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The 15 best entry-level jobs for new college and high school grads

The 15 best entry-level jobs for new college and high school grads
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  • 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.

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.

15. Licensed practical nurse

15. Licensed practical nurse
AzmanL/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 17.24%

Average annual salary: $54,987

14. Entry-level field technician

14. Entry-level field technician
SARINYAPINNGAM/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 45.45%

Average annual salary: $55,000

13. Correctional officer

13. Correctional officer
Andrew Kuhn/Merced Sun-Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 21.43%

Average annual salary: $55,500

12. Sterile processing technician

12. Sterile processing technician
Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 38.46%

Average annual salary: $57,031

11. Cable technician

11. Cable technician
FastGlassPhotos/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 80.00%

Average annual salary: $58,912

10. Entry-level installation technician

10. Entry-level installation technician
tongpatong/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 213.64%

Average annual salary: $60,000

9. Entry-level insurance agent

9. Entry-level insurance agent
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Percent change in job share: 41.03%

Average annual salary: $60,253

8. Entry-level sales representative

8. Entry-level sales representative
VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 27.17%

Average annual salary: $62,361

7. Entry-level civil engineer

7. Entry-level civil engineer
ilkercelik/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 26.09%

Average annual salary: $65,352

6. Business analyst

6. Business analyst
LumiNola/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 23.81%

Average annual salary: $66,394

5. Police officer

5. Police officer
Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 15.38%

Average annual salary: $69,703

4. Mental health technician

4. Mental health technician
svetikd/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 45.8%

Average annual salary: $75,322

3. Registered nurse — medical/surgical

3. Registered nurse — medical/surgical
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 24.00%

Average annual salary: $77,281

2. Quality engineer

2. Quality engineer
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 84.62%

Average annual salary: $79,925

1. Entry-level inspector

1. Entry-level inspector
SBDIGIT/Getty Images

Percent change in job share: 50.00%

Average annual salary: $80,253


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