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.

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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.