Easy Jobs That Pay Well With a High School Degree

24/7 Wall St.

The typical college graduate in the United States makes roughly $23,000 more a year than the typical high school graduate. While a college degree generally qualifies workers for higher-paying jobs, there are a number of lucrative positions that require no more than a high school diploma.

To identify the highest-paying jobs for high school graduates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 150 jobs reviewed that require just a high school education, 13 have median annual salaries higher than $60,000.

These are the highest-paying jobs for high school graduates.

1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
> Median annual wage: $86,630
> Typical training: None
> 2014 jobs: 111,600
> Projected change 2014-2024: 2.2%

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers can reasonably expect to earn more than $86,500 a year, the highest annual salary of any job that does not require formal education past high school. There are a range of job titles in the field, including distribution manager, shipping supervisor, warehouse manager, and transportation director. Job responsibilities typically include adhering to budgets, supervising workers, and directing dispatching and routing operations.

Demand for these workers is projected to grow at a slower rate than demand across all fields. Consequently, those with only a high school diploma may find it increasingly difficult to find work in the field.

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2. Elevator installers and repairers
> Median annual wage: $80,870
> Typical training: Apprenticeship
> 2014 jobs: 20,700
> Projected change 2014-2024: 13.0%

While a college education is not a prerequisite to working as an elevator installer and repairer, most who work in the field have completed an apprenticeship. The job is one of only two in the United States where the typical person with no more than a high school diploma can earn more than $80,000 a year.

Like many high-paying jobs with a low minimum educational attainment threshold, working as an elevator installer can be especially difficult and dangerous. Workers often spend long hours in tightly enclosed areas such as elevator shafts and are susceptible to electrical burns, falls, and muscle strain. Because of the possibility of emergency repairs, elevator installers can be on call 24 hours a day.

3. Detectives and criminal investigators
> Median annual wage: $77,210
> Typical training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
> 2014 jobs: 116,700
> Projected change 2014-2024: -1.2%

While police officers actively fight crime and enforce the law, detectives or criminal investigators are responsible for investigating crime scenes, gathering evidence, and compiling facts. While it is not necessary for a detective to have formal schooling past high school, the job is often contingent on successful completion of a training academy. Detective salaries tend to be far higher than nearly every other job with similar educational requirements. The typical detective earns more than $77,000 a year.

High salaries in the profession are due largely to the stresses and dangers associated with the job. Working in crime scenes often means working in close proximity to death and suffering.

4. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
> Median annual wage: $72,300
> Typical training: None
> 2014 jobs: 430,700
> Projected change 2014-2024: 4.7%

The typical first-line supervisor of non-retail sales workers, which includes positions such as sales manager, branch manager, and sales supervisor, earns $72,300 a year. Such managers are responsible for supervising sales employees, and may also carry out budgeting, accounting, and personnel duties. While the job tends to require just a high school diploma, sales managers often work their way up from lower positions. Some first-line sales supervising jobs require up to five years of experience in a related position.

Many first-line supervisors may run their own businesses. More than 40% of such workers are self employed, one of the largest shares of any profession.

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5. Transportation inspectors
> Median annual wage: $70,820
> Typical training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
> 2014 jobs: 26,400
> Projected change 2014-2024: 1.2%

Transportation inspectors are responsible for conducting safety inspections for all modes of transportation, including flight and rail. The typical transportation inspector earns $70,820, more than all but just four other positions that require only a high school education. Nearly half of all transportation inspectors work for the government, and about a third work in the private transportation and warehousing industry.

Job outlook for the profession is somewhat less promising than the job market as a whole. Despite expectations that the trucking industry will grow in the coming years, the BLS projects that the number of transportation inspectors will grow by just 1.2% in the decade ending in 2024, far slower than the overall projected labor market growth.

6. Postmasters and mail superintendents
> Median annual wage: $70,640
> Typical training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
> 2014 jobs: 17,300
> Projected change 2014-2024: -26.2%

A majority of postmasters and mail superintendents have no more than a high school diploma in the way of formal education. While there is a low educational barrier to entry, postmasters need to have some on-the-job experience as well as management skills, organizational skills, and a knowledge of business administration. Those in such positions are relatively well compensated. A typical postmaster or mail superintendent makes more than $70,000 a year, more than all but five other jobs with similarly low formal education requirements.

However, the job may not be a viable option for high school graduates in the near future. The BLS projects a 26.2% decline in demand for postmasters and mail superintendents between 2014 and 2024.

7. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
> Median annual wage: $70,590
> Typical training: Short-term on-the-job training
> 2014 jobs: 19,400
> Projected change 2014-2024: -3.3%

Media and communication equipment workers mostly work in the motion picture and video industry. More than one-fourth of such workers live in the Los Angeles metro area, where the large film industry likely provides the most jobs. Film work can be inconsistent, which is one reason for the high minimum pay many entertainment-related workers unions require for their members. Many media and communication equipment jobs require workers to be in such unions, like the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Jobs may include crew positions such as boom operator, grip, gaffer, with the more specialized positions paying higher salaries. The typical media and communication equipment worker earns $70,590 a year, one of the highest salaries of any occupation that requires just a high school diploma.

See the rest of the 13 highest-paying jobs for high school graduates:

Highest Paying Jobs for High School Graduates

More on the highest-paying jobs for high-school graduates

Some of the highest paying jobs that do not require a college degree still often require some training beyond high school. For example, before elevator installers and repairers can earn their ample salary — the median is more than $80,000 — nearly all must complete an apprenticeship program that typically lasts four years.

In place of a college education, other high-paying jobs require related work experience. Of the 13 jobs that do not require a bachelor's degree and have a median pay of more than $60,000, only three are truly entry-level positions that require no experience or apprenticeships. For example, gaming managers often work for years as a dealer or slot supervisor before they are promoted to run the casino floor. The typical dealer earns $19,000 a year, less than one-third the median salary of a gaming manager.

Jobs with low educational barriers to entry can still yield high salaries if they are dangerous and stressful. Dangers associated with boilermaking and elevator repair include risk of severe burns and other injuries such as bruises and broken bones associated with falls. Other jobs can be especially stressful and emotionally taxing. Detectives can spend much of their working lives around death and suffering. A majority of workers in other high-paying fields, including subway and streetcar operators, report dealing with angry and unpleasant people on a daily basis.

To determine the highest-paying jobs for high school graduates, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed occupational data from the BLS. Occupations were considered if the job required a high school diploma or equivalent, as listed by the BLS. The highest-paying jobs were identified as the 13 jobs with a median annual wage greater than $60,000. Total employment, projected employment change, the share of workers in a given occupation that are self-employed, the typical work experience required by an occupation, and the typical on-the-job training needed for an occupation also came from the BLS.

24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2016/09/12/highest-paying-jobs-high-school-graduates/90120266/