Highest-paying jobs in Houston for high school graduates

Stacker
#50. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $60,040
- Median hourly wage: $28.86
- Total employment: 1,240 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $60,180
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 6,400 people (1.97 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $60,230
- Median hourly wage: $28.96
- Total employment: 11,150 people (3.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

- Median annual wage: $60,850
- Median hourly wage: $29.26
- Total employment: 330 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Brokerage clerks

- Median annual wage: $62,290
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: Not available

#44. Hearing aid specialists (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (tie)

- Median annual wage: $62,330
- Median hourly wage: $29.97
- Total employment: 5,380 people (1.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $62,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.03
- Total employment: 1,900 people (0.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $62,990
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 4,490 people (1.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,180
- Median hourly wage: $30.38
- Total employment: 18,470 people (5.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $63,460
- Median hourly wage: $30.51
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Logging equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $63,640
- Median hourly wage: $30.60
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Boilermakers

- Median annual wage: $64,310
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 1,120 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Riggers

- Median annual wage: $64,330
- Median hourly wage: $30.93
- Total employment: 1,250 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,360
- Median hourly wage: $30.94
- Total employment: 900 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $65,030
- Median hourly wage: $31.27
- Total employment: 24,600 people (7.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Derrick operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $65,910
- Median hourly wage: $31.69
- Total employment: 1,560 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $66,340
- Median hourly wage: $31.89
- Total employment: 39,110 people (12.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $67,760
- Median hourly wage: $32.58
- Total employment: 800 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Pile driver operators

- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 150 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Tax preparers

- Median annual wage: $68,160
- Median hourly wage: $32.77
- Total employment: 1,500 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $69,620
- Median hourly wage: $33.47
- Total employment: 3,570 people (1.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#28. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $70,380
- Median hourly wage: $33.84
- Total employment: 210 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Sailors and marine oilers

- Median annual wage: $70,660
- Median hourly wage: $33.97
- Total employment: 4,640 people (1.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $72,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Total employment: 70 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $72,530
- Median hourly wage: $34.87
- Total employment: 14,610 people (4.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $73,940
- Median hourly wage: $35.55
- Total employment: 5,280 people (1.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $75,110
- Median hourly wage: $36.11
- Total employment: 7,070 people (2.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $75,150
- Median hourly wage: $36.13
- Total employment: 24,650 people (7.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Crane and tower operators (tie)

- Median annual wage: $75,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.27
- Total employment: 2,390 people (0.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $75,450
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 15,910 people (4.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $75,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.42
- Total employment: Not available

#18. Athletes and sports competitors

- Median annual wage: $76,070
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Total employment: 450 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $76,290
- Median hourly wage: $36.68
- Total employment: 2,970 people (0.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,800
- Median hourly wage: $37.40
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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

- Median annual wage: $78,190
- Median hourly wage: $37.59
- Total employment: 17,510 people (5.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Wellhead pumpers

- Median annual wage: $78,290
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 3,940 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $79,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.99
- Total employment: 470 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

- Median annual wage: $79,150
- Median hourly wage: $38.05
- Total employment: 1,660 people (0.51 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $80,260
- Median hourly wage: $38.59
- Total employment: 560 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $80,480
- Median hourly wage: $38.69
- Total employment: 3,240 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

- Median annual wage: $81,540
- Median hourly wage: $39.20
- Total employment: 6,930 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $82,780
- Median hourly wage: $39.80
- Total employment: 820 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $86,440
- Median hourly wage: $41.56
- Total employment: 1,830 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators

- Median annual wage: $88,080
- Median hourly wage: $42.35
- Total employment: Not available

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $99,130
- Median hourly wage: $47.66
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $100,450
- Median hourly wage: $48.29
- Total employment: 7,730 people (2.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $101,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.63
- Total employment: 1,820 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $103,280
- Median hourly wage: $49.66
- Total employment: 6,200 people (1.91 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $110,030
- Median hourly wage: $52.90
- Total employment: 1,390 people (0.43 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