Highest paying jobs in Owensboro for high school graduates

A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don’t pursue any further education.

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.

There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn’t necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn’t make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.

Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Owensboro for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.

Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.

Fusionstudio // Shutterstock

#50. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

– Median annual wage: $41,250
– Median hourly wage: $19.83
– Total employment: 420 people (8.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

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#49. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

– Median annual wage: $41,550
– Median hourly wage: $19.98
– Total employment: 360 people (7.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#48. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

– Median annual wage: $41,620
– Median hourly wage: $20.01
– Total employment: 50 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#47. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

– Median annual wage: $41,940
– Median hourly wage: $20.16
– Total employment: Not available
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

John Leung // Shutterstock

#46. Brickmasons and blockmasons

– Median annual wage: $44,430
– Median hourly wage: $21.36
– Total employment: 30 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#45. Payroll and timekeeping clerks

– Median annual wage: $45,230
– Median hourly wage: $21.75
– Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Hunter Bliss Images // Shutterstock

#44. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

– Median annual wage: $45,370
– Median hourly wage: $21.81
– Total employment: 60 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

pio3 // Shutterstock

#43. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers

– Median annual wage: $46,020
– Median hourly wage: $22.13
– Total employment: 150 people (2.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#41. Maintenance and repair workers, general (tie)

– Median annual wage: $46,050
– Median hourly wage: $22.14
– Total employment: 560 people (11.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#41. Insurance sales agents (tie)

– Median annual wage: $46,050
– Median hourly wage: $22.14
– Total employment: 130 people (2.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#40. Construction and building inspectors

– Median annual wage: $46,600
– Median hourly wage: $22.40
– Total employment: 40 people (0.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $47,080
– Median hourly wage: $22.64
– Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#38. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

– Median annual wage: $47,090
– Median hourly wage: $22.64
– Total employment: 40 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $47,780
– Median hourly wage: $22.97
– Total employment: 50 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Kot500 // Shutterstock

#36. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

– Median annual wage: $48,120
– Median hourly wage: $23.14
– Total employment: 90 people (1.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

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

– Median annual wage: $48,170
– Median hourly wage: $23.16
– Total employment: 180 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

DuxX // Shutterstock

#34. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

– Median annual wage: $48,560
– Median hourly wage: $23.35
– Total employment: 630 people (12.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#33. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

– Median annual wage: $48,570
– Median hourly wage: $23.35
– Total employment: 110 people (2.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#32. Carpenters

– Median annual wage: $49,070
– Median hourly wage: $23.59
– Total employment: 230 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#31. Postal service mail carriers

– Median annual wage: $49,750
– Median hourly wage: $23.92
– Total employment: 160 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

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#30. Helpers–production workers

– Median annual wage: $49,780
– Median hourly wage: $23.93
– Total employment: 110 people (2.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $50,120
– Median hourly wage: $24.10
– Total employment: 330 people (6.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Alba_alioth // Shutterstock

#28. Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Median annual wage: $50,210
– Median hourly wage: $24.14
– Total employment: 160 people (3.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#27. Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

– Median annual wage: $50,420
– Median hourly wage: $24.24
– Total employment: 1,010 people (19.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#26. Electricians

– Median annual wage: $50,950
– Median hourly wage: $24.49
– Total employment: 240 people (4.82 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#25. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

– Median annual wage: $51,420
– Median hourly wage: $24.72
– Total employment: 60 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

– Median annual wage: $52,410
– Median hourly wage: $25.20
– Total employment: 70 people (1.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

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#23. Crane and tower operators

– Median annual wage: $53,270
– Median hourly wage: $25.61
– Total employment: 50 people (0.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $53,420
– Median hourly wage: $25.68
– Total employment: 240 people (4.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

welcomia // Shutterstock

#21. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

– Median annual wage: $54,320
– Median hourly wage: $26.11
– Total employment: 50 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $55,270
– Median hourly wage: $26.57
– Total employment: 410 people (8.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

manine99 // Shutterstock

#19. Maintenance workers, machinery

– Median annual wage: $55,560
– Median hourly wage: $26.71
– Total employment: 120 people (2.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#18. Chefs and head cooks

– Median annual wage: $55,900
– Median hourly wage: $26.88
– Total employment: 30 people (0.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $56,560
– Median hourly wage: $27.19
– Total employment: 370 people (7.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Akimov Igor // Shutterstock

#16. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Median annual wage: $56,720
– Median hourly wage: $27.27
– Total employment: 90 people (1.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Pixel B // Shutterstock

#15. Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

– Median annual wage: $58,830
– Median hourly wage: $28.28
– Total employment: 60 people (1.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#14. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

– Median annual wage: $59,190
– Median hourly wage: $28.46
– Total employment: 130 people (2.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#13. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

– Median annual wage: $59,770
– Median hourly wage: $28.73
– Total employment: 40 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

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#12. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

– Median annual wage: $62,160
– Median hourly wage: $29.89
– Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#11. Food service managers

– Median annual wage: $62,690
– Median hourly wage: $30.14
– Total employment: 40 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training

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#10. Machinists

– Median annual wage: $62,770
– Median hourly wage: $30.18
– Total employment: 220 people (4.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#9. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

– Median annual wage: $63,060
– Median hourly wage: $30.32
– Total employment: 100 people (2.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#8. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

– Median annual wage: $65,000
– Median hourly wage: $31.25
– Total employment: 230 people (4.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship

SritanaN // Shutterstock

#7. Industrial machinery mechanics

– Median annual wage: $65,080
– Median hourly wage: $31.29
– Total employment: 560 people (11.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

sculpies // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $66,390
– Median hourly wage: $31.92
– Total employment: 170 people (3.43 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $76,850
– Median hourly wage: $36.95
– Total employment: 560 people (11.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $78,320
– Median hourly wage: $37.65
– Total employment: 40 people (0.87 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

– Median annual wage: $78,490
– Median hourly wage: $37.74
– Total employment: 220 people (4.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#2. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

– Median annual wage: $84,870
– Median hourly wage: $40.80
– Total employment: 40 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training

goodluz // Shutterstock

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

– Median annual wage: $97,910
– Median hourly wage: $47.07
– Total employment: 70 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
– Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None