Highest paying jobs in Bellingham 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 Bellingham 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. Tree trimmers and pruners
- Median annual wage: $50,370
- Median hourly wage: $24.21
- Total employment: 60 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#49. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $50,740
- Median hourly wage: $24.39
- Total employment: 170 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $50,890
- Median hourly wage: $24.47
- Total employment: 170 people (1.98 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $51,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.74
- Total employment: 220 people (2.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#46. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $53,600
- Median hourly wage: $25.77
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Bus drivers, school
- Median annual wage: $54,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.03
- Total employment: 270 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#44. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Median annual wage: $54,870
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Total employment: 250 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. First-line supervisors of entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
- Median annual wage: $55,020
- Median hourly wage: $26.45
- Total employment: 40 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
- Median annual wage: $55,510
- Median hourly wage: $26.69
- Total employment: 100 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
#41. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $56,200
- Median hourly wage: $27.02
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#40. Highway maintenance workers
- Median annual wage: $56,850
- Median hourly wage: $27.33
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $58,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.00
- Total employment: 320 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#38. Court, municipal, and license clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.30
- Total employment: 80 people (0.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 110 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
- Median annual wage: $59,680
- Median hourly wage: $28.69
- Total employment: 60 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Median annual wage: $59,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.73
- Total employment: 440 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,070
- Median hourly wage: $28.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Logging workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $60,220
- Median hourly wage: $28.95
- Total employment: 30 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $60,500
- Median hourly wage: $29.09
- Total employment: 40 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $60,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.25
- Total employment: 380 people (4.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,910
- Median hourly wage: $29.29
- Total employment: 110 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#29. Carpenters
- Median annual wage: $61,010
- Median hourly wage: $29.33
- Total employment: 960 people (10.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
- Median annual wage: $62,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Median annual wage: $62,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 90 people (1.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $63,300
- Median hourly wage: $30.43
- Total employment: 800 people (9.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $63,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.48
- Total employment: 250 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $63,580
- Median hourly wage: $30.57
- Total employment: 50 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#23. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.76
- Total employment: 100 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $65,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.68
- Total employment: 190 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#21. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $66,230
- Median hourly wage: $31.84
- Total employment: 370 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $66,670
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 810 people (9.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $66,720
- Median hourly wage: $32.08
- Total employment: 620 people (7.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $67,180
- Median hourly wage: $32.30
- Total employment: 200 people (2.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $71,100
- Median hourly wage: $34.18
- Total employment: 430 people (4.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $71,540
- Median hourly wage: $34.39
- Total employment: 80 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $72,860
- Median hourly wage: $35.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $75,090
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 80 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#13. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,900
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 330 people (3.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 240 people (2.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $78,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.62
- Total employment: 110 people (1.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#10. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 130 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $82,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.77
- Total employment: 560 people (6.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $93,440
- Median hourly wage: $44.93
- Total employment: 270 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $94,190
- Median hourly wage: $45.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $99,990
- Median hourly wage: $48.07
- Total employment: 740 people (8.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $105,120
- Median hourly wage: $50.54
- Total employment: 240 people (2.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $108,670
- Median hourly wage: $52.25
- Total employment: 30 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $120,700
- Median hourly wage: $58.03
- Total employment: 90 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $125,280
- Median hourly wage: $60.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
