Annalise Mantz

Highest-paying jobs for high school graduates

Here's a riddle: What do anesthesiologists, lawyers, aerospace engineers, and financial advisors have in common? They're all listed as the highest-paying jobs in America —and all require at least a college degree. Turns out, your guidance counselors were right when they said going to college would lead to a bright future.

According to February 2025 data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York , the average recent college graduate earns $60,000 a year, while the average high school graduate takes home just $40,000. To put it in perspective, the average annual wage for all workers in the United States is $66,621, according to the Social Security Administration.

Of course, not everyone wants to or can afford to attend co

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