High-Paying Jobs That Only Require a High School Diploma

So, you've gradated from high school, and now you're looking to see what's next. As it turns out, there are plenty of high-paying jobs that only require a high school diploma and are currently in demand. College isn't always the route high school graduates go when it comes to careers. So, if you're just out of high school or know someone who is, don't fret. There's a whole big world of job opportunities out there waiting for you.

U.S. News recently released its 100 Best Jobs ranking, and some of those jobs only require a high school diploma. "No single job suits all of us, but many of the best ones have a few attributes in common: They pay well, challenge us year after year, match our talents and skills, aren't too stressful, offer room to advance throughout our careers, and provide a satisfying work-life balance," they note. They add that high school graduates have some stellar options for careers, and that while some jobs require some postsecondary training, you don't need to go into college debt to get that training.

Of those 100 Best Jobs, the experts at U.S. News say the best job for graduates with a high school diploma is a Hearing Aid Specialist. Their median salary is $59,020, and their expected job growth by 2032 is 14.5%. "Hearing aid specialists help individuals with hearing loss to fit, select, and maintain their hearing aids and enhance their quality of life," U.S. News notes. To become a Hearing Aid Specialist, you can get a degree in hearing instrument fitting and dispensing or get on-the-job training. Another good job they recommend is a Community Health Worker, which is No. 2 on their tally of great gigs for high school graduates. Their median salary is $46,190, and their expected job growth by 2032 is 14.1%. This job entails being the point person for social services and health services providers. You can get started in the field with a high school diploma and on-the-job training, according to U.S. News.

Indeed.com has a separate story out about great jobs for those who only have a high school diploma. No. 1 on their tally is a Dispensing Optician, which has a national average salary of $43,777. Dispensing Opticians "take care of administrative tasks like scheduling appointments and answering customers' questions," according to Indeed.com. To qualify, they have to do on-the-job training and could be required to obtain a license in some states. Many who go this route do an apprenticeship. I hope this list comes in handy for your future job searches.

There are simple habits of millionaires, according to experts, that you can do now to help transform your finances. If you've been in the hole financially, then the idea of becoming a millionaire might seem out of reach. But, you can certainly learn from millionaires, and they can help you reach your financial goals. You really don't have anything to lose by adopting these easy, simple habits of millionaires, so get ready to learn about what behaviors to change and cashing in.

Before we get to those simple habits of millionaires that you can do now, let's look at some facts about millionaires. According to the Global Wealth Report 2023 by Credit Suisse, there were around 59.4 million millionaires in the world in 2022, a number that was down by about 3.5 million over the course of the year. What's really wild is that most adults in the world were making less than $10,000 a year in 2022, according to the report, coming in at around 53% of all adults in the world. Adults making between $10,000 and $100,000 increased the most, so far, this century, as they more than tripled from 503 million in 2000 to 1.8 billion in 2022. Their average annual income was about $33,573, which accounts for around 40% of the global average wealth.

So, what about billionaires? According to Forbes.com, "There are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021." They added, "They're richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021." The No. 1 richest person in the world surprised me, and it may surprise you, too. According to Forbes, it's Bernard Arnault & family, with a net worth of $233 Billion. They're in France, and their industry is fashion and retail. "Bernard Arnault oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora." I had no idea that when I shopped at Sephora, I was helping out the richest man in the world. Coming in at No. 2 is Elon Musk, who's worth around $195 billion. He lives in the United States. "Elon Musk cofounded six companies, including electric car maker Tesla, rocket producer SpaceX and tunneling startup Boring Company," Forbes states. Finally, No. 3 on the tally is Jeff Bezos, who's net worth is $194 billion. He founded e-commerce website Amazon in 1994. Now, let's get into some simple habits of millionaires that you can do now, according to financial experts interviewed by CNBC.com, Finance.yahoo.com and more.

Cars lose their value quickly. That's why buying a used car is usually much less expensive than a new car. The second that car is off the lot, it's considered used and drops in value thousands, even with just another mile on the car. That said, according to CNBC.com, wealthy people buy, don't lease, their cars and keep them long-term. That way, they can save money between car purchases.

According to RamseySolutions.com, "Millionaires spend most of their lives sacrificing temporary pleasures for long-term success. They have no problem buying an older used car, living in a modest neighborhood, and wearing inexpensive clothes. They don’t care about keeping up with the Joneses." So, instead of picking up all the hot, expensive new stuff, wait it out.

If you're a newbie to financial planning, listen to some podcasts on the subject or find a helpful book. Finance.yahoo.com says, "knowing how to become a millionaire isn't innate, even for most wealthy people." Research from certified financial planner and CPA Tom Corley shows that "63 percent of wealthy people listen to audio books during their commute to work versus 5 percent of poor people," says Finance.yahoo.com.

In the same Finance.yahoo.com story, Corley says that networking is huge when it comes to becoming a millionaire. "On his Rich Habits blog, Corley revealed 79 percent of wealthy individuals network at least five hours per month, compared with only 16 percent of poor people," they explain. So, get out there, and meet new people who could make up your network.

Millionaires are frugal. They don't splurge like you might expect. According to RamseySolutions.com's The National Study of Millionaires, nearly half of millionaires in their poll said they save at least 16% of their monthly income. They often use it for an emergency fund or liquid cash.

CNBC.com's Select asked Faron Daugs, certified financial planner, founder and CEO at Harrison Wallace Financial Group, "about the financial habits his wealthiest clients all share that could apply to the average person." One big thing he mentioned was building up emergency funds and then investing. "Daugs says his clients have organized investment plans, whether its in stocks, bonds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs)," CNBC explains. He also recommends having a "monthly or bi-monthly automatic transfer of cash from your checking account into an investment account."

According to Fool.com, the wealthy "invest in stocks, real estate, and their own businesses." They add that, "Millionaires put their money into appreciating assets (assets that can grow in value)." Also, "people with net worths of $1 million or higher tend to have more of their money" in stocks and mutual funds; real estate; and business interests.

Whatever your financial situation, look at the bright side. Look for opportunities for working with what you have and growing your nest egg. Reach out to experts in the financial field if you're really stumped and see how they can make your financial dreams come true.

Wherever you are on your financial journey, don't give up. It can be temping to just throw everything to the wind, but if you take a more level-headed approach, you'll have a better chance of coming out successful. Good luck on your financial journey.