Highest-paying jobs in Merced for high school graduates

Stacker
#50. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,310
- Median hourly wage: $25.63
- Total employment: 100 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.94
- Total employment: 180 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $55,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.51
- Total employment: 160 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $55,330
- Median hourly wage: $26.60
- Total employment: 400 people (5.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Conveyor operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $55,500
- Median hourly wage: $26.68
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $55,860
- Median hourly wage: $26.85
- Total employment: 820 people (10.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $56,430
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 120 people (1.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $56,590
- Median hourly wage: $27.21
- Total employment: 170 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $56,870
- Median hourly wage: $27.34
- Total employment: 90 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $56,910
- Median hourly wage: $27.36
- Total employment: 40 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $57,460
- Median hourly wage: $27.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,600
- Median hourly wage: $27.69
- Total employment: 200 people (2.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $58,070
- Median hourly wage: $27.92
- Total employment: 270 people (3.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $58,270
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 260 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $58,580
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 360 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

- Median annual wage: $58,830
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 80 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Postal service mail carriers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 190 people (2.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Insurance sales agents (tie)

- Median annual wage: $59,160
- Median hourly wage: $28.44
- Total employment: 160 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $59,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.64
- Total employment: 240 people (3.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $60,130
- Median hourly wage: $28.91
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Roofers

- Median annual wage: $60,320
- Median hourly wage: $29.00
- Total employment: 50 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Production workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $60,550
- Median hourly wage: $29.11
- Total employment: 200 people (2.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,440
- Median hourly wage: $29.54
- Total employment: 190 people (2.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $61,470
- Median hourly wage: $29.55
- Total employment: 60 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 170 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $61,790
- Median hourly wage: $29.71
- Total employment: 110 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,480
- Median hourly wage: $30.04
- Total employment: 50 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.61
- Total employment: 350 people (4.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,730
- Median hourly wage: $30.64
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,940
- Median hourly wage: $30.74
- Total employment: 620 people (7.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $64,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.84
- Total employment: 460 people (5.85 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,470
- Median hourly wage: $31.00
- Total employment: 150 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $65,200
- Median hourly wage: $31.35
- Total employment: 60 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,520
- Median hourly wage: $31.98
- Total employment: 50 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $66,690
- Median hourly wage: $32.06
- Total employment: Not available

#15. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $67,890
- Median hourly wage: $32.64
- Total employment: 90 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $72,920
- Median hourly wage: $35.06
- Total employment: 140 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: 290 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $76,730
- Median hourly wage: $36.89
- Total employment: 430 people (5.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $78,320
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 90 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,450
- Median hourly wage: $37.72
- Total employment: 30 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.94
- Total employment: 160 people (2.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $79,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.39
- Total employment: 260 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $82,900
- Median hourly wage: $39.86
- Total employment: 440 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $86,470
- Median hourly wage: $41.57
- Total employment: 260 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $95,840
- Median hourly wage: $46.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $98,550
- Median hourly wage: $47.38
- Total employment: 240 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $99,040
- Median hourly wage: $47.62
- Total employment: 80 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $105,350
- Median hourly wage: $50.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $120,380
- Median hourly wage: $57.88
- Total employment: 100 people (1.25 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.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock