Highest-paying jobs in San Diego for high school graduates

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

- Median annual wage: $73,670
- Median hourly wage: $35.42
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $73,690
- Median hourly wage: $35.43
- Total employment: 9,690 people (6.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $74,120
- Median hourly wage: $35.63
- Total employment: 5,080 people (3.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $74,240
- Median hourly wage: $35.69
- Total employment: 490 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $74,250
- Median hourly wage: $35.70
- Total employment: 11,750 people (7.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $74,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.98
- Total employment: 200 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 250 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.11
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $75,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.14
- Total employment: 350 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $75,420
- Median hourly wage: $36.26
- Total employment: Not available

#39. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,640
- Median hourly wage: $36.37
- Total employment: 7,330 people (4.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Subway and streetcar operators

- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 150 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $75,930
- Median hourly wage: $36.51
- Total employment: 840 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $76,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.54
- Total employment: 4,260 people (2.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $76,760
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 540 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $77,270
- Median hourly wage: $37.15
- Total employment: 160 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Media and communication workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.29
- Total employment: 390 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $77,550
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: 1,370 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 690 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $78,770
- Median hourly wage: $37.87
- Total employment: 1,620 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $78,830
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $78,880
- Median hourly wage: $37.92
- Total employment: 160 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $79,390
- Median hourly wage: $38.17
- Total employment: 900 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $81,240
- Median hourly wage: $39.06
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $82,270
- Median hourly wage: $39.56
- Total employment: 4,030 people (2.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $82,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.73
- Total employment: 5,820 people (3.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $82,740
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,810 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,100
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Total employment: 2,700 people (1.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Traffic technicians

- Median annual wage: $83,570
- Median hourly wage: $40.18
- Total employment: 230 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $83,800
- Median hourly wage: $40.29
- Total employment: 170 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,390
- Median hourly wage: $42.50
- Total employment: 790 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $93,670
- Median hourly wage: $45.03
- Total employment: 110 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $93,710
- Median hourly wage: $45.05
- Total employment: 7,720 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Flight attendants

- Median annual wage: $94,650
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 910 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,990
- Median hourly wage: $45.67
- Total employment: 90 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $98,980
- Median hourly wage: $47.59
- Total employment: 1,220 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $99,580
- Median hourly wage: $47.88
- Total employment: 500 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $101,670
- Median hourly wage: $48.88
- Total employment: 40 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Gambling managers

- Median annual wage: $102,070
- Median hourly wage: $49.07
- Total employment: 100 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $102,780
- Median hourly wage: $49.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $106,720
- Median hourly wage: $51.31
- Total employment: 920 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $109,000
- Median hourly wage: $52.40
- Total employment: 2,180 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $109,190
- Median hourly wage: $52.49
- Total employment: 4,990 people (3.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $116,160
- Median hourly wage: $55.85
- Total employment: Not available

#4. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $118,830
- Median hourly wage: $57.13
- Total employment: 2,780 people (1.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $136,670
- Median hourly wage: $65.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $147,340
- Median hourly wage: $70.84
- Total employment: 890 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $166,600
- Median hourly wage: $80.10
- Total employment: 120 people (0.08 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