Highest paying jobs in Salt Lake City for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Salt Lake City for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Patternmakers, wood
- Median annual wage: $54,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.12
- Total employment: 30 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $55,150
- Median hourly wage: $26.51
- Total employment: 3,380 people (4.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $55,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.69
- Total employment: 730 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $55,540
- Median hourly wage: $26.70
- Total employment: 150 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#46. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $56,480
- Median hourly wage: $27.15
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#45. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Median annual wage: $56,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.26
- Total employment: 60 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Structural metal fabricators and fitters
- Median annual wage: $57,190
- Median hourly wage: $27.50
- Total employment: 920 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 2,100 people (2.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $57,620
- Median hourly wage: $27.70
- Total employment: 960 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#41. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.99
- Total employment: 190 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#40. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 9,550 people (12.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $58,430
- Median hourly wage: $28.09
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#38. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $59,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.51
- Total employment: 5,290 people (6.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#37. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 300 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#36. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,680
- Median hourly wage: $29.17
- Total employment: 1,030 people (1.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $61,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.44
- Total employment: 7,940 people (10.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 60 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#33. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $61,650
- Median hourly wage: $29.64
- Total employment: 8,040 people (10.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $61,810
- Median hourly wage: $29.72
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $61,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 3,600 people (4.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,170
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 210 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#29. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $62,340
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 2,180 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $62,370
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 1,620 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#27. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $62,400
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $62,470
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 2,510 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#25. Maintenance workers, machinery
- Median annual wage: $63,230
- Median hourly wage: $30.40
- Total employment: 970 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $63,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.72
- Total employment: 570 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Earth drillers, except oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $64,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 100 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $64,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.98
- Total employment: 1,400 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $66,350
- Median hourly wage: $31.90
- Total employment: 130 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $66,940
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 2,440 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers
- Median annual wage: $68,620
- Median hourly wage: $32.99
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers
- Median annual wage: $69,050
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $71,810
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 2,520 people (3.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $75,050
- Median hourly wage: $36.08
- Total employment: 5,260 people (6.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $75,190
- Median hourly wage: $36.15
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#12. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $76,430
- Median hourly wage: $36.75
- Total employment: 140 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $78,010
- Median hourly wage: $37.51
- Total employment: 850 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $79,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 260 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $79,870
- Median hourly wage: $38.40
- Total employment: 180 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $82,980
- Median hourly wage: $39.89
- Total employment: 1,430 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $85,180
- Median hourly wage: $40.95
- Total employment: 120 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $85,680
- Median hourly wage: $41.19
- Total employment: 1,300 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $86,110
- Median hourly wage: $41.40
- Total employment: 100 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $91,450
- Median hourly wage: $43.96
- Total employment: 120 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $91,570
- Median hourly wage: $44.02
- Total employment: 500 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $94,620
- Median hourly wage: $45.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#1. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $98,750
- Median hourly wage: $47.48
- Total employment: 60 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
