Highest-paying jobs in Chicago for high school graduates

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

- Median annual wage: $76,890
- Median hourly wage: $36.97
- Total employment: 8,330 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $76,960
- Median hourly wage: $37.00
- Total employment: 9,430 people (2.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $77,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.11
- Total employment: 1,970 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,410
- Median hourly wage: $37.22
- Total employment: 860 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Private detectives and investigators

- Median annual wage: $77,680
- Median hourly wage: $37.35
- Total employment: 1,320 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,110
- Median hourly wage: $37.55
- Total employment: 2,370 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $78,340
- Median hourly wage: $37.66
- Total employment: 9,510 people (2.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $78,820
- Median hourly wage: $37.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $78,950
- Median hourly wage: $37.96
- Total employment: 7,620 people (1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Meter readers, utilities

- Median annual wage: $79,210
- Median hourly wage: $38.08
- Total employment: 420 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $80,030
- Median hourly wage: $38.47
- Total employment: 260 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $81,210
- Median hourly wage: $39.04
- Total employment: 1,470 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Motion picture projectionists

- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Total employment: Not available

#37. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $82,190
- Median hourly wage: $39.51
- Total employment: 4,120 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $82,200
- Median hourly wage: $39.52
- Total employment: 3,740 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $83,180
- Median hourly wage: $39.99
- Total employment: 1,290 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $83,770
- Median hourly wage: $40.28
- Total employment: 50 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $83,960
- Median hourly wage: $40.37
- Total employment: 330 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $84,610
- Median hourly wage: $40.68
- Total employment: 340 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $85,400
- Median hourly wage: $41.06
- Total employment: 4,810 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Railroad conductors and yardmasters

- Median annual wage: $85,560
- Median hourly wage: $41.14
- Total employment: 110 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $86,300
- Median hourly wage: $41.49
- Total employment: 2,240 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $86,330
- Median hourly wage: $41.51
- Total employment: 2,480 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $89,090
- Median hourly wage: $42.83
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $89,540
- Median hourly wage: $43.05
- Total employment: 12,560 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Plasterers and stucco masons

- Median annual wage: $90,020
- Median hourly wage: $43.28
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $93,190
- Median hourly wage: $44.81
- Total employment: 80 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $95,010
- Median hourly wage: $45.68
- Total employment: 210 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $97,970
- Median hourly wage: $47.10
- Total employment: 3,080 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Median annual wage: $98,810
- Median hourly wage: $47.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $98,890
- Median hourly wage: $47.54
- Total employment: 14,230 people (3.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $99,540
- Median hourly wage: $47.86
- Total employment: 16,690 people (3.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $101,200
- Median hourly wage: $48.66
- Total employment: 7,760 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $101,260
- Median hourly wage: $48.69
- Total employment: Not available

#15. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $102,370
- Median hourly wage: $49.22
- Total employment: 2,170 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $102,950
- Median hourly wage: $49.50
- Total employment: 2,640 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $103,380
- Median hourly wage: $49.70
- Total employment: 600 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $104,790
- Median hourly wage: $50.38
- Total employment: 14,730 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $104,810
- Median hourly wage: $50.39
- Total employment: 630 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $106,360
- Median hourly wage: $51.13
- Total employment: 570 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $106,510
- Median hourly wage: $51.21
- Total employment: 660 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $108,180
- Median hourly wage: $52.01
- Total employment: 9,320 people (2.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $108,890
- Median hourly wage: $52.35
- Total employment: 23,340 people (5.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $109,870
- Median hourly wage: $52.82
- Total employment: 320 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $112,230
- Median hourly wage: $53.96
- Total employment: 1,170 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $114,030
- Median hourly wage: $54.82
- Total employment: 2,140 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Hoist and winch operators

- Median annual wage: $116,120
- Median hourly wage: $55.83
- Total employment: 290 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $136,440
- Median hourly wage: $65.60
- Total employment: 4,190 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $141,380
- Median hourly wage: $67.97
- Total employment: 720 people (0.16 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