Highest paying jobs in Boise for high school graduates

Written by:
March 22, 2021
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Highest paying jobs in Boise for high school graduates

The average college graduate in 2019 earned $78,000 a year, while the average high school graduate takes home just $45,000, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. To put it in perspective, the average annual wage for workers in the U.S. that same year was $51,916.27.

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.

Just because you decide higher education isn’t in the cards doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a lifetime of low-paying jobs. You just need to be strategic about the career you choose. Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying jobs for high school graduates in Boise, ID using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.

As this BLS data reflects the 2019 calendar year, the wages listed do not reflect any economic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.

1 / 50
Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#50. Sheet metal workers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $46,290
- #162 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,480
- Employment: 131,300
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($96,050)
--- Pittsfield, MA ($83,850)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($81,270)
2 / 50
Canva

#49. Cargo and freight agents

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $46,390
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,770
- Employment: 95,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($71,990)
--- Erie, PA ($66,030)
--- New Haven, CT ($61,930)
3 / 50
Canva

#48. Dental laboratory technicians

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $47,000
- #42 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,330
- Employment: 34,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ocala, FL ($94,800)
--- Idaho Falls, ID ($64,810)
--- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC ($61,560)
4 / 50
Canva

#47. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $47,350
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,230
- Employment: 25,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($79,020)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($73,240)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($62,800)
5 / 50
Zhanna Kavaliova // Shutterstock

#46. Logging equipment operators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $47,510
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,060
- Employment: 26,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($64,200)
--- Olympia-Tumwater, WA ($57,390)
--- Bellingham, WA ($55,630)
6 / 50
Canva

#45. Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $48,160
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,630
- Employment: 36,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Las Cruces, NM ($70,380)
--- Yuma, AZ ($58,140)
--- Bloomington, IL ($57,820)
7 / 50
Pixabay

#44. Surveying and mapping technicians

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $48,460
- #84 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 53,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($82,420)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($78,050)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($77,870)
8 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#43. Advertising sales agents

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $48,840
- #189 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Gainesville, GA ($93,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,720)
--- Tulsa, OK ($92,380)
9 / 50
Susan Law Cain // Shutterstock

#42. Tree trimmers and pruners

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $49,030
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,510
- Employment: 47,210
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($60,410)
--- Lewiston-Auburn, ME ($57,140)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($56,810)
10 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#41. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $49,160
- #238 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($89,470)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,230)
11 / 50
Canva

#40. Automotive body and related repairers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $49,940
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 144,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($79,950)
--- Napa, CA ($73,930)
--- Raleigh, NC ($69,030)
12 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#39. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $49,990
- #200 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 550

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,010)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($77,660)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,510)
13 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#38. Electricians

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $50,290
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($100,400)
--- Trenton, NJ ($84,950)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($84,810)
14 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#37. Real estate sales agents

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $50,320
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,700)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,250)
--- Midland, TX ($92,340)
15 / 50
Canva

#36. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $50,830
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,620
- Employment: 15,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($78,950)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,250)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($60,690)
16 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#35. Postal service clerks

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,120
- #163 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Flagstaff, AZ ($56,540)
--- Florence, SC ($56,080)
--- Monroe, MI ($55,650)
17 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#33 (tie). Real estate brokers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,150
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($120,210)
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($118,170)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($116,740)
18 / 50
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#33 (tie). Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,150
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- Employment: 370,380
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($73,910)
--- Parkersburg-Vienna, WV ($68,320)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($67,050)
19 / 50
Pixabay

#32. Hazardous materials removal workers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,250
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,740
- Employment: 44,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Knoxville, TN ($74,470)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($73,420)
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($65,910)
20 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#31. Postal service mail carriers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,490
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,220)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($54,930)
21 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#30. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $51,770
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($85,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($82,480)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,240)
22 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#29. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $52,200
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($111,530)
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($109,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($108,460)
23 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#28. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $52,220
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($55,700)
--- Wausau, WI ($55,630)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($54,450)
24 / 50
Pxhere

#27. Maintenance workers, machinery

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $52,870
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,450
- Employment: 72,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($83,250)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($71,680)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($68,380)
25 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#26. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $53,130
- #82 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($87,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,640)
--- Pittsfield, MA ($79,000)
26 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#25. Food service managers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $53,300
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ocean City, NJ ($91,790)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($90,830)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($89,760)
27 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $53,710
- #239 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($73,300)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($73,050)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($71,190)
28 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $54,330
- #254 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC ($94,480)
--- Walla Walla, WA ($88,980)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($88,360)
29 / 50
Canva

#22. Construction and building inspectors

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $58,080
- #151 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($101,820)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($101,000)
--- Madera, CA ($95,910)
30 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $60,640
- #255 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,350)
--- Longview, WA ($96,560)
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($95,410)
31 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $61,690
- #206 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 910

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($103,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,480)
--- Hammond, LA ($86,880)
32 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#19. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $62,230
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN ($69,400)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($68,270)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($68,190)
33 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $62,460
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($91,020)
--- Glens Falls, NY ($86,890)
--- Madison, WI ($85,750)
34 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $63,030
- #291 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($89,740)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($88,950)
35 / 50
Unsplash

#16. Crane and tower operators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $63,520
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Reading, PA ($82,410)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,220)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($81,920)
36 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $63,610
- #240 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($108,140)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($104,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,580)
37 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Insurance sales agents

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $65,340
- #125 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,960)
--- New Bedford, MA ($103,050)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($97,130)
38 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#13. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $65,590
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,050
- Employment: 52,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Coeur d'Alene, ID ($77,130)
--- Tyler, TX ($72,760)
--- Eugene, OR ($71,230)
39 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#12. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $66,630
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,360
- Employment: 5,060
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($119,300)
--- Salinas, CA ($117,330)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($109,080)
40 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $68,680
- #142 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Fe, NM ($94,880)
--- Kingston, NY ($91,660)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($90,850)
41 / 50
Pixabay

#10. Meter readers, utilities

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $69,960
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $46,250
- Employment: 30,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,620)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($72,950)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($72,520)
42 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#9. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $73,890
- #100 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Redding, CA ($116,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($111,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,670)
43 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $74,010
- #187 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($116,640)
--- Raleigh, NC ($112,570)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($110,260)
44 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#7. Commercial pilots

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $75,700
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($164,720)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($139,920)
--- Jackson, MS ($136,010)
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $79,780
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($125,850)
--- Anchorage, AK ($122,370)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($122,130)
46 / 50
Canva

#5. Transportation inspectors

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $80,330
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($120,180)
--- Anchorage, AK ($105,450)
--- Oklahoma City, OK ($101,660)
47 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#4. Power plant operators

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $81,900
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,470)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,500)
--- Modesto, CA ($102,510)
48 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $85,770
- #227 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($151,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,220)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($139,860)
49 / 50
Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $91,720
- #114 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($189,800)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($180,940)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($178,670)
50 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#1. Power distributors and dispatchers

Boise, ID
- Annual mean salary: $103,630
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($136,810)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($127,700)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($121,450)

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