Highest-paying jobs in Des Moines for high school graduates

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

- Median annual wage: $59,870
- Median hourly wage: $28.78
- Total employment: 660 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $59,940
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 1,970 people (4.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $60,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 180 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,380
- Median hourly wage: $29.03
- Total employment: 1,050 people (2.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $60,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.20
- Total employment: 820 people (2.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.35
- Total employment: 350 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $61,510
- Median hourly wage: $29.57
- Total employment: 200 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Personal service managers, all other

- Median annual wage: $61,740
- Median hourly wage: $29.69
- Total employment: 80 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $62,430
- Median hourly wage: $30.02
- Total employment: 2,260 people (5.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $62,500
- Median hourly wage: $30.05
- Total employment: 660 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $62,590
- Median hourly wage: $30.09
- Total employment: 320 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $63,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.44
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $63,440
- Median hourly wage: $30.50
- Total employment: 420 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,560
- Median hourly wage: $30.56
- Total employment: 1,250 people (3.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Glaziers

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 210 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $63,860
- Median hourly wage: $30.70
- Total employment: 420 people (1.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $64,170
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 2,260 people (5.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,350
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 1,620 people (4.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 2,440 people (6.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Office and administrative support workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $64,820
- Median hourly wage: $31.16
- Total employment: 1,230 people (3.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $64,920
- Median hourly wage: $31.21
- Total employment: 400 people (0.99 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $64,950
- Median hourly wage: $31.23
- Total employment: 680 people (1.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 2,500 people (6.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $65,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.39
- Total employment: 4,620 people (11.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,560
- Median hourly wage: $31.52
- Total employment: 240 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $65,840
- Median hourly wage: $31.66
- Total employment: 830 people (2.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $66,280
- Median hourly wage: $31.86
- Total employment: 330 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $66,660
- Median hourly wage: $32.05
- Total employment: 290 people (0.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $67,480
- Median hourly wage: $32.44
- Total employment: 120 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $67,540
- Median hourly wage: $32.47
- Total employment: 3,120 people (7.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $67,780
- Median hourly wage: $32.59
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $67,990
- Median hourly wage: $32.69
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $69,590
- Median hourly wage: $33.46
- Total employment: 1,390 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Tapers

- Median annual wage: $71,240
- Median hourly wage: $34.25
- Total employment: 60 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $73,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.53
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $74,910
- Median hourly wage: $36.01
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $75,300
- Median hourly wage: $36.20
- Total employment: 2,630 people (6.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $79,640
- Median hourly wage: $38.29
- Total employment: 210 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $80,320
- Median hourly wage: $38.62
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $81,390
- Median hourly wage: $39.13
- Total employment: 2,900 people (7.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $84,890
- Median hourly wage: $40.81
- Total employment: 110 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $85,420
- Median hourly wage: $41.07
- Total employment: 1,120 people (2.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $88,580
- Median hourly wage: $42.59
- Total employment: 50 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $89,260
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 840 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $94,150
- Median hourly wage: $45.27
- Total employment: 120 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,210
- Median hourly wage: $48.18
- Total employment: 520 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $103,000
- Median hourly wage: $49.52
- Total employment: 160 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $111,110
- Median hourly wage: $53.42
- Total employment: 40 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $117,020
- Median hourly wage: $56.26
- Total employment: 310 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $157,100
- Median hourly wage: $75.53
- Total employment: 330 people (0.8 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