Salary depends on many factors such as the location, type of the company, the position and various other conditions. Here below you can see an Overview chart displaying average salary for a high school graduate.
The average salary for a high school graduate is $35,000 per year.
Average salary for a high school graduate
You’ve gotten your high school diploma! You’re ready to face the world and start making money! (Or, perhaps you’ve already graduated from college, but you want to know what your high school graduate friends are making in their first job.) Either way, it never hurts to have information about how much people make when they start out and where that salary goes.
$28,665 per year (as of 2015)
The average salary for a high school graduate in the U.S. is $28,665 per year, which means that if you’re graduating from high school right now, you’re probably looking at an annual salary of around $28k — but this number can vary quite a bit depending on where in the country you live and work.
In California, for example:
- The average salary for a high school graduate working in San Jose (Silicon Valley) is $36k per year.
- The average salary for a high school graduate working in Sacramento is $32k per year (still more than double what most other states pay).
$795-$843 biweekly during the school year
- $795 – 843 biweekly during the school year
- $17,500 – 19,500 annually during the summer
In California:
- $812 biweekly during the school year
- $18,000 annually for a full time job during summer vacation
$150 biweekly during summer break
You can expect to make $150 biweekly during the summer break. This means you’ll be paid $300 a month, which is $2,400 yearly.
Summer break usually lasts two months and runs from July 1st through August 31st of each year.
$1,000 to $1,250 monthly in retirement income
As you can probably imagine, having a high school degree does not guarantee a comfortable retirement. In fact, the average monthly retirement income for high school graduates is between $1,000 and $1,250 per month ($12,500 per year). This is slightly higher than the average Social Security benefit amount (which is currently $1,214), but it’s also important to note that these numbers are based on median incomes—not averages—and so they may not perfectly reflect what your individual situation will look like.
The good news is that whether or not you were able to finish high school doesn’t preclude you from receiving Social Security benefits altogether. If you have fewer than 10 years of work experience or less than 40 credits toward a GED (or equivalent), then you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI differs from traditional Social Security in that it’s designed specifically for people with disabilities who have limited financial resources; however, this means it has several eligibility requirements including:
- being blind or disabled as defined by SSA criteria;
- being at least 18 years old but under 65 years old;
- having limited income and assets;
3.2% annual increase in salary
The average high school graduate can expect to make $28,665 per year. During the school year, this translates to between $795 and $843 biweekly.
Average salary for a high school graduate
An average salary for a high school graduate is $34,000. In different states, the average salary for a high school graduate can be as low as $24,000 or as high as $50,000. Industries that pay less than the national average for a high school graduate include manufacturing and transportation. Industries that pay more than the national average for a high school graduate include utilities and finance. Countries where you can expect to earn more than if you were working in America include Japan ($44k), Germany ($42k) and Switzerland ($41k). Cities where you’ll find higher-paying jobs in America include Washington DC ($49k), Chicago IL (48k) and San Francisco CA (47k).
Conclusion
So there you have it: $28,665 per year or a failry modest $1,000 to $1,250 monthly in retirement income. Now that you know what the average is, you can make an informed decision about whether or not going forward with your education will pay off for you.
