Highest paying jobs in Reno for high school graduates

Written by:
March 22, 2021
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

Highest paying jobs in Reno 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 Reno, NV 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
New Africa // Shutterstock

#50. First-line supervisors of housekeeping and janitorial workers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $49,330
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,160
- Employment: 155,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($65,070)
--- New Haven, CT ($64,530)
--- Lima, OH ($61,580)
2 / 50
Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock

#49. Eligibility interviewers, government programs

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $49,420
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,110
- Employment: 139,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,890)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,450)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($64,900)
3 / 50
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock

#48. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $49,500
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,850
- Employment: 29,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($66,310)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($64,890)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($60,410)
4 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#47. Postal service clerks

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $49,690
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)
5 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#46. Industrial machinery mechanics

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $50,850
- #260 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

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)
6 / 50
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#45. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $50,910
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- Employment: 168,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,580)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($74,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,990)
7 / 50
Lee Charlie // Shutterstock

#44. Court, municipal, and license clerks

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $50,960
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260

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)
8 / 50
Pixabay

#43. Surveying and mapping technicians

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $51,160
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

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)
9 / 50
Forestfolks // Flickr

#42. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $51,170
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $42,760
- Employment: 29,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Joplin, MO ($66,990)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($63,800)
--- Racine, WI ($61,580)
10 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $51,440
- #90 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)
11 / 50
Efired // Shutterstock

#39 (tie). Bill and account collectors

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,300
- Employment: 235,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($56,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($55,830)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($54,910)
12 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#39 (tie). Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- #34 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)
13 / 50
Sabel Blanco // Pexels

#38. Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $52,260
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $45,110
- Employment: 325,500
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($64,860)
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($64,310)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($62,880)
14 / 50
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

#37. Carpenters

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $52,760
- #88 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,850
- Employment: 734,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($78,650)
--- Salinas, CA ($74,350)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($74,280)
15 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#36. Postal service mail carriers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $52,940
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

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)
16 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $55,080
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540

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)
17 / 50
Canva

#34. Automotive body and related repairers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $55,180
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

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)
18 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#33. Electricians

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $55,630
- #181 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,310

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)
19 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#32. Chefs and head cooks

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $55,980
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

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)
20 / 50
Viktoriia Hnatiuk // Shutterstock

#31. Travel agents

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $56,120
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,690
- Employment: 66,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charlottesville, VA ($62,060)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($57,200)
--- Reno, NV ($56,120)
21 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $56,180
- #156 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,940

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)
22 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#29. Advertising sales agents

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $56,300
- #120 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

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)
23 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $57,220
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,790

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)
24 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#27. Food service managers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $57,720
- #168 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

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)
25 / 50
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $58,160
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($77,450)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($72,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($71,740)
26 / 50
fizkes // Shutterstock

#25. Public safety telecommunicators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $58,540
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,310
- Employment: 95,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,620)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($75,570)
27 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#24. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $59,630
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

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)
28 / 50
GolF2532 // Shutterstock

#23. Security and fire alarm systems installers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $59,710
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 90

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)
29 / 50
Kot500 // Shutterstock

#22. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,360
- Employment: 266,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($69,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,840)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($67,900)
30 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#21. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- #81 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

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)
31 / 50
Vera Larina // Shutterstock

#20. Sheet metal workers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $61,370
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)
32 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $62,750
- #308 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

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)
33 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $63,350
- #201 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800

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)
34 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#17. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $63,930
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820

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)
35 / 50
Canva

#16. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $66,070
- #61 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,640)
--- Kankakee, IL ($87,470)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,240)
36 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#15. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

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)
37 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $67,470
- #129 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)
38 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $67,910
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,170

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)
39 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $68,930
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,730

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)
40 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $73,210
- #89 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

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)
41 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#10. Insurance sales agents

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $73,470
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

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)
42 / 50
Canva

#9. Construction and building inspectors

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $73,640
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

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)
43 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#8. Real estate brokers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $74,190
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

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)
44 / 50
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#7. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $75,130
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 123,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,560)
45 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#6. Commercial pilots

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $88,860
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

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)
46 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Lodging managers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $93,600
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($110,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,250)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($97,090)
47 / 50
Pixabay

#4. Gambling managers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $94,020
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,700
- Employment: 4,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,300)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($105,720)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($105,410)
48 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $94,790
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

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
Prath // Shutterstock

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $95,860
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

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)
50 / 50
Canva

#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Reno, NV
- Annual mean salary: $107,420
- #41 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

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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