For many years, the prevailing belief was that a bachelor’s degree was a surefire ticket to high-paying employment. Recent statistics still suggest that higher education holds advantages: as of 2024, college graduates earn an average annual salary of $60,000, which is approximately $20,000 more than individuals with only a high school diploma. Furthermore, over a lifetime, those with bachelor’s degrees stand to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more than their less-educated counterparts.
However, the landscape is changing. Increasingly, Americans are questioning the value of a college degree: according to a 2024 report by the Pew Research Center, 29% of individuals believe that investing in a college education is not worthwhile. This skepticism is mirrored by the declining enrollment rates at universities across the United States.
Compounding this issue are the rising costs of higher education, which have surged to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025. Such expenses often lead to students accumulating significant debt through loans with high interest rates.
These escalating costs and shifting perspectives have sparked interest among high school graduates in vocational training and career paths that do not necessitate a college degree. For many, this may be a promising decision: numerous employers have begun to eliminate the bachelor’s degree requirement for entry-level, mid-level, and even senior positions.
A 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs reinforces this emerging trend, indicating that approximately 20% of those without a college degree are out-earning the median income of $70,000 associated with bachelor’s degree holders. Thus, the financial landscape for high school graduates has changed, with many opportunities to secure high-paying jobs without a college diploma.
Focusing on these appealing prospects, Stacker utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to identify the highest-paying jobs available in Boston for high school diploma holders or those with no formal educational requirements. The analysis ranked these jobs based on median annual wages as of May 2024, excluding any positions with unavailable compensation data.
Among the top-paying roles for high school graduates, the position of elevator and escalator installers and repairers tops the list. This role boasts a median annual wage of $143,180 and an impressive hourly wage of $68.84, but the total employment figures are not specified.
In second place, pile driver operators command an attractive median annual wage of $118,960 with an hourly rate of $57.19, although only 170 individuals in the area hold these jobs.
The third-highest position belongs to structural iron and steel workers, earning $116,900 annually and $56.20 hourly, with a total employment of 1,450 individuals.
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers secure a median yearly salary of $115,760, which translates to an hourly wage of $55.66 for 3,160 workers.
Additionally, electrical power-line installers and repairers, with an average annual compensation of $115,430 and $55.50 per hour, provide another lucrative option for those bypassing college.
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers earn an annual salary of $115,240, which breaks down to an hourly wage of $55.41, with 5,060 jobs available in the area.
Detectives and criminal investigators have the potential to earn $111,460 per year, equating to $53.59 hourly, with 1,050 total positions in existence.
Real estate brokers also present appealing prospects, with an estimated annual income of $108,910 and an hourly wage of $52.36, although employment statistics for these jobs are not available.
Tapers earn $107,680 annually, which amounts to $51.77 per hour, but similar to real estate brokers, their employment figures remain unspecified.
Meanwhile, power plant operators earn a median annual salary of $107,650, translating to $51.76 hourly, with a workforce consisting of 690 individuals.
First-line supervisors of police and detectives secure an annual salary of $107,100, or $51.49 per hour, with 3,570 positions in the area.
With an annual wage of $106,210 and an hourly wage of $51.06, power distributors and dispatchers represent another valuable career path, employing 210 people.
Glaziers, who earn an annual salary of $105,080 with an hourly rate of $50.52, have a total of 1,170 positions in the Boston area.
Gas plant operators, earning an average annual pay of $104,370 at $50.18 per hour, have seen a total of 240 individuals employed in this role.
Telecommunications line installers and repairers earn median annual wages of $103,680 at an hourly rate of $49.85, encompassing a workforce of 1,780 people.
The list continues with first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers, who make $99,430 annually and $47.80 hourly, and they comprise 14,540 total workers.
In the high-paying jobs ecosystem, first-line supervisors of correctional officers earn $96,450 yearly at an hourly wage of $46.37, with 240 available employment opportunities.
The report also outlines the median earnings for various other supportive roles that typically require only a high school diploma, further enriching the dialogue around education and employment prospects.
The combination of changing perspectives around education, coupled with rising costs and high potential salaries for high school graduates, paints a complex picture of the American job market in 2024 and beyond.
By analyzing these statistics, it becomes clear that while a bachelor’s degree has traditionally been viewed as a secure path to financial success, there is now a broad spectrum of high-paying careers available to those without a college education, particularly in areas like Boston.
As vocational training becomes more attractive and employers prioritize skills over degree credentials, the idea that a bachelor’s degree is the only route to substantial earning potential is being challenged.
With this data, it’s crucial for high school graduates to consider all their options in the evolving employment landscape, weighing the benefits of vocational training against the traditional degree path.
The ongoing dialogue will likely shape career choices for upcoming generations, encouraging a more diversified and equally rewarding approach to education and employment.
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