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-paying jobs for high school graduates in Greenville, NC using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2020 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay the most for high school graduates.
1 / 50Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#50. Billing and posting clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $37,260 (#246 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 340
National
– Annual mean salary: $41,610
– Employment: 445,160
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($57,240)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,200)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($51,800)
– Job description: Compile, compute, and record billing, accounting, statistical, and other numerical data for billing purposes. Prepare billing invoices for services rendered or for delivery or shipment of goods.
2 / 50Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
#49. Carpenters
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $37,400 (#353 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 330
National
– Annual mean salary: $54,200
– Employment: 699,300
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($82,950)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($82,300)
— Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($79,870)
– Job description: Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
3 / 50Hulton Archive // Getty Images
#48. Electricians
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $37,580 (#385 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 330
National
– Annual mean salary: $61,550
– Employment: 656,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
— Trenton, NJ ($90,210)
— Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
– Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.
4 / 50fizkes // Shutterstock
#47. Public safety telecommunicators
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $38,510 (#192 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 90
National
– Annual mean salary: $45,800
– Employment: 93,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,230)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($88,100)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($79,340)
– Job description: Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers. Take information from the public and other sources regarding crimes, threats, disturbances, acts of terrorism, fires, medical emergencies, and other public safety matters. May coordinate and provide information to law enforcement and emergency response personnel. May access sensitive databases and other information sources as needed. May provide additional instructions to callers based on knowledge of and certification in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical procedures.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
5 / 50Daniel M Ernst // Shutterstock
#46. Eligibility interviewers, government programs
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $39,110 (#199 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 140
National
– Annual mean salary: $47,990
– Employment: 138,820
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($81,300)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,580)
— Napa, CA ($66,690)
– Job description: Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
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6 / 50Efired // Shutterstock
#45. Bill and account collectors
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $39,200 (#136 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $40,630
– Employment: 222,030
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($63,320)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($58,950)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($58,950)
– Job description: Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer’s account, preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond, initiating repossession proceedings or service disconnection, and keeping records of collection and status of accounts.
7 / 50Lee Charlie // Shutterstock
#44. Court, municipal, and license clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $39,660 (#171 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $43,490
– Employment: 156,100
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($68,710)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($61,870)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($60,980)
– Job description: Perform clerical duties for courts of law, municipalities, or governmental licensing agencies and bureaus. May prepare docket of cases to be called; secure information for judges and court; prepare draft agendas or bylaws for town or city council; answer official correspondence; keep fiscal records and accounts; issue licenses or permits; and record data, administer tests, or collect fees.
8 / 50Pixabay
#43. Maintenance and repair workers, general
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $40,040 (#242 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 590
National
– Annual mean salary: $43,790
– Employment: 1,357,630
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($58,140)
— Yuba City, CA ($57,930)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($54,820)
– Job description: Perform work involving the skills of two or more maintenance or craft occupations to keep machines, mechanical equipment, or the structure of a building in repair. Duties may involve pipe fitting; HVAC maintenance; insulating; welding; machining; carpentry; repairing electrical or mechanical equipment; installing, aligning, and balancing new equipment; and repairing buildings, floors, or stairs.
9 / 50Paul Sableman // Flickr
#42. Bus drivers, transit and intercity
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $41,170 (#78 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $48,110
– Employment: 162,850
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($66,380)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($63,390)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($63,300)
– Job description: Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.
10 / 50John Leung // Shutterstock
#41. Brickmasons and blockmasons
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $41,680 (#163 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $58,420
– Employment: 59,940
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Duluth, MN-WI ($90,610)
— Providence-Warwick, RI-MA ($90,290)
— Pittsfield, MA ($90,070)
– Job description: Lay and bind building materials, such as brick, structural tile, concrete block, cinder block, glass block, and terra-cotta block, with mortar and other substances, to construct or repair walls, partitions, arches, sewers, and other structures.
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11 / 50Philip Lange // Shutterstock
#40. Highway maintenance workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $42,290 (#158 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $43,200
– Employment: 149,890
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($72,040)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($66,270)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($65,290)
– Job description: Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.
12 / 50Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#39. Payroll and timekeeping clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $42,890 (#223 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $48,290
– Employment: 133,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($64,470)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($63,300)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($62,600)
– Job description: Compile and record employee time and payroll data. May compute employees’ time worked, production, and commission. May compute and post wages and deductions, or prepare paychecks.
13 / 50U.S. Air Force photo // Airman 1st Class Greg Erwin
#38. Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $43,110 (#99 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $42,140
– Employment: 137,510
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($64,780)
— Portsmouth, NH-ME ($64,240)
— Harrisonburg, VA ($61,990)
– Job description: Set up, operate, or tend spraying or rolling machines to coat or paint any of a wide variety of products, including glassware, cloth, ceramics, metal, plastic, paper, or wood, with lacquer, silver, copper, rubber, varnish, glaze, enamel, oil, or rust-proofing materials. Includes painters of transportation vehicles such as painters in auto body repair facilities.
