Highest-paying jobs in Bakersfield for high school graduates

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

- Median annual wage: $61,830
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 1,480 people (4.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $62,050
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 160 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $62,100
- Median hourly wage: $29.86
- Total employment: 1,420 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 170 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $63,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.42
- Total employment: 220 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $63,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.53
- Total employment: 70 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $63,550
- Median hourly wage: $30.55
- Total employment: 440 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $64,150
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 920 people (2.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $64,390
- Median hourly wage: $30.96
- Total employment: 930 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $66,320
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 1,200 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $66,700
- Median hourly wage: $32.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 1,120 people (3.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $67,060
- Median hourly wage: $32.24
- Total employment: 2,600 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $67,140
- Median hourly wage: $32.28
- Total employment: 620 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $68,460
- Median hourly wage: $32.91
- Total employment: 240 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $69,220
- Median hourly wage: $33.28
- Total employment: 1,530 people (4.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Locksmiths and safe repairers

- Median annual wage: $69,890
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $71,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.31
- Total employment: 860 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $71,410
- Median hourly wage: $34.33
- Total employment: 110 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,950
- Median hourly wage: $35.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $74,310
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $74,560
- Median hourly wage: $35.85
- Total employment: 240 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 210 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,310
- Median hourly wage: $36.21
- Total employment: 1,350 people (4.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $75,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.49
- Total employment: 150 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $76,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.79
- Total employment: 140 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $76,810
- Median hourly wage: $36.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $76,990
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 570 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,240
- Median hourly wage: $37.13
- Total employment: 270 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $77,250
- Median hourly wage: $37.14
- Total employment: 1,010 people (3.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $78,520
- Median hourly wage: $37.75
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $78,630
- Median hourly wage: $37.80
- Total employment: 940 people (2.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $79,050
- Median hourly wage: $38.01
- Total employment: 1,230 people (3.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 130 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $80,530
- Median hourly wage: $38.72
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $90,510
- Median hourly wage: $43.51
- Total employment: 1,150 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $93,470
- Median hourly wage: $44.94
- Total employment: 1,640 people (4.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $93,950
- Median hourly wage: $45.17
- Total employment: 180 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $94,470
- Median hourly wage: $45.42
- Total employment: 250 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $95,870
- Median hourly wage: $46.09
- Total employment: 70 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $97,240
- Median hourly wage: $46.75
- Total employment: 130 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $98,060
- Median hourly wage: $47.15
- Total employment: 520 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $99,840
- Median hourly wage: $48.00
- Total employment: 40 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $100,030
- Median hourly wage: $48.09
- Total employment: 230 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $101,350
- Median hourly wage: $48.73
- Total employment: 200 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $104,090
- Median hourly wage: $50.04
- Total employment: 3,290 people (9.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $111,260
- Median hourly wage: $53.49
- Total employment: 70 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $123,140
- Median hourly wage: $59.20
- Total employment: 360 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $124,760
- Median hourly wage: $59.98
- Total employment: 320 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

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