Highest-paying jobs in Columbus, Georgia for high school graduates

Stacker
#50. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $46,080
- Median hourly wage: $22.16
- Total employment: 120 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $46,730
- Median hourly wage: $22.47
- Total employment: 80 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Miscellaneous construction and related workers

- Median annual wage: $46,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.50
- Total employment: 40 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $46,820
- Median hourly wage: $22.51
- Total employment: 40 people (0.32 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $46,970
- Median hourly wage: $22.58
- Total employment: 160 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $47,030
- Median hourly wage: $22.61
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $47,300
- Median hourly wage: $22.74
- Total employment: 30 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $47,310
- Median hourly wage: $22.75
- Total employment: 150 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $47,350
- Median hourly wage: $22.76
- Total employment: 210 people (1.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $47,710
- Median hourly wage: $22.94
- Total employment: 80 people (0.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $47,860
- Median hourly wage: $23.01
- Total employment: 130 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $48,240
- Median hourly wage: $23.19
- Total employment: 240 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,600
- Median hourly wage: $23.37
- Total employment: 260 people (2.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $48,630
- Median hourly wage: $23.38
- Total employment: 40 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $48,960
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 120 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $49,160
- Median hourly wage: $23.63
- Total employment: 70 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $49,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.73
- Total employment: 30 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $49,380
- Median hourly wage: $23.74
- Total employment: 410 people (3.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $50,490
- Median hourly wage: $24.28
- Total employment: 760 people (6.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $50,580
- Median hourly wage: $24.32
- Total employment: 150 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $51,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 140 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $51,150
- Median hourly wage: $24.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $52,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.10
- Total employment: 350 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Procurement clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,960
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 130 people (1.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Healthcare support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,520
- Median hourly wage: $25.73
- Total employment: 170 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $53,650
- Median hourly wage: $25.79
- Total employment: 110 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $53,780
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Total employment: 590 people (5.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $54,580
- Median hourly wage: $26.24
- Total employment: 430 people (3.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $54,840
- Median hourly wage: $26.36
- Total employment: 70 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $55,230
- Median hourly wage: $26.55
- Total employment: 700 people (5.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $55,240
- Median hourly wage: $26.56
- Total employment: 180 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 70 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $57,550
- Median hourly wage: $27.67
- Total employment: 260 people (2.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $58,030
- Median hourly wage: $27.90
- Total employment: 250 people (2.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $58,300
- Median hourly wage: $28.03
- Total employment: 1,130 people (9.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $58,470
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Total employment: 240 people (2.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.28
- Total employment: 30 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,880
- Median hourly wage: $28.79
- Total employment: 180 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $60,760
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 580 people (4.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $60,820
- Median hourly wage: $29.24
- Total employment: 100 people (0.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $62,410
- Median hourly wage: $30.01
- Total employment: 380 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $63,140
- Median hourly wage: $30.36
- Total employment: 230 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 590 people (5.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $64,690
- Median hourly wage: $31.10
- Total employment: 640 people (5.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $66,960
- Median hourly wage: $32.19
- Total employment: 560 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $67,560
- Median hourly wage: $32.48
- Total employment: 280 people (2.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $68,120
- Median hourly wage: $32.75
- Total employment: 200 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,800
- Median hourly wage: $36.44
- Total employment: 70 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,100
- Median hourly wage: $48.13
- Total employment: 80 people (0.67 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