14 / 50Canva
#37. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $44,000 (#261 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 130
National
– Annual mean salary: $55,280
– Employment: 402,870
– Metros with highest average pay:
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,440)
— Barnstable Town, MA ($93,620)
— Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($93,320)
– Job description: Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
15 / 50London Metropolitan Archives/Heritage Images // Getty Images
#36. Machinists
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $44,030 (#245 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $47,800
– Employment: 360,340
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($68,950)
— Anchorage, AK ($64,610)
— Farmington, NM ($64,190)
– Job description: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
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16 / 50Zivica Kerkez // Shutterstock
#35. Loan interviewers and clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $44,120 (#92 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $42,780
– Employment: 204,100
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Danbury, CT ($53,960)
— North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL ($52,670)
— Boulder, CO ($52,430)
– Job description: Interview loan applicants to elicit information; investigate applicants’ backgrounds and verify references; prepare loan request papers; and forward findings, reports, and documents to appraisal department. Review loan papers to ensure completeness, and complete transactions between loan establishment, borrowers, and sellers upon approval of loan.
17 / 50Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock
#34. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $44,650 (#135 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $52,750
– Employment: 160,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,350)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,220)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($73,740)
– Job description: Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
18 / 50FrameStockFootages // Shutterstock
#33. First-line supervisors of personal service and entertainment and recreation workers, except gambling services
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $45,090 (#114 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 80
National
– Annual mean salary: $45,820
– Employment: 174,860
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL ($61,470)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($59,540)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,030)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of entertainment and recreation related workers.
19 / 50Pixabay
#32. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $45,850 (#168 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 290
National
– Annual mean salary: $46,690
– Employment: 397,550
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Fairbanks, AK ($75,080)
— Wheeling, WV-OH ($74,970)
— Anchorage, AK ($73,790)
– Job description: Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.
20 / 50DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock
#31. Chefs and head cooks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $46,540 (#205 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $58,740
– Employment: 101,490
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($98,210)
— Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($90,840)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($86,460)
– Job description: Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
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21 / 50Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock
#30. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $46,610 (#144 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 30
National
– Annual mean salary: $62,400
– Employment: 50,660
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($95,240)
— Madison, WI ($90,020)
— Salinas, CA ($87,650)
– Job description: Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
22 / 50Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock
#29. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $47,550 (#204 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 40
National
– Annual mean salary: $54,040
– Employment: 103,730
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Anchorage, AK ($85,110)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($77,260)
— Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA ($76,940)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in landscaping or groundskeeping activities. Work may involve reviewing contracts to ascertain service, machine, and workforce requirements; answering inquiries from potential customers regarding methods, material, and price ranges; and preparing estimates according to labor, material, and machine costs.
23 / 50Rob Kim // Getty Images
#28. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $47,580 (#129 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 740
National
– Annual mean salary: $47,300
– Employment: 1,063,110
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($62,180)
— Yakima, WA ($61,710)
— Sheboygan, WI ($61,610)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
24 / 50Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#27. Insurance sales agents
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $47,740 (#327 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 230
National
– Annual mean salary: $69,100
– Employment: 409,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,540)
— Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($105,840)
— Fond du Lac, WI ($105,190)
– Job description: Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
25 / 50Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock
#26. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $49,100 (#253 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 190
National
– Annual mean salary: $61,100
– Employment: 417,440
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,100)
— Fairbanks, AK ($94,280)
— Kankakee, IL ($93,420)
– Job description: Assemble, install, alter, and repair pipelines or pipe systems that carry water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases. May install heating and cooling equipment and mechanical control systems. Includes sprinkler fitters.
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26 / 50Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#25. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $50,370 (#62 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 410
National
– Annual mean salary: $44,580
– Employment: 549,200
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Odessa, TX ($85,040)
— Fairbanks, AK ($80,520)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,990)
– Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
27 / 50Jat306 // Shutterstock
#24. Millwrights
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $50,560 (#105 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $59,080
– Employment: 44,400
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Elmira, NY ($94,190)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($90,570)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,090)
– Job description: Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.
28 / 50Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#23. Advertising sales agents
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $50,630 (#163 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 30
National
– Annual mean salary: $68,040
– Employment: 110,040
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($112,850)
— Winston-Salem, NC ($104,930)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($92,370)
– Job description: Sell or solicit advertising space, time, or media in publications, signage, TV, radio, or Internet establishments or public spaces.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
29 / 50Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $52,300 (#273 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 190
National
– Annual mean salary: $65,230
– Employment: 503,390
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,040)
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($89,100)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,180)
– Job description: Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.
