Highest-paying jobs in Buffalo for high school graduates

Stacker
#50. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $64,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.24
- Total employment: 50 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $65,000
- Median hourly wage: $31.25
- Total employment: 70 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 1,110 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $65,160
- Median hourly wage: $31.33
- Total employment: 110 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $65,930
- Median hourly wage: $31.70
- Total employment: 740 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Insulation workers, mechanical

- Median annual wage: $65,990
- Median hourly wage: $31.73
- Total employment: 120 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $66,750
- Median hourly wage: $32.09
- Total employment: 4,650 people (8.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $66,870
- Median hourly wage: $32.15
- Total employment: 200 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $66,910
- Median hourly wage: $32.17
- Total employment: 720 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $67,250
- Median hourly wage: $32.33
- Total employment: 290 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $67,290
- Median hourly wage: $32.35
- Total employment: 400 people (0.76 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $69,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.20
- Total employment: 3,340 people (6.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $70,060
- Median hourly wage: $33.68
- Total employment: 1,850 people (3.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $70,570
- Median hourly wage: $33.93
- Total employment: 1,530 people (2.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $71,360
- Median hourly wage: $34.31
- Total employment: 3,920 people (7.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $73,350
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $73,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.46
- Total employment: 1,340 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $73,880
- Median hourly wage: $35.52
- Total employment: 2,920 people (5.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Bailiffs

- Median annual wage: $74,160
- Median hourly wage: $35.65
- Total employment: 170 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Earth drillers, except oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $74,290
- Median hourly wage: $35.72
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $74,380
- Median hourly wage: $35.76
- Total employment: 1,340 people (2.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Transportation workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $74,400
- Median hourly wage: $35.77
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Pipelayers

- Median annual wage: $74,500
- Median hourly wage: $35.82
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Structural iron and steel workers

- Median annual wage: $74,950
- Median hourly wage: $36.04
- Total employment: 160 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $75,070
- Median hourly wage: $36.09
- Total employment: 600 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $75,330
- Median hourly wage: $36.22
- Total employment: 1,580 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $76,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 2,390 people (4.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $77,000
- Median hourly wage: $37.02
- Total employment: 390 people (0.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $77,720
- Median hourly wage: $37.36
- Total employment: 220 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $78,430
- Median hourly wage: $37.71
- Total employment: 210 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $78,590
- Median hourly wage: $37.78
- Total employment: 2,260 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $79,360
- Median hourly wage: $38.15
- Total employment: 1,820 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $80,060
- Median hourly wage: $38.49
- Total employment: 2,070 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $80,780
- Median hourly wage: $38.84
- Total employment: 1,750 people (3.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

- Median annual wage: $81,630
- Median hourly wage: $39.24
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $81,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.30
- Total employment: 30 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $83,240
- Median hourly wage: $40.02
- Total employment: 240 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $90,930
- Median hourly wage: $43.72
- Total employment: 370 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $92,670
- Median hourly wage: $44.55
- Total employment: 180 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $93,850
- Median hourly wage: $45.12
- Total employment: 50 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $95,870
- Median hourly wage: $46.09
- Total employment: 380 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $95,950
- Median hourly wage: $46.13
- Total employment: 60 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $96,040
- Median hourly wage: $46.17
- Total employment: 830 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $98,220
- Median hourly wage: $47.22
- Total employment: 40 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $99,460
- Median hourly wage: $47.82
- Total employment: 810 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,810
- Median hourly wage: $48.47
- Total employment: 430 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $100,870
- Median hourly wage: $48.50
- Total employment: 490 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $103,230
- Median hourly wage: $49.63
- Total employment: 40 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $117,500
- Median hourly wage: $56.49
- Total employment: 190 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $121,580
- Median hourly wage: $58.45
- Total employment: 120 people (0.22 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