11 Best Paying Jobs for Workers with High School Degrees

If a college isn’t an option for you, some of these 11 best paying jobs for workers with high school degrees may be your cup of tea.

With student debts reaching unprecedented levels and job market saturation, many people start to wonder if getting a college degree is even worth it these days. If you are having second thoughts about going to a university, exploring your options before deciding can’t hurt. There are plenty of opportunities out there for people with just high school degree. LeBron isn’t the only one who makes a decent living without a college diploma.

Before we get started, a disclaimer is in order. Few of these jobs are open for somebody fresh from high school. All of them require work experience in lower positions before being qualified for a promotion. Some even require licensing. For instance, before becoming a plumber, you’ll need to work as an apprentice for few years. So, if you are planning to start making $30 per hour in your first week on the job, you have another thing coming. In order to land one of these best paying jobs for workers with high school degrees, you’ll need to put in plenty of time and effort. The good news is that entry-level positions will seldom require any work experience. All of these jobs provide extensive on-the-job training. The wages listed below represent mean wage paid, so individual earning may vary.

According to National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) Center for Public Education, just 12% of all high school students don’t attend any form of higher education. In practice, this means that lots of jobs on our list of these best paying jobs for workers with high school degrees will have open positions, as people with college degrees will rarely apply for them. Unfortunately, it also means that at least some of the employers will raise the requirements for entry positions. Some of the best paying blue collar jobs in the US require a college degree. Still, with more and more people going to college every year, getting in should become easier, generally speaking.

11. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Mean wage: $26.26

One of the traditionally better paying jobs, plumbers can make a decent living. There are plenty of specializations to choose from, with some paying significantly more than the others.

10. Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Mean wage: $26.86

Railroad conductors and yardmasters aren’t only well paid, they also have one of the best benefits packages in the country, on par with the military.

9. Locomotive Engineers

Mean wage: $27.41

Another railroad job with good pay and great benefits. It is also a dream job for many boys out there. Who wouldn’t like to drive a train?

8. Gaming Managers

Mean wage: $36.34

Two to four years of experience on the gaming floor is the absolute minimum before you may be considered for a gaming manager position.

7. Elevators installers and repair

Mean wage: $36.96

One of the often overlooked niches, elevators install and repair is a very lucrative job. All the necessary education can be obtained via the on job training.

6. Ship pilots

Mean wage: $38.07

To become a ship pilot requires plenty of experience and a license from the US Coast Guard. License differ in terms of ship types pilot can handle.

5. Real Estate Brokers

Mean wage: $38.66

Number 5 on our list of best paying jobs for workers with high school degrees is a real estate broker. It does require plenty of social skills, but that’s not something you can learn in a classroom.

4. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Mean wage: $39.55

Although a college degree may be preferred for this job, it is in no case a requirement. More than 50% of current nuclear power reactor operators have only a high school diploma.

3. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

Mean wage: $41.71

Selling technical and scientific products is a very lucrative employment. Wages in the 90th percentile are over $70 per hour.

2. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

Mean wage: $44.80

This is a very broad field, with several distinctive professions, but any one of them guarantees a nice, fat paycheck.

1. Air Traffic Controllers

Mean wage: $57.11

The best paying job for workers with high school degrees is the air traffic controller. This is the field where it is getting harder, but not impossible, to break into without college degree. However, more than a third of people working as air traffic controllers have just a high school degree.