30 / 50Kot500 // Shutterstock
#21. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $52,490 (#103 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 120
National
– Annual mean salary: $52,090
– Employment: 253,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,320)
— New Bedford, MA ($75,110)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,460)
– Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
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31 / 50Avatar_023 // Shutterstock
#20. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $52,510 (#130 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 100
National
– Annual mean salary: $51,890
– Employment: 119,380
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,130)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($89,730)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,080)
– Job description: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
32 / 50Unsplash
#19. Crane and tower operators
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $52,740 (#85 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 50
National
– Annual mean salary: $64,010
– Employment: 44,060
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($89,250)
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($84,670)
— Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($84,410)
– Job description: Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
33 / 50Erin Deleon // Shutterstock
#18. Postal service mail carriers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $53,510 (#88 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 180
National
– Annual mean salary: $53,180
– Employment: 333,570
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bismarck, ND ($56,520)
— Burlington, NC ($55,750)
— Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($55,680)
– Job description: Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS). Deliver mail on established route by vehicle or on foot. Includes postal service mail carriers employed by USPS contractors.
34 / 50rlat // Shutterstock
#17. Postal service clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $54,200 (#43 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 40
National
– Annual mean salary: $51,200
– Employment: 86,950
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Monroe, MI ($58,120)
— El Centro, CA ($58,000)
— Houma-Thibodaux, LA ($57,330)
– Job description: Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money orders; place mail in pigeon holes of mail rack or in bags; and examine mail for correct postage. Includes postal service clerks employed by USPS contractors.
35 / 50welcomia // Shutterstock
#16. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $55,240 (#131 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 150
National
– Annual mean salary: $57,000
– Employment: 147,680
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Urban Honolulu, HI ($84,460)
— Fairbanks, AK ($81,920)
— Bismarck, ND ($78,350)
– Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
36 / 50sculpies // Shutterstock
#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $56,110 (#358 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 460
National
– Annual mean salary: $72,990
– Employment: 614,080
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,870)
— Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($103,930)
— Santa Rosa, CA ($100,620)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of construction or extraction workers.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
37 / 50GaudiLab // Shutterstock
#14. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $57,100 (#186 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 460
National
– Annual mean salary: $62,010
– Employment: 1,427,260
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
— Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.
38 / 50Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
#13. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $57,500 (#174 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 70
National
– Annual mean salary: $73,210
– Employment: 219,800
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($117,770)
— New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($113,800)
— Boulder, CO ($107,230)
– Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
39 / 50G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock
#12. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $57,870 (#33 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $52,000
– Employment: 362,090
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($69,410)
— Pine Bluff, AR ($68,850)
— Portsmouth, NH-ME ($66,920)
– Job description: Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.
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#11. Construction and building inspectors
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $58,390 (#168 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 40
National
– Annual mean salary: $66,470
– Employment: 113,770
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,920)
— Salinas, CA ($98,360)
– Job description: Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
41 / 50Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images
#10. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $60,530 (#195 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 390
National
– Annual mean salary: $70,490
– Employment: 977,070
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
— Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
— Boulder, CO ($94,870)
– Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.
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#9. Automotive body and related repairers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $61,250 (#17 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: data not available
National
– Annual mean salary: $49,430
– Employment: 137,120
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Santa Rosa, CA ($81,730)
— Midland, TX ($76,760)
— Raleigh, NC ($75,460)
– Job description: Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
43 / 50Prath // Shutterstock
#8. Detectives and criminal investigators
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $61,850 (#224 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 60
National
– Annual mean salary: $89,300
– Employment: 105,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($127,380)
— Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,090)
— Anchorage, AK ($126,530)
– Job description: Conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
44 / 50SritanaN // Shutterstock
#7. Industrial machinery mechanics
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $64,630 (#44 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 180
National
– Annual mean salary: $57,350
– Employment: 385,980
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($84,180)
— San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($84,150)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,580)
– Job description: Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
45 / 504 PM production // Shutterstock
#6. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $67,240 (#244 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 290
National
– Annual mean salary: $73,100
– Employment: 475,000
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($95,680)
— Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,140)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,810)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of mechanics, installers, and repairers. May also advise customers on recommended services. Excludes team or work leaders.
46 / 50Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
#5. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $69,370 (#102 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 310
National
– Annual mean salary: $66,800
– Employment: 599,900
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
— Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
— Longview, WA ($99,590)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.
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#4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $71,730 (#254 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 110
National
– Annual mean salary: $97,180
– Employment: 122,310
– Metros with highest average pay:
— San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($200,090)
— San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,810)
— Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($182,720)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of police force.
48 / 50Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
#3. Food service managers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $73,690 (#37 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 90
National
– Annual mean salary: $61,000
– Employment: 197,010
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($97,610)
— Trenton, NJ ($95,640)
— Waterbury, CT ($88,100)
– Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages.https://ae41d56d98ee01271d7f2dd8e9b0f532.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
49 / 50Stock Rocket // Shutterstock
#2. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $75,670 (#73 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 560
National
– Annual mean salary: $73,500
– Employment: 1,278,670
– Metros with highest average pay:
— Danbury, CT ($112,810)
— Napa, CA ($101,850)
— Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
– Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
50 / 50g-stockstudio // Shutterstock
#1. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
Greenville, NC
– Annual mean salary: $93,800 (#60 highest pay among all metros)
– Employment: 160
National
– Annual mean salary: $90,120
– Employment: 240,290
– Metros with highest average pay:
— La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN ($124,150)
— Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($122,460)
— Leominster-Gardner, MA ($119,130)
– Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.