As the cost of attending college increases each year, some high school graduates may wonder how well they could do without a college degree. While occupations that only require a high school diploma are often low-paying jobs, several pay well above the median wage. To identify the highest-paying jobs you can get with a high-school diploma, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed wage and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2013 Occupational Employment Statistics database and job descriptions from the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The jobs that made the list had a median annual salary of at least $60,000 and did not require formal education beyond a high school diploma, according to the BLS. Forecasts for job growth between 2012 and 2022 are from the bureau’s Employment Projections program. 24/7 Wall St. also reviewed job descriptions from O*Net Online database, developed by the Department of Labor. Jobs that were too similar, or which had a high percentage of self-employed workers, were excluded. From 24/7 Wall St., these are these are the highest paying jobs for high school graduates:
10. Gas plant operators
Median annual income: $63,680
Total number employed: 13,890
Projected change 2012 to 2022: -8.8%
Gas plant operators process and distribute gas for utility companies. Cheap, abundant natural gas is likely to provide some demand for gas plant operators, even as jobs at power plants are projected to fall. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that in the coming decades natural gas will exceed coal as the nation’s leading source of electricity. The work of plant operators can be dangerous and stressful, which may explain the relatively high median salary of $63,680 as of 2012. However, with such a high median pay, gas plant operation is one of the better-paying jobs people can take on with a high school diploma.
9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Median annual income: $64,170
Total number employed: 111,350
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +8.9%
Each year, homes across the U.S. are hit hard by natural disasters that leave areas without power or phone service for hours or days at a time. Responsibility for fixing damaged wires falls on the roughly 111,000 electrical power-line installers and repairers in the country. In fact, the BLS cites challenging weather conditions as one reason for the high median salary of such workers. More frequent storms in recent years likely influenced estimates of future job growth in this area, which is expected to increase by nearly 9% between 2012 and 2022. Employers offer extensive training programs to prospective employees, which act as a substitute for tertiary education. Nonetheless, employers expect their workers to have a basic knowledge of algebra and trigonometry.
8. Postmasters and mail superintendents
Median annual income: $65,150
Total number employed: 17,930
Projected change 2012 to 2022: -24.2%
Postmasters and mail superintendents manage and coordinate the activities of postal workers. A typical postmaster or superintendent made over $65,000 in 2013, and the top-paid 10% took home $84,900 or more. However, postal service jobs in general are expected to decline considerably between 2012 and 2022. In all, employment in postal service jobs is expected to drop by 139,100, or 28%.
7. Transportation inspectors
Median annual income: $65,950
Total number employed: 23,970
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +11.2%
Transportation inspectors work in industries such as rail transportation, air transport and urban transit systems. Workers in these occupations mostly inspect equipment to ensure that both people and cargo are transported safely. Like many of the jobs on this list, on-the-job training takes the place of formal education. The median salary for transportation inspectors in 2013 was nearly $66,000, with higher-end pay for workers reaching above $112,690.
6. Gaming managers
Median annual income: $66,200
Total number employed: 4,460
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +7.5%
According to a recent Scotiabank report, the U.S. gaming sector has grown at a relatively slow pace compared with the rest of the world in recent years. Still, the gaming and casino industry is extremely large. The industry employed more than 363,000 people in 2012, according to the American Gaming Association. Gaming managers made up about 4,460 employees in the sector as of last year. Gaming managers direct and oversee the gaming operations within a casino. They often have several years of experience working the slots or table games for a lower pay. Although they must be licensed by a state or regulatory agency, gaming managers typically do not need a degree above a high school diploma to make more than $66,000 annually.
5. Power plant operators
Median annual income: $68,100
Total number employed: 39,810
Projected change 2012 to 2022: -10.8%
Power plant operators earned a median pay of $68,100 in 2013 managing the systems that distribute and generate electric power over an area. Although workers with college or vocational degrees are preferred, only a high school diploma is necessary because the operator undergoes extensive on-the-job training both in the classroom and the plant. Operators often work in shifts because power plants operate around the clock. It is likely that pay for this position is high due to the negative aspects of working variable hours, especially late night shifts.
4. Commercial pilots
Median annual income: $74,470
Total number employed: 37,340
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +9.4%
Despite larger airline companies often requiring a bachelor’s degree, smaller companies that offer planes for charter, photos or tours are often eager to hire licensed pilots who have logged the requisite number of hours. To obtain a flying license from the Federal Aviation Administration also requires medical, written and flight exams. Future pilots can gain experience by going to flight school or by hiring independent instructors. The BLS anticipates that the number of commercial pilots will increase 9% by 2022, making it one of the faster growing jobs on this list. A typically commercial pilot earned nearly $75,000 in 2013, with the top 10% of pilots bringing in more than $136,000.
3. Detectives and criminal investigators
Median annual income: $76,730
Total number employed: 109,960
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +2.0%
Detectives typically begin their careers as police officers. Becoming a police officer usually involves physical exams, a written test and a drug test, in addition to training at a policy academy. While many police officers and detectives have a college degree, the minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma. For those who are able to become detectives and criminal investigators, the pay is often quite high. The median annual income in the profession was $76,730 in 2013, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $125,000.
2. Elevator installers and repairers
Median annual income: $78,640
Total number employed: 21,270
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +24.6%
Elevator installers and repairers do not need a bachelor’s or associate degree. However, they do need years of apprenticeship. As part of the five-year program to become an elevator installer and repairer, every year apprentices “must have at least 144 hours of related technical instruction and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training,” the BLS notes. In that time, apprentices study electrical theory, math and physics, among other subjects. The majority of states also require licensing. Workers who complete these requirements are well compensated. A typical installer or repairer earned more than $78,000 in 2013, and some earned more than $100,000.
1. Transportation, storage and distribution managers
Median annual income: $83,890
Total number employed: 102,610
Projected change 2012 to 2022: +4.9%
Transportation, storage and distribution managers are responsible for much of the infrastructure that businesses rely on to ship goods domestically and internationally. The shipping and storage industry is very important for global trade and commerce. A high level of management skill is required to plan and direct the logistics involved around warehousing and shipping. Even though a minimum requirement for this job is a high school diploma, most people holding this title have a bachelor’s degree. However, for those able to land the job, the pay is quite high. The annual median wage is more than $83,890, and for some, notably in oil transportation, annual pay can exceed $140,000.
