Highest paying jobs in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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. Tax preparers
- Median annual wage: $57,990
- Median hourly wage: $27.88
- Total employment: 300 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.93
- Total employment: 110 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. Maintenance workers, machinery (tie)
- Median annual wage: $58,100
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Total employment: 160 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers
- Median annual wage: $58,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.02
- Total employment: 220 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $59,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.50
- Total employment: 600 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#45. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Median annual wage: $59,560
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 1,350 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Median annual wage: $59,610
- Median hourly wage: $28.66
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $59,920
- Median hourly wage: $28.81
- Total employment: 6,410 people (8.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $60,010
- Median hourly wage: $28.85
- Total employment: 380 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $60,630
- Median hourly wage: $29.15
- Total employment: 220 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#40. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $61,080
- Median hourly wage: $29.37
- Total employment: 700 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#39. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $61,920
- Median hourly wage: $29.77
- Total employment: 190 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $62,310
- Median hourly wage: $29.96
- Total employment: 700 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#37. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.99
- Total employment: 450 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $62,540
- Median hourly wage: $30.07
- Total employment: 4,000 people (4.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#35. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $63,790
- Median hourly wage: $30.67
- Total employment: 170 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#34. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $63,880
- Median hourly wage: $30.71
- Total employment: 1,050 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $64,640
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 6,730 people (8.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $65,530
- Median hourly wage: $31.51
- Total employment: 6,480 people (8.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $65,660
- Median hourly wage: $31.57
- Total employment: 590 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#30. Hearing aid specialists
- Median annual wage: $65,820
- Median hourly wage: $31.65
- Total employment: 70 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $66,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 50 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#28. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $66,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.79
- Total employment: 140 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Insurance sales agents
- Median annual wage: $67,300
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 2,510 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
#26. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $67,390
- Median hourly wage: $32.40
- Total employment: 130 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#25. Glaziers
- Median annual wage: $68,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.72
- Total employment: 180 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#24. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $68,350
- Median hourly wage: $32.86
- Total employment: 160 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Etchers and engravers
- Median annual wage: $69,380
- Median hourly wage: $33.36
- Total employment: 170 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $70,830
- Median hourly wage: $34.05
- Total employment: 10,000 people (12.49 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: $71,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.28
- Total employment: 1,930 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $73,030
- Median hourly wage: $35.11
- Total employment: 140 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
- Median annual wage: $73,440
- Median hourly wage: $35.31
- Total employment: 1,860 people (2.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#18. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $73,650
- Median hourly wage: $35.41
- Total employment: 1,810 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.69
- Total employment: 2,820 people (3.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#16. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 240 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $78,080
- Median hourly wage: $37.54
- Total employment: 3,530 people (4.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $78,120
- Median hourly wage: $37.56
- Total employment: 2,990 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $78,490
- Median hourly wage: $37.73
- Total employment: 3,800 people (4.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $78,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.89
- Total employment: 70 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#11. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers
- Median annual wage: $81,820
- Median hourly wage: $39.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#10. Structural iron and steel workers
- Median annual wage: $82,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.77
- Total employment: 320 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $85,690
- Median hourly wage: $41.20
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $89,340
- Median hourly wage: $42.95
- Total employment: 490 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $89,380
- Median hourly wage: $42.97
- Total employment: 40 people (0.05 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: $100,450
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 890 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $102,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.26
- Total employment: 400 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $103,050
- Median hourly wage: $49.54
- Total employment: 2,870 people (3.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $103,680
- Median hourly wage: $49.85
- Total employment: 350 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $104,620
- Median hourly wage: $50.30
- 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
#1. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $111,960
- Median hourly wage: $53.83
- Total employment: 140 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
