Employment: 7,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($75,130)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($73,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,300)
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#35. Postal service mail carriers
- Annual mean salary: $54,730
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,910
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,180
- Employment: 333,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($57,160)
--- Bismarck, ND ($57,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,820)
#34. Community health workers
- Annual mean salary: $54,740
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $46,000
- Employment: 58,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,530)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($61,820)

#33. Traffic technicians
- Annual mean salary: $55,140
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,140
- Employment: 7,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,160)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,500)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($76,460)

#32. Brokerage clerks
- Annual mean salary: $55,770
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,460
- Employment: 44,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($74,310)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,330)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,970)

#31. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Annual mean salary: $56,170
- #233 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,620
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,100
- Employment: 417,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)
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#30. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $56,980
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 31,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($122,290)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)

#29. Chefs and head cooks
- Annual mean salary: $58,410
- #86 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 980
National
- Annual mean salary: $58,740
- Employment: 101,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($81,020)
--- Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area ($79,820)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,600)

#28. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Annual mean salary: $59,400
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,420
- Employment: 22,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area ($85,480)
--- Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area ($77,330)
--- Longview, WA ($74,500)

#27. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $59,450
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,600
- Employment: 53,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)
#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $60,020
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,230
- Employment: 503,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)
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#25. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $60,070
- #451 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Employment: 1,278,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)

#24. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Annual mean salary: $60,710
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- Employment: 385,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,900)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($85,360)
--- Anchorage, AK ($82,890)

#23. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $61,680
- #262 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Employment: 977,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)
#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $61,970
- #115 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,970
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Employment: 1,427,260
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#20 (tie). Boilermakers
- Annual mean salary: $64,460
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,430
- Employment: 14,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,660)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($96,080)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($90,620)
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#20 (tie). Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $64,460
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,290
- Employment: 14,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#19. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $65,710
- #331 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,990
- Employment: 614,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#18. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $65,800
- #267 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,870
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 287,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)

#17. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $65,810
- #158 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,980
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,100
- Employment: 409,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#16. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $66,430
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,530
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Employment: 599,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)
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#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $67,350
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,360
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,100
- Employment: 475,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#14. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Annual mean salary: $69,270
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $59,620
- Employment: 10,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($79,660)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($72,800)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($71,910)

#13. Bailiffs
- Annual mean salary: $69,600
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90
National
- Annual mean salary: $51,730
- Employment: 18,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($69,600)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($69,050)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($66,980)
#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $72,780
- #334 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410
National
- Annual mean salary: $97,180
- Employment: 122,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#11. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $72,980
- #244 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 950
National
- Annual mean salary: $74,410
- Employment: 114,930
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)
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#10. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $75,730
- #54 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,320
- Employment: 27,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#9. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $78,280
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 730
National
- Annual mean salary: $89,300
- Employment: 105,980
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#8. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $80,410
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- Employment: 219,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)

#7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,150
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,230
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,120
- Employment: 240,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#6. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $87,000
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,890
- Employment: 32,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)
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#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $88,960
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,660
- Employment: 13,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $93,980
- #233 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,670
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,100
- Employment: 132,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $97,910
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $93,260
- Employment: 9,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#2. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $102,560
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200
National
- Annual mean salary: $110,830
- Employment: 37,120
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#1. Real estate brokers
- Annual mean salary: $102,580
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,630
- Employment: 44,610
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)
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