High paying jobs in Altoona, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Altoona, PA 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 Altoona, PA run 10.5% below the national average (2024), so a Altoona, PA salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Altoona, PA

OccupationMedian, Altoona, PA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,660 – $150,37090
2Brickmasons and Blockmasons$92,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,790 – $126,66070
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$80,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,120 – $125,07050
4First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$80,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,810 – $114,940300
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $106,33030
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,700
Associate's degree
$52,180 – $92,080110
7Dental Hygienists$75,070
Associate's degree
$66,740 – $87,46090
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,260 – $101,37030
9Computer Network Support Specialists$73,190
Associate's degree
$51,710 – $111,18030
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$72,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $103,130250
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$70,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $107,060240
12Postal Service Clerks$68,540
No formal educational credential
$61,050 – $75,03030
13Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,230
Associate's degree
$45,440 – $90,82050
14Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $65,11070
15Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $103,99080
16Construction and Building Inspectors$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,750 – $77,690100
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $100,19080
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,080 – $89,380340
19Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,130 – $86,40040
20Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,010
Associate's degree
$46,500 – $83,14040
21Real Estate Sales Agents$61,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,940 – $95,42040
22Physical Therapist Assistants$61,670
Associate's degree
$48,340 – $73,44080
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $80,70080
24Occupational Therapy Assistants$60,310
Associate's degree
$51,560 – $71,59040
25First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,420 – $90,280510
26Respiratory Therapists$59,980
Associate's degree
$53,660 – $79,55040
27Food Service Managers$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,330 – $83,010120
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,590 – $71,840630
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $128,710470
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,570 – $81,230230
31Sheet Metal Workers$58,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,080 – $78,50050
32Electricians$58,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $102,770170
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,800 – $82,940100
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $113,010260
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$57,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,260 – $74,90050
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040160
37Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,180 – $73,590220
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,580 – $60,47050
39Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,03050
40Carpenters$57,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $100,920360
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$55,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,730 – $99,35070
42Chemical Technicians$55,650
Associate's degree
$40,070 – $73,71030
43Industrial Machinery Mechanics$55,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,190 – $77,610250
44Insurance Sales Agents$55,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $119,40080
45Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$55,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $67,370250
46Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$52,990
No formal educational credential
$38,220 – $61,97050
47Machinists$52,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $62,920120
48Computer User Support Specialists$52,100
Some college, no degree
$37,000 – $81,710200
49Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $52,080160
50Surgical Technologists$52,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,650 – $62,04040

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

#	Occupation	MedianAltoona, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,920	$57,660 – $150,370	90
2	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,010	$51,790 – $126,660	70
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,580	$62,120 – $125,070	50
4	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,220	$53,810 – $114,940	300
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$49,940 – $106,330	30
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,700	$52,180 – $92,080	110
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,070	$66,740 – $87,460	90
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,780	$51,260 – $101,370	30
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,190	$51,710 – $111,180	30
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,740	$47,000 – $103,130	250
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,560	$36,220 – $107,060	240
12	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,540	$61,050 – $75,030	30
13	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,230	$45,440 – $90,820	50
14	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,110	$47,590 – $65,110	70
15	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$44,560 – $103,990	80
16	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$49,750 – $77,690	100
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$36,390 – $100,190	80
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,660	$43,080 – $89,380	340
19	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,460	$41,130 – $86,400	40
20	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,010	$46,500 – $83,140	40
21	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,910	$38,940 – $95,420	40
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,670	$48,340 – $73,440	80
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$40,100 – $80,700	80
24	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,310	$51,560 – $71,590	40
25	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$43,420 – $90,280	510
26	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$59,980	$53,660 – $79,550	40
27	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$38,330 – $83,010	120
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,680	$44,590 – $71,840	630
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,560	$36,990 – $128,710	470
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$38,570 – $81,230	230
31	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,630	$45,080 – $78,500	50
32	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,620	$37,380 – $102,770	170
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,550	$38,800 – $82,940	100
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,970	$32,810 – $113,010	260
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,820	$39,260 – $74,900	50
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	160
37	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,650	$44,180 – $73,590	220
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$37,580 – $60,470	50
39	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$48,880 – $75,030	50
40	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,360	$41,600 – $100,920	360
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,870	$41,730 – $99,350	70
42	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,650	$40,070 – $73,710	30
43	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,640	$45,190 – $77,610	250
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,380	$38,470 – $119,400	80
45	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,220	$47,740 – $67,370	250
46	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$52,990	$38,220 – $61,970	50
47	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,660	$37,080 – $62,920	120
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,100	$37,000 – $81,710	200
49	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,080	$38,650 – $52,080	160
50	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,060	$46,650 – $62,040	40

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Altoona, PA. 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.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Altoona, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Altoona, PA that need no degree

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