Highest-paying jobs in Joplin for high school graduates

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#50. Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $47,070
- Median hourly wage: $22.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

- Median annual wage: $47,430
- Median hourly wage: $22.80
- Total employment: 590 people (6.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $47,460
- Median hourly wage: $22.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $47,690
- Median hourly wage: $22.93
- Total employment: 100 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $47,760
- Median hourly wage: $22.96
- Total employment: 520 people (5.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

- Median annual wage: $48,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.35
- Total employment: 100 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Construction laborers

- Median annual wage: $48,830
- Median hourly wage: $23.48
- Total employment: 560 people (6.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $48,960
- Median hourly wage: $23.54
- Total employment: 360 people (4.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Maintenance and repair workers, general

- Median annual wage: $49,020
- Median hourly wage: $23.57
- Total employment: 1,230 people (14.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Refuse and recyclable material collectors

- Median annual wage: $49,050
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 60 people (0.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $49,360
- Median hourly wage: $23.73
- Total employment: 160 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $49,560
- Median hourly wage: $23.83
- Total employment: 80 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $49,730
- Median hourly wage: $23.91
- Total employment: 180 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $49,780
- Median hourly wage: $23.93
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Conveyor operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $49,940
- Median hourly wage: $24.01
- Total employment: 30 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $50,720
- Median hourly wage: $24.38
- Total employment: 300 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

- Median annual wage: $50,850
- Median hourly wage: $24.45
- Total employment: 150 people (1.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders

- Median annual wage: $51,030
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Total employment: 70 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $52,070
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 90 people (1.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $52,350
- Median hourly wage: $25.17
- Total employment: 290 people (3.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Carpenters

- Median annual wage: $53,710
- Median hourly wage: $25.82
- Total employment: 370 people (4.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $53,930
- Median hourly wage: $25.93
- Total employment: 990 people (11.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Total employment: 110 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $56,050
- Median hourly wage: $26.95
- Total employment: 140 people (1.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $56,440
- Median hourly wage: $27.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $57,290
- Median hourly wage: $27.54
- Total employment: 390 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,310
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 600 people (6.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Food batchmakers

- Median annual wage: $57,700
- Median hourly wage: $27.74
- Total employment: 360 people (4.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $58,170
- Median hourly wage: $27.97
- Total employment: 860 people (9.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 220 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $59,140
- Median hourly wage: $28.43
- Total employment: 180 people (2.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 140 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Bus drivers, transit and intercity

- Median annual wage: $59,740
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 50 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $60,080
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 120 people (1.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $60,250
- Median hourly wage: $28.97
- Total employment: 220 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Food service managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 40 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Structural iron and steel workers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,480
- Median hourly wage: $29.08
- Total employment: 70 people (0.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $60,780
- Median hourly wage: $29.22
- Total employment: 390 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,970
- Median hourly wage: $29.31
- Total employment: 160 people (1.84 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,190
- Median hourly wage: $29.90
- Total employment: 50 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $62,890
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Total employment: 80 people (0.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 770 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

- Median annual wage: $64,650
- Median hourly wage: $31.08
- Total employment: 30 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $65,220
- Median hourly wage: $31.36
- Total employment: 410 people (4.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $65,590
- Median hourly wage: $31.53
- Total employment: 120 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $70,520
- Median hourly wage: $33.90
- Total employment: 70 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $71,860
- Median hourly wage: $34.55
- Total employment: 360 people (4.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $76,170
- Median hourly wage: $36.62
- Total employment: 390 people (4.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $94,660
- Median hourly wage: $45.51
- Total employment: 100 people (1.21 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