Highest paying jobs in El Paso for high school graduates

Written by:
March 22, 2021
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in El Paso 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 El Paso, TX 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
Unsplash

#50. Tax preparers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,300
- #127 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,550
- Employment: 66,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,620)
--- Abilene, TX ($74,440)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,280)
2 / 50
Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock

#49. Loan interviewers and clerks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,460
- #154 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,960
- Employment: 208,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($54,540)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($52,710)
--- Wilmington, NC ($51,390)
3 / 50
ImYanis // Shutterstock

#48. Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,610
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,880
- Employment: 26,700
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($58,890)
--- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($51,460)
--- Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI ($51,320)
4 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#47. Security and fire alarm systems installers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $40,840
- #155 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,210
- Employment: 71,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($67,650)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($66,170)
--- Anchorage, AK ($65,830)
5 / 50
Rob Kim // Getty Images

#46. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $41,080
- #293 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,830
- Employment: 1,171,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($58,960)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($58,460)
--- New Haven, CT ($58,360)
6 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#45. Industrial machinery mechanics

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $41,350
- #370 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,670)
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($82,010)
--- Manhattan, KS ($81,810)
7 / 50
Pixabay

#44. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $41,940
- #233 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,190
- Employment: 410,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Wheeling, WV-OH ($85,310)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($74,280)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($71,220)
8 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $41,990
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210

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)
9 / 50
Canva

#42. Dental laboratory technicians

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $42,000
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)
10 / 50
wandee007 // Shutterstock

#41. Earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $42,050
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- Employment: 24,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($79,010)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($66,250)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($65,570)
11 / 50
Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#40. Community health workers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $42,310
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- Employment: 58,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Manchester, NH ($72,610)
--- Trenton, NJ ($67,000)
--- Savannah, GA ($65,130)
12 / 50
Pxhere

#39. Maintenance workers, machinery

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $42,370
- #175 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)
13 / 50
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

#38. Word processors and typists

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $43,270
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,880
- Employment: 47,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($63,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($55,990)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($53,110)
14 / 50
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

#37. Court, municipal, and license clerks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $43,480
- #99 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,030
- Employment: 154,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,870)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,300)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($61,640)
15 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#36. Real estate brokers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $43,880
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)
16 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,180
- #389 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770

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)
17 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#34. Brickmasons and blockmasons

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,270
- #140 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)
18 / 50
Canva

#33. Cargo and freight agents

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $44,590
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 400

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)
19 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#32. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $45,410
- #104 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,200)
--- Springfield, IL ($97,940)
20 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#31. Insurance sales agents

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $45,780
- #333 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 840

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)
21 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $45,960
- #341 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,650

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)
22 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $46,260
- #388 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

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)
23 / 50
Roman023_photography // Shutterstock

#28. Riggers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $46,320
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,420
- Employment: 23,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,340)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($78,220)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($73,610)
24 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $47,580
- #357 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,400

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)
25 / 50
VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#26. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $48,790
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- Employment: 123,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Memphis, TN-MS-AR ($57,770)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($55,230)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($53,400)
26 / 50
Canva

#25. Construction and building inspectors

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $49,490
- #257 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

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)
27 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $49,960
- #96 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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)
28 / 50
Bigflick // Shutterstock

#23. Correctional officers and jailers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $50,450
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,130
- Employment: 423,050
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($81,280)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($79,830)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($79,710)
29 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#22. Postal service clerks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $50,700
- #183 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)
30 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#21. Chefs and head cooks

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $51,050
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($91,770)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($84,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,490)
31 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#20. Food service managers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $51,920
- #264 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)
32 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#19. Postal service mail carriers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- #140 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)
33 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- #371 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,220

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)
34 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $52,190
- #252 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 880

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)
35 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#16. Real estate sales agents

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $54,280
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

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)
36 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $55,910
- #214 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)
37 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $56,020
- #363 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 920

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)
38 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,080
- #161 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($110,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($107,190)
--- San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR ($103,530)
39 / 50
Unsplash

#12. Crane and tower operators

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $57,740
- #63 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)
40 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#11. Advertising sales agents

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $58,640
- #91 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

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)
41 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#10. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $59,570
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

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)
42 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,630
- #169 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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)
43 / 50
Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

#8. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $64,700
- #43 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,670
- Employment: 120,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rockford, IL ($90,480)
--- Fresno, CA ($89,820)
--- Redding, CA ($88,850)
44 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $65,210
- #276 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

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)
45 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#6. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $69,390
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)
46 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#5. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $76,800
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Billings, MT ($91,500)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,580)
--- Anchorage, AK ($90,400)
47 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#4. Power plant operators

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $80,600
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

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
Prath // Shutterstock

#3. Detectives and criminal investigators

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $84,500
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

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)
49 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $93,130
- #174 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)
50 / 50
Canva

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

El Paso, TX
- Annual mean salary: $117,770
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

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)

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