Harrison & Burrowes offering high school grads $47 an hour

America’s youth can ditch the college degree and make nearly six figures without it.

A New York construction company is hiring high school graduates and offering full benefits — even for those who are without a college degree.

Graduates can be offered a full-time position, paying up to $47 an hour, after they complete a summer apprenticeship for the company.

Harrison & Burrowes owner and COO Chris DiStefano spoke with “Fox & Friends” on Thursday morning about giving students without a college degree an opportunity to work full time.

“College isn’t for everybody — and with the rising cost of tuition, we can provide a great opportunity for those folks that the path to college might not be the best path for them,” he said.

With a main office in Albany, New York, DiStefano said his company gives upcoming senior-year students the opportunity to work up to 200 hours and complete a summer apprenticeship.

From there, students can be offered a full-time position pending graduation.

“When they come on, they can come on at 18 years old and make a steady wage and have a sustainable career going forward,” he said.

Is DiStefano optimistic about having a strong workforce? He said it is a challenge today to find qualified people.

“We’re taking it very seriously and doing all the things on our end to make a sustainable future,” he said.

The construction company focuses on building, maintaining and repairing bridges at a competitive rate.

The decision for high school graduates to forgo college can be made for many reasons.

However, in many cases, having a college degree has been shown to pay off in the long run.

The US Census Bureau’s “Fun Facts: Back-to-School” report found that “education paid off” for adult workers in 2020, as annual salaries rose with each education level. American adults without a high school diploma and an education below ninth grade made nearly $32,000 per year, on average, while high school graduates and GED recipients made $39,000. College graduates with bachelor’s degrees made about $73,000.