High paying jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY run 0.4% below the national average (2024), so a Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

OccupationMedian, Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$127,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,190 – $131,550460
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$118,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,130 – $151,020660
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,480 – $174,240390
4Power Plant Operators$103,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,910 – $142,310150
5Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$102,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,970 – $121,590260
6Detectives and Criminal Investigators$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,670 – $124,860960
7Dental Hygienists$98,030
Associate's degree
$79,920 – $103,990730
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$97,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,970 – $155,560700
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,040
Associate's degree
$81,230 – $109,610290
10First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$87,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,330 – $125,4501,410
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$85,590
Associate's degree
$65,530 – $101,680670
12Respiratory Therapists$85,250
Associate's degree
$72,900 – $100,520300
13Chefs and Head Cooks$84,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,640 – $96,730470
14First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$84,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,320 – $125,150210
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$83,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,440 – $126,7101,840
16Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,570
Associate's degree
$58,340 – $103,170200
17Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$82,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,020 – $128,9501,000
18Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,480
Associate's degree
$51,950 – $101,160450
19First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,740 – $132,4701,770
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,850 – $110,9201,210
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,090 – $108,860490
22Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$78,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $140,110440
23Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,240 – $100,2701,770
24Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $116,5501,470
25Food Service Managers$77,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,440 – $113,350330
26Structural Iron and Steel Workers$77,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,350 – $97,730150
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,660 – $93,110850
28Lodging Managers$75,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,050 – $117,750170
29Electricians$74,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $106,5201,820
30Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Associate's degree
$51,240 – $87,020190
31Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,400 – $102,1203,400
32Bailiffs$74,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,180 – $95,900190
33Real Estate Sales Agents$73,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,410 – $140,050160
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$73,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,020 – $106,4404,050
35Computer Network Support Specialists$73,160
Associate's degree
$51,270 – $105,390430
36Mechanical Drafters$72,500
Associate's degree
$49,780 – $106,980160
37Insurance Sales Agents$71,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,430 – $150,8101,120
38Firefighters$70,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $82,190480
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,150 – $131,8902,850
40Advertising Sales Agents$70,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $141,840220
41Construction and Building Inspectors$69,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,590 – $109,810560
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,720 – $145,6103,060
43Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$66,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,680 – $92,960320
44Sheet Metal Workers$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $107,190280
45Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,370
Associate's degree
$39,120 – $104,140200
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$66,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,510 – $97,8101,450
47Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,300 – $93,460480
48Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$64,990
Associate's degree
$37,570 – $100,920160
49First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$64,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $88,640270
50Surgical Technologists$64,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,200 – $81,200280

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAlbany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,580	$63,190 – $131,550	460
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,150	$83,130 – $151,020	660
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,020	$74,480 – $174,240	390
4	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,300	$65,910 – $142,310	150
5	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,660	$65,970 – $121,590	260
6	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$62,670 – $124,860	960
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,030	$79,920 – $103,990	730
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,820	$64,970 – $155,560	700
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,040	$81,230 – $109,610	290
10	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,000	$53,330 – $125,450	1,410
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,590	$65,530 – $101,680	670
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$85,250	$72,900 – $100,520	300
13	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,430	$51,640 – $96,730	470
14	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,280	$58,320 – $125,150	210
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,750	$60,440 – $126,710	1,840
16	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,570	$58,340 – $103,170	200
17	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,540	$51,020 – $128,950	1,000
18	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,480	$51,950 – $101,160	450
19	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,360	$56,740 – $132,470	1,770
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,070	$54,850 – $110,920	1,210
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,610	$49,090 – $108,860	490
22	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,360	$52,040 – $140,110	440
23	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,240	$50,240 – $100,270	1,770
24	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,460	$47,050 – $116,550	1,470
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,320	$58,440 – $113,350	330
26	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,110	$52,350 – $97,730	150
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,220	$54,660 – $93,110	850
28	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,150	$38,050 – $117,750	170
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,890	$46,130 – $106,520	1,820
30	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,840	$51,240 – $87,020	190
31	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$56,400 – $102,120	3,400
32	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,030	$50,180 – $95,900	190
33	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,560	$44,410 – $140,050	160
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,360	$49,020 – $106,440	4,050
35	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,160	$51,270 – $105,390	430
36	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,500	$49,780 – $106,980	160
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,960	$44,430 – $150,810	1,120
38	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,840	$46,660 – $82,190	480
39	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,360	$46,150 – $131,890	2,850
40	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,110	$38,230 – $141,840	220
41	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,450	$46,590 – $109,810	560
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,050	$39,720 – $145,610	3,060
43	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,620	$54,680 – $92,960	320
44	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$46,340 – $107,190	280
45	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,370	$39,120 – $104,140	200
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,040	$47,510 – $97,810	1,450
47	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,960	$51,300 – $93,460	480
48	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$64,990	$37,570 – $100,920	160
49	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,900	$47,590 – $88,640	270
50	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,070	$48,200 – $81,200	280

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Other metro areas in NY

By field in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY that need no degree

More for Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Other metro areas in NY

By field in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree