20 Occupations Where Half or More of the Work Force Have Less than a High School Diploma

by Michael Davis

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The occupations where half or more of the workforce who have less than a high school diploma play a major role are listed below.

Models
Models model garments or other apparel and accessories for prospective buyers at fashion shows, private showings, or retail establishments. They may also pose for photos to be used in magazines or advertisements. They may also pose as subject for paintings, sculptures, and other types of artistic expression.
Median Annual Salary: $32,920 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 16% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 87.78%

Cooks, fast food
Cooks, fast food prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.
Median Annual Salary: $18,100 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 7.49% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 87.35%

Athletes and sports competitors
Athletes and sports competitors compete in athletic events.
Median Annual Salary: $43,740 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 11.81% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 80.65%

Slaughterers and meat packers
Slaughterers and meat packers work in slaughtering, meat packing, or wholesale establishments performing precision functions involving the preparation of meat. Work may include specialized slaughtering tasks, cutting standard or premium cuts of meat for marketing, making sausage, or wrapping meats.
Median Annual Salary: $23,380 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 4.18% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 79.97%

Plasterers and stucco masons
Plasterers and stucco masons apply interior or exterior plaster, cement, stucco, or similar materials. They may also also set ornamental plaster.
Median Annual Salary: $37,210 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 6.57% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 76.84%

Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop
Counter attendants, cafeteria, food concession, and coffee shop serve food to diners at counter or from a steam table.
Median Annual Salary: $18,370 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 9.33% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 75.49%

Sewing machine operators
Sewing machine operators operate or tend sewing machines to join, reinforce, decorate, or perform related sewing operations in the manufacture of garment or nongarment products.
Median Annual Salary: $20,600 Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 73.66%

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers
Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers facilitate food service. Clean tables, remove dirty dishes, replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.
Median Annual Salary: $18,190 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 5.55% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 73.24%

Pipelayers
Pipelayers lay pipe for storm or sanitation sewers, drains, and water mains. Perform any combination of the following tasks: grade trenches or culverts, position pipe, or seal joints.
Median Annual Salary: $34,800 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 17.16% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 71.84%

Combined food preparation and serving workers
Combined food preparation and serving workers perform duties which combine preparing and serving food and nonalcoholic beverages.
Median Annual Salary: $17,950 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 14.59% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 69.82%

Derrick operators, oil and gas
Derrick operators, oil and gas rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud through drill hole.
Median Annual Salary: $43,470 Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 68.54%

Helpers—Painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons
Helpers—Painters, paperhangers, plasterers, and stucco masons help painters, paperhangers, plasterers, or stucco masons by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include using, supplying or holding materials or tools, and cleaning work area and equipment.
Median Annual Salary: $23,290 Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 68.24%

Painting, coating, and decorating workers
Painting, coating, and decorating workers paint, coat, or decorate articles, such as furniture, glass, plateware, pottery, jewelry, toys, books, or leather.
Median Annual Salary: $24,400 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 10.22% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 66.28%

Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers
Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers use hand or hand tools to perform routine cutting and trimming of meat, poultry, and seafood.
Median Annual Salary: $22,330 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 6.36% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 65.37%

Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders operate or tend food or tobacco roasting, baking, or drying equipment, including hearth ovens, kiln driers, roasters, char kilns, and vacuum drying equipment.
Median Annual Salary: $27,140 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: .33% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 63.96%

Amusement and recreation attendants
Amusement and recreation attendants perform a variety of attending duties at amusement or recreation facility. They may also schedule use of recreation facilities, maintain and provide equipment to participants of sporting events or recreational pursuits, or operate amusement concessions and rides.
Median Annual Salary: $18,450 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 13.3% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 63.41%

Logging equipment operators
Logging equipment operators drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable winches, hoisting rack, or crane boom, to fell tree; to skid, load, unload, or stack logs; or to pull stumps or clear brush.
Median Annual Salary: $32,390 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 7.69% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 61.49%

Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall line and cover structures with insulating materials. They may also work with batt, roll, or blown insulation materials.
Median Annual Salary: $31,830 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 15.17% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 60.62%

Graders and sorters, agricultural products
Graders and sorters, agricultural products grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.
Median Annual Salary: $19,180 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: .17% Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 60.5%

Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials
Pressers, textile, garment, and related materials press or shape articles by hand or machine.
Median Annual Salary: $19,400 Percentage with Less than a High School Diploma: 60.41%