These are five of the best paying jobs in California if you only graduated high school

For more than 5 million Californians, a high school diploma is the highest level of education they’ve attained. That’s enough for these higher-earning jobs.

A 2023 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau found that, more specifically, about 20% of Californians who are 25 years old or older only have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

It comes amid changing perspectives on the value of higher education, as a Pew Research Center survey found that 40% of U.S. adults say a four-year college degree isn’t too important or “not at all important” in getting a well-paying job.

While California’s minimum wage is $16 — and will remain so as voters rejected a measure to raise it to $18 per unofficial election results – what a Californian needs to make to cover their basic needs is about $11 more.

That’s based on the Living Wage Calculator, which calculates what a person working full time must earn hourly to cover basic needs, including food, housing, and health care, in their area. For an adult with no children in California, that’s $27.32 — based on figures last updated in February.

So, if you’re trying to determine what field to enter, we’ve compiled a list of jobs that typically only need entrants to have a high school diploma or the equivalent. These are jobs with a median hourly wage higher than the living wage for California. Some of these jobs require relevant work experience and on-the-job training.

What are the best-paying jobs in California for people without a college degree?

The following five jobs are among the highest-paying jobs in California from 2022 to 2032, in which only a high school diploma or the equivalent is typically needed to enter the job. This is based on the state’s long-term occupational employment projections data. We’ve also included the total job openings. These figures reflect the projected total job openings, whether from industry growth to people leaving the industry, from 2022 to 2032 to give job seekers a better idea of how competitive it may be to get a foot in the door.

First-line supervisors of police and detectives

For example, police chiefs or police captains, according to ONET, a database for occupational information.

• Total job openings: 5,950
• Median annual wage in 2023 dollars: $167,118

More: Five in-demand jobs you don’t need a college degree to pursue

Electrical power-line installers and repairers

• Total job openings: 8,770
• Median annual wage in 2023 dollars: $108,185

Power plant operators

This refers to people involved in operating, controlling or maintaining the machinery generating electricity, not nuclear power, said the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Total job openings: 1,880
• Median annual wage in 2023 dollars: $106,370

Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators and gaugers

This refers to people operating or controlling petroleum refining or processing units, so think industries such as oil and gas extraction or petroleum and coal products manufacturing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Total job openings: 2,330
• Median annual wage in 2023 dollars: $105,203

Correctional officers and jailers

People who guard inmates or may guard prisoners who are in transit to jails or courtrooms said ONET.

• Total job openings: 24,600
• Median annual wage in 2023 dollars: $93,253

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at pbarraza@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.