Highest-paying jobs in Asheville for high school graduates

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#50. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $50,290
- Median hourly wage: $24.18
- Total employment: 290 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $50,450
- Median hourly wage: $24.26
- Total employment: 330 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $50,760
- Median hourly wage: $24.40
- Total employment: 860 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $50,800
- Median hourly wage: $24.42
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Surveying and mapping technicians

- Median annual wage: $50,990
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 150 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

- Median annual wage: $51,860
- Median hourly wage: $24.93
- Total employment: 340 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $52,050
- Median hourly wage: $25.02
- Total employment: Not available

#43. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $52,430
- Median hourly wage: $25.21
- Total employment: 120 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $52,830
- Median hourly wage: $25.40
- Total employment: 330 people (1.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Security and fire alarm systems installers

- Median annual wage: $52,950
- Median hourly wage: $25.46
- Total employment: 70 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $53,180
- Median hourly wage: $25.57
- Total employment: 100 people (0.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Drywall and ceiling tile installers

- Median annual wage: $53,260
- Median hourly wage: $25.60
- Total employment: 80 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Information and record clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $53,910
- Median hourly wage: $25.92
- Total employment: 200 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $54,070
- Median hourly wage: $26.00
- Total employment: 70 people (0.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Police and sheriff's patrol officers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 680 people (3.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Telecommunications line installers and repairers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $54,270
- Median hourly wage: $26.09
- Total employment: 110 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Tile and stone setters

- Median annual wage: $54,340
- Median hourly wage: $26.13
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Court, municipal, and license clerks

- Median annual wage: $54,460
- Median hourly wage: $26.19
- Total employment: 200 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

- Median annual wage: $56,040
- Median hourly wage: $26.94
- Total employment: 50 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $56,770
- Median hourly wage: $27.29
- Total employment: 800 people (4.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $56,950
- Median hourly wage: $27.38
- Total employment: 200 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 430 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Opticians, dispensing

- Median annual wage: $58,500
- Median hourly wage: $28.12
- Total employment: 80 people (0.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $58,810
- Median hourly wage: $28.27
- Total employment: 1,450 people (7.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Advertising sales agents

- Median annual wage: $58,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.34
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,030
- Median hourly wage: $28.38
- Total employment: 30 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.49
- Total employment: 350 people (1.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,480
- Median hourly wage: $28.60
- Total employment: 1,560 people (8.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $60,280
- Median hourly wage: $28.98
- Total employment: 1,680 people (8.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $60,350
- Median hourly wage: $29.02
- Total employment: 260 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $60,750
- Median hourly wage: $29.21
- Total employment: 50 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $61,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.58
- Total employment: 240 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $61,770
- Median hourly wage: $29.70
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $61,840
- Median hourly wage: $29.73
- Total employment: 510 people (2.71 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $62,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.83
- Total employment: 230 people (1.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Total employment: 480 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $62,260
- Median hourly wage: $29.93
- Total employment: 480 people (2.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $62,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.12
- Total employment: 160 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $62,660
- Median hourly wage: $30.13
- Total employment: 360 people (1.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,130
- Median hourly wage: $30.35
- Total employment: 610 people (3.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $63,370
- Median hourly wage: $30.47
- Total employment: Not available

#9. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $66,810
- Median hourly wage: $32.12
- Total employment: 90 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $67,160
- Median hourly wage: $32.29
- Total employment: 1,180 people (6.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $68,240
- Median hourly wage: $32.81
- Total employment: 860 people (4.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $68,840
- Median hourly wage: $33.10
- Total employment: 810 people (4.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $74,420
- Median hourly wage: $35.78
- Total employment: 260 people (1.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,470
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 80 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $77,140
- Median hourly wage: $37.09
- Total employment: 130 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $81,110
- Median hourly wage: $39.00
- Total employment: 150 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $88,500
- Median hourly wage: $42.55
- Total employment: 200 people (1.06 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