20 high-paying, growing jobs that only need a high school diploma

 

20. Property, real estate, and community association managers

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 11,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $59,230

On-the-job training: None

19. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics (except engines)

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 11,600

Median annual wage in May 2021: $58,030

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 12,200

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,790

On-the-job training: None

17. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 18,900

Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,040

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

16. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 19,300    

Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,360

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

15. Carpenters

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 20,500

Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,260

On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

14. Real estate sales agents

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 23,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $48,340

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

13. Chefs and head cooks

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 23,600

Median annual wage in May 2021: $50,160

On-the-job training: None

12. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 12,700

Median annual wage in May 2021: $98,230

On-the-job training: None

11. Flight attendants

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 22,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,640

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

10. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 21,500

Median annual wage in May 2021: $64,610

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 19,800

Median annual wage in May 2021: $71,260

On-the-job training: None

8. Insurance sales agents

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 32,900

Median annual wage in May 2021: $49,840

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

7. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 31,000

Median annual wage in May 2021: $54,850

On-the-job training: None

6. Food service managers

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 32,300

Median annual wage in May 2021: $59,440

On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training

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

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 29,900

Median annual wage in May 2021: $72,010

On-the-job training: None

4. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 48,900

Median annual wage in May 2021: $61,600

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

3. Electricians

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 50,200

Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,040

On-the-job training: Apprenticeship

2. Industrial machinery mechanics

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 63,100

Median annual wage in May 2021: $59,840

On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training

1. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

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Projected change in employment from 2021 to 2031: 71,400

Median annual wage in May 2021: $60,550

On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

For our ranking of high-paying, growing jobs, Insider considered a variety of factors beyond just a college education. Firstly, we calculated the geometric mean of median annual wages and projected employment growth from 2021 to 2031, as provided by data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To narrow the list, we excluded jobs paying less than $45,760 annually, the median wage for all occupations in 2021. Though jobs like home health and personal care aides are projected to grow significantly in the next decade, they were excluded because they pay below the median wage. Next, we filtered our list to include only jobs that require a high school diploma or equivalent. These jobs were then ranked on their geometric mean, with higher scores reflecting better ranking. 

We also provided information on on-the-job training for each occupation, as classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in six categories ranging from no training to long-term training over 12 months.