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Depending on the position, a high school diploma could be the ticket to a growing, high-paying job.
2026-01-27
Business Insider looked at wages and growth projections for jobs that usually need a high school diploma, its equivalent, or a postsecondary nondegree award. We then took the geometric mean of the ones that pay at least $75,000, based on 2024 median annual wage data, and are expected to need more workers, based on projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034. We then ranked the jobs, with the larger the geometric mean, the better the rank.
Many of the top 12 fell into one of three job groups: construction and extraction; protective service; or installation, maintenance, and repair.
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers took the top spot. Employment of these supervisors is expected to grow by 49,000 from its 2024 level, and they typically make about $79,000 annually. It's also one of the roles that typically don't require a degree, but often require job seekers to have relevant experience.
Employers may be interested in candidates with higher educational attainment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said commercial pilots usually need a postsecondary nondegree award, but some employers may prefer a degree or even require it.
Below are the top 12, along with information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
12. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Svetlana Verbitskaya/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $106,580
Job growth: 1,200
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
11. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
Shinyfamily/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $100,940
Job growth: 1,300
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
10. Avionics technicians
Monty Rakusen/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $81,390
Job growth: 1,700
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
9. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
carlofranco/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $92,430
Job growth: 3,400
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
8. Commercial pilots
AlexeyPetrov/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $122,670
Job growth: 2,800
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
7. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Monty Rakusen/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $78,680
Job growth: 5,600
Typical education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
6. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
kali9/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $105,980
Job growth: 4,600
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
5. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
RyanJLane/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $92,560
Job growth: 8,400
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
MoMo Productions/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $102,010
Job growth: 13,100
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
3. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $78,300
Job growth: 19,100
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
2. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $76,290
Job growth: 22,000
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
1. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
Vukasin Stanojlovic/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $78,690
Job growth: 49,000
Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent
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Madison Hoff is a reporter on Business Insider’s economy team. She covers the labor market, inflation, spending, and other data. In addition to covering new estimates and trends, her workforce reporting includes career pivots, job searching, and side hustles.She also covers downsizing, particularly people selling their houses to pursue RV living. She has also reported on how much teachers spend out of pocket and what it’s like being a caregiver.Her stories often cover the state of the economy, what experts are saying, and how people are navigating the workplace or their careers.Previously, she was a junior reporter and data editorial fellow on the Strategy team.
