The 15 Best Entry-level Jobs For New College And High School Grads
AzmanL/Getty Images
- Indeed's analysis of entry-level roles found inspector was the hottest job.
- The job-search site analyzed jobs using growth in the share of postings, pay, and experience.
- The top jobs weren't just ones that typically need a bachelor's or four-year degree.
If you're looking for your first job, you might want to consider joining the ranks of licensed practical nurses, inspectors, and business analysts.
Those three jobs were among the 15 hottest entry-level positions per a post from the job-search site Indeed.
"Graduation season is upon us and with it, the imminent influx of high school and college-level Gen Z graduates into the labor market," the Indeed post stated.
The US unemployment rate for 20- to 24-year-olds was 6.7% in April, above where it stood a year prior but not as high as in this past February and March, Bureau of Labor Statistics data suggests. A report from Handshake about the class of 2024 stated, "About 7 in 10 2024 graduates are confident they will find a job or other post-graduate opportunity that will allow them to apply the skills they learned in college and build toward the career they want."
Indeed's ranking of entry-level jobs included those that had an average salary of at least $45,000, noted zero to three years of experience in the job descriptions, and was also based on growth in the share of job postings.
"The jobs on this list were identified based on positive year-over-year growth in share of postings (September 2022- March 2023 compared to September 2023- March 2024) and ranked in order of highest paying," the report stated.
Inspector ranked No. 1 on the list, which Indeed told Business Insider largely includes property and construction inspectors. The Indeed post noted that an inspector job "does not require a four-year college degree, showing that skills-first experience may be just as valuable as education." Cable technician ranked No. 11, and installation technician ranked No. 10, which tend to require only a high school diploma based on the Indeed post. Some people don't see getting a four-year degree as worth it, as seen in recent results from a Pew Research Center survey of US adults.
Below are the top 15 hottest entry-level jobs from the Indeed list.
AzmanL/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 17.24%
Average annual salary: $54,987
SARINYAPINNGAM/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 45.45%
Average annual salary: $55,000
Andrew Kuhn/Merced Sun-Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 21.43%
Average annual salary: $55,500
Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 38.46%
Average annual salary: $57,031
FastGlassPhotos/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 80.00%
Average annual salary: $58,912
tongpatong/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 213.64%
Average annual salary: $60,000
skynesher/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 41.03%
Average annual salary: $60,253
VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 27.17%
Average annual salary: $62,361
ilkercelik/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 26.09%
Average annual salary: $65,352
LumiNola/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 23.81%
Average annual salary: $66,394
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 15.38%
Average annual salary: $69,703
svetikd/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 45.8%
Average annual salary: $75,322
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 24.00%
Average annual salary: $77,281
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 84.62%
Average annual salary: $79,925
SBDIGIT/Getty Images
Percent change in job share: 50.00%
Average annual salary: $80,253
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