These are the 50 highest-paying jobs in NYC for high school grads, according to a recent study (2024)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If you’re getting ready to receive your high school diploma, pay attention to these numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Workers over the age of 25 with a high school diploma earned about 25% more than those without one — $899 a week compared to $708.

And according to a new report from data journalism website Stacker, which analyzed those BLS stats, there are some high-paying opportunities for New York City residents who are fresh out of the 12th grade. Some short- to long-term on-the-job training is required, but each of these 50 occupations pay more than $70,000 annually, data shows.

Here’s a look at the jobs that are paying high school graduates the most, according to the study:

50. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Median annual wage: $77,580

Median hourly wage: $37.30

Total employment: 25,180 people (2.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

49. Food service managers

Median annual wage: $77,650

Median hourly wage: $37.33

Total employment: 16,280 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

48. Real estate brokers

Median annual wage: $78,010

Median hourly wage: $37.50

Total employment: 2,240 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

47. Boilermakers

Median annual wage: $78,280

Median hourly wage: $37.64

Total employment: 240 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

46. Construction and building inspectors

Median annual wage: $79,680

Median hourly wage: $38.31 T

otal employment: 9,610 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

45. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Median annual wage: $79,840 Median hourly wage: $38.38 Total employment: 130 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area) Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

44. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Median annual wage: $80,070

Median hourly wage: $38.50

Total employment: 11,200 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

43. Insurance sales agents

Median annual wage: $80,270

Median hourly wage: $38.59

Total employment: 19,500 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

42. Sales representatives, excluding advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Median annual wage: $80,460

Median hourly wage: $38.68

Total employment: 83,340 people (9.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

41. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Median annual wage: $80,520

Median hourly wage: $38.71

Total employment: 81,630 people (8.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

40. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

Median annual wage: $81,380

Median hourly wage: $39.12

Total employment: 52,580 people (5.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

39. Riggers

Median annual wage: $83,060

Median hourly wage: $39.93

Total employment: 420 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

38. Rail car repairers

Median annual wage: $83,200

Median hourly wage: $40.00

Total employment: 990 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

37. Real estate sales agents

Median annual wage: $83,560

Median hourly wage: $40.17

Total employment: 6,040 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

36. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Median annual wage: $83,640

Median hourly wage: $40.21

Total employment: 27,080 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

35. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators

Median annual wage: $84,460

Median hourly wage: $40.61

Total employment: 2,900 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Median annual wage: $84,660

Median hourly wage: $40.70

Total employment: 14,610 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

33. Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers

Median annual wage: $85,610

Median hourly wage: $41.16

Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

32. Signal and track switch repairers

Median annual wage: $86,770

Median hourly wage: $41.72

Total employment: 1,240 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

31. Transportation inspectors

Median annual wage: $87,360

Median hourly wage: $42.00

Total employment: 4,360 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

30. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Median annual wage: $87,550

Median hourly wage: $42.09

Total employment: 600 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

29. Subway and streetcar operators

Median annual wage: $89,180

Median hourly wage: $42.88

Total employment: 4,310 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Median annual wage: $90,200

Median hourly wage: $43.36

Total employment: 4,260 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

27. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Median annual wage: $92,870

Median hourly wage: $44.65

Total employment: 10,440 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

26. Fabric and apparel patternmakers

Median annual wage: $93,160

Median hourly wage: $44.79

Total employment: 850 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

25. Insulation workers, mechanical

Median annual wage: $93,700

Median hourly wage: $45.05

Total employment: 820 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

24. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining

Median annual wage: $94,090

Median hourly wage: $45.23

Total employment: 960 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Median annual wage: $95,360

Median hourly wage: $45.85

Total employment: 26,820 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

22. Pile driver operators

Median annual wage: $95,680

Median hourly wage: $46.00 Total employment:

70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

21. Lodging managers

Median annual wage: $95,840

Median hourly wage: $46.08

Total employment: 2,190 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

20. Gas plant operators

Median annual wage: $98,180

Median hourly wage: $47.20

Total employment: 320 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

19. Advertising sales agents

Median annual wage: $98,510

Median hourly wage: $47.36

Total employment: 17,970 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

Median annual wage: $98,630

Median hourly wage: $47.42 T

otal employment: 7,500 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

17. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Median annual wage: $99,080

Median hourly wage: $47.63

Total employment: 3,100 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

16. Chemical plant and system operators

Median annual wage: $100,550

Median hourly wage: $48.34

Total employment: 310 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

15. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Median annual wage: $100,910

Median hourly wage: $48.51

Total employment: 280 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

14. Structural iron and steel workers

Median annual wage: $101,920

Median hourly wage: $49.00

Total employment: 3,300 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

13. Choreographers

Median annual wage: $102,510

Median hourly wage: $49.29

Total employment: 280 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

12. Power distributors and dispatchers

Median annual wage: $107,410

Median hourly wage: $51.64

Total employment: 400 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

11. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Median annual wage: $107,740

Median hourly wage: $51.80

Total employment: 22,570 people (2.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Median annual wage: $108,470

Median hourly wage: $52.15

Total employment: 4,160 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Median annual wage: $112,740

Median hourly wage: $54.20

Total employment: 2,850 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

8. Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firers

Median annual wage: $112,970

Median hourly wage: $54.31

Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

7. Detectives and criminal investigators

Median annual wage: $113,490

Median hourly wage: $54.56

Total employment: 9,310 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

6. Terrazzo workers and finishers

Median annual wage: $120,000

Median hourly wage: $57.69

Total employment: 150 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

5. Power plant operators

Median annual wage: $120,630

Median hourly wage: $58.00

Total employment: 1,150 people (0.12 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 correctional officers

Median annual wage: $121,330

Median hourly wage: $58.33

Total employment: 2,440 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

3. Crane and tower operators

Median annual wage: $128,980

Median hourly wage: $62.01

Total employment: 1,160 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Median annual wage: $129,210

Median hourly wage: $62.12

Total employment: 7,100 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Median annual wage: $133,320

Median hourly wage: $64.10

Total employment: 10,980 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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These are the 50 highest-paying jobs in NYC for high school grads, according to a recent study (2024)

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