Highest-paying jobs in Abilene for high school graduates

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#50. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $45,200
- Median hourly wage: $21.73
- Total employment: 110 people (1.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Community health workers

- Median annual wage: $45,240
- Median hourly wage: $21.75
- Total employment: 40 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $45,290
- Median hourly wage: $21.78
- Total employment: 190 people (2.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Derrick operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $45,900
- Median hourly wage: $22.07
- Total employment: 40 people (0.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Cement masons and concrete finishers

- Median annual wage: $45,980
- Median hourly wage: $22.11
- Total employment: 70 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Computer numerically controlled tool operators

- Median annual wage: $46,140
- Median hourly wage: $22.19
- Total employment: 40 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

- Median annual wage: $46,340
- Median hourly wage: $22.28
- Total employment: 290 people (3.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Bus drivers, school

- Median annual wage: $46,530
- Median hourly wage: $22.37
- Total employment: 120 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Physical therapist aides

- Median annual wage: $46,790
- Median hourly wage: $22.49
- Total employment: 90 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Automotive body and related repairers

- Median annual wage: $46,980
- Median hourly wage: $22.59
- Total employment: 80 people (1.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

- Median annual wage: $47,100
- Median hourly wage: $22.65
- Total employment: 30 people (0.47 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $47,180
- Median hourly wage: $22.68
- Total employment: 70 people (0.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $47,500
- Median hourly wage: $22.84
- Total employment: 460 people (6.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Real estate sales agents

- Median annual wage: $47,890
- Median hourly wage: $23.03
- Total employment: 60 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Service unit operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $48,070
- Median hourly wage: $23.11
- Total employment: 70 people (0.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $48,210
- Median hourly wage: $23.18
- Total employment: 360 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $48,260
- Median hourly wage: $23.20
- Total employment: 200 people (2.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Public safety telecommunicators

- Median annual wage: $48,500
- Median hourly wage: $23.32
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

- Median annual wage: $49,040
- Median hourly wage: $23.58
- Total employment: 40 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Correctional officers and jailers

- Median annual wage: $49,670
- Median hourly wage: $23.88
- Total employment: 670 people (9.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Insurance sales agents

- Median annual wage: $49,910
- Median hourly wage: $24.00
- Total employment: 310 people (4.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Sheet metal workers

- Median annual wage: $51,000
- Median hourly wage: $24.52
- Total employment: 60 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

- Median annual wage: $51,050
- Median hourly wage: $24.54
- Total employment: 90 people (1.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $52,090
- Median hourly wage: $25.04
- Total employment: 290 people (3.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $52,220
- Median hourly wage: $25.11
- Total employment: 270 people (3.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $53,210
- Median hourly wage: $25.58
- Total employment: 50 people (0.64 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $55,610
- Median hourly wage: $26.73
- Total employment: 100 people (1.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $55,770
- Median hourly wage: $26.81
- Total employment: 430 people (5.75 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $56,450
- Median hourly wage: $27.14
- Total employment: 90 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $56,510
- Median hourly wage: $27.17
- Total employment: 50 people (0.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $56,890
- Median hourly wage: $27.35
- Total employment: 110 people (1.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,130
- Median hourly wage: $27.47
- Total employment: 150 people (2.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 70 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,180
- Median hourly wage: $27.49
- Total employment: 50 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $57,330
- Median hourly wage: $27.56
- Total employment: 270 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $57,820
- Median hourly wage: $27.80
- Total employment: 60 people (0.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $58,360
- Median hourly wage: $28.06
- Total employment: 960 people (12.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,390
- Median hourly wage: $28.07
- Total employment: 190 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,510
- Median hourly wage: $28.13
- Total employment: 200 people (2.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $59,530
- Median hourly wage: $28.62
- Total employment: 130 people (1.73 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $59,550
- Median hourly wage: $28.63
- Total employment: 50 people (0.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $59,660
- Median hourly wage: $28.68
- Total employment: 410 people (5.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $59,730
- Median hourly wage: $28.72
- Total employment: 170 people (2.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $60,090
- Median hourly wage: $28.89
- Total employment: 80 people (1.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,530
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 150 people (1.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $63,080
- Median hourly wage: $30.33
- Total employment: 430 people (5.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $64,160
- Median hourly wage: $30.85
- Total employment: 400 people (5.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $75,250
- Median hourly wage: $36.18
- Total employment: 80 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $76,970
- Median hourly wage: $37.01
- Total employment: 400 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $83,310
- Median hourly wage: $40.06
- Total employment: 110 people (1.49 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