The average college graduate in 2020 earned $1,305 a week, while the average high school graduate takes home just $781, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Of course, college isn’t for everyone. There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college, not the least of which being cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise each year, the exception being the 2020-2021 school year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Average tuition at a public, in-state university coming in at $9,687; tuition for out-of-state students at public schools, and for everyone at private universities, is significantly higher at $21,874 and $35,087, respectively.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying jobs for high school graduates in San Diego-Carlsbad, CA using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.

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

#50. Reinforcing iron and rebar workers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $64,460
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $54,700
– Employment: 18,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($97,000)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($88,350)
— Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($75,440)

#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,170
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,580

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,090
– Employment: 253,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,900)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,400)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($70,480)

#48. Model makers, metal and plastic

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,940
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,180
– Employment: 3,400
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,140)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($76,210)
— Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($74,210)

#47. Food service managers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,960
– #92 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,070

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,000
– Employment: 197,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#46. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $65,990
– #13 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 160

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,950
– Employment: 54,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($81,390)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,460)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($73,070)

#45. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $66,220
– #11 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 370

National
– Annual mean salary: $46,400
– Employment: 44,560
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
— Nevada nonmetropolitan area ($81,690)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $66,240
– #132 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 5,280

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,210
– Employment: 219,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
— Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
— Piedmont North Carolina nonmetropolitan area ($105,220)

#43. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $66,580
– #23 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 800

National
– Annual mean salary: $57,000
– Employment: 147,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($86,740)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,520)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,470)

#42. Sheet metal workers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $67,160
– #40 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,120

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,320
– Employment: 128,220
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($101,150)
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($94,930)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,840)

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $67,210
– #90 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,480

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,100
– Employment: 417,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,580)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,500)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,190)

#40. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,140
– #31 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 810

National
– Annual mean salary: $51,890
– Employment: 119,380
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,330
– #28 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 12,560

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,010
– Employment: 1,427,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#38. Transportation inspectors

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,490
– #68 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 190

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,320
– Employment: 27,360
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
— Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#36 (tie). Telecommunications line installers and repairers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,590
– #57 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 850

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,860
– Employment: 122,480
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
— Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#36 (tie). Electricians

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,590
– #82 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,990

National
– Annual mean salary: $61,550
– Employment: 656,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
— Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)

#35. Brickmasons and blockmasons

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $68,600
– #35 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 200

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,420
– Employment: 59,940
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
— Decatur, IL ($92,670)
— Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)

#34. Surveying and mapping technicians

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $69,150
– #10 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 450

National
– Annual mean salary: $49,770
– Employment: 53,370
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $70,770
– #100 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,290

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,800
– Employment: 599,900
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
— Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
— West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area ($96,900)

#32. Advertising sales agents

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $70,990
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 700

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,040
– Employment: 110,040
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $71,390
– #61 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 9,730

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,490
– Employment: 977,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
— Boulder, CO ($101,630)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $71,780
– #18 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 4,420

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,230
– Employment: 503,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#29. Structural iron and steel workers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $72,500
– #24 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 730

National
– Annual mean salary: $58,650
– Employment: 71,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($95,020)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($88,250)
— Western Washington nonmetropolitan area ($84,570)

#28. Insurance sales agents

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $72,710
– #80 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,950

National
– Annual mean salary: $69,100
– Employment: 409,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
— Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,210
– #76 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 9,260

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,500
– Employment: 1,278,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
— Napa, CA ($92,620)

#26. Lodging managers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $74,770
– #37 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 400

National
– Annual mean salary: $65,270
– Employment: 31,790
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area ($122,290)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)

#25. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $76,140
– #27 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 340

National
– Annual mean salary: $68,170
– Employment: 29,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
— South Illinois nonmetropolitan area ($101,630)

#24. Traffic technicians

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $76,460
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 30

National
– Annual mean salary: $53,140
– Employment: 7,430
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,160)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($77,500)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($76,460)

#23. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $76,990
– #19 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,350

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,280
– Employment: 402,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)

#22. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $77,600
– #41 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,760

National
– Annual mean salary: $70,650
– Employment: 287,150
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
— Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area ($92,500)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $77,980
– #71 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,810

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,100
– Employment: 475,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#20. Insulation workers, mechanical

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,030
– #7 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 100

National
– Annual mean salary: $55,470
– Employment: 27,700
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,380)
— Syracuse, NY ($97,670)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($93,740)

#19. Crane and tower operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,500
– #17 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 340

National
– Annual mean salary: $64,010
– Employment: 44,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
— Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
— Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $78,630
– #44 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 590

National
– Annual mean salary: $62,400
– Employment: 50,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
— Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $79,370
– #232 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,660

National
– Annual mean salary: $90,120
– Employment: 240,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)

#16. Construction and building inspectors

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $79,810
– #32 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 990

National
– Annual mean salary: $66,470
– Employment: 113,770
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New Haven, CT ($121,510)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#15. Correctional officers and jailers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $80,560
– #10 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 3,040

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,340
– Employment: 405,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
— Salinas, CA ($89,100)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#14. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $83,070
– #4 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 70

National
– Annual mean salary: $52,130
– Employment: 2,900
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)

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

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $87,420
– #23 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 6,470

National
– Annual mean salary: $72,990
– Employment: 614,080
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#12. Power plant operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $88,480
– #44 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 150

National
– Annual mean salary: $81,890
– Employment: 32,960
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fresno, CA ($129,650)
— Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#11. Postmasters and mail superintendents

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $94,460
– #3 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 40

National
– Annual mean salary: $79,660
– Employment: 13,880
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
— Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#10. Gas plant operators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $95,170
– #5 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 60

National
– Annual mean salary: $73,290
– Employment: 14,990
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
— Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $103,960
– #14 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,110

National
– Annual mean salary: $74,410
– Employment: 114,930
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
— Salinas, CA ($110,180)
— North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area ($109,740)

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $105,240
– #88 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 1,310

National
– Annual mean salary: $105,100
– Employment: 132,210
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
— Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#7. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $106,150
– #10 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 120

National
– Annual mean salary: $86,200
– Employment: 24,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
— Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $106,350
– #9 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 170

National
– Annual mean salary: $67,600
– Employment: 53,420
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $106,620
– #20 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 2,950

National
– Annual mean salary: $89,300
– Employment: 105,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
— Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#4. Gambling managers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $106,830
– #1 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $85,440
– Employment: 3,240
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($106,830)
— Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($104,140)
— Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($103,210)

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $109,750
– #8 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 80

National
– Annual mean salary: $93,260
– Employment: 9,940
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
— Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
— Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#2. Commercial pilots

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $116,440
– #45 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 340

National
– Annual mean salary: $110,830
– Employment: 37,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
— Savannah, GA ($177,450)

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

San Diego-Carlsbad, CA
– Annual mean salary: $143,690
– #13 highest pay among all metros
– Employment: 380

National
– Annual mean salary: $97,180
– Employment: 122,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)