High paying jobs in Anchorage, AK that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Anchorage, AK 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 Anchorage, AK run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Anchorage, AK salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Anchorage, AK

OccupationMedian, Anchorage, AK · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$161,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$100,260 – $195,190110
2Air Traffic Controllers$160,970
Associate's degree
$86,570 – $213,530280
3Dental Hygienists$132,740
Associate's degree
$60,590 – $139,940490
4Transportation Inspectors$131,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$95,320 – $168,960110
5Detectives and Criminal Investigators$125,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,180 – $183,68090
6Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$121,660
Associate's degree
$96,180 – $126,63070
7Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$115,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,240 – $132,370570
8Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,100 – $162,510660
9Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$109,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,560 – $156,300140
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,750
Associate's degree
$78,170 – $125,20080
11Construction and Building Inspectors$106,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,450 – $124,280160
12Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$103,110
Associate's degree
$49,220 – $130,270160
13Computer Network Support Specialists$102,330
Associate's degree
$48,410 – $103,340180
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$101,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,610 – $103,010350
15Commercial Pilots$99,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,570 – $163,530590
16Electrical and Electronics Drafters$98,920
Associate's degree
$59,720 – $166,97060
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$98,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $107,940260
18Sheet Metal Workers$98,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,300 – $116,580160
19Respiratory Therapists$97,950
Associate's degree
$79,950 – $105,870130
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$97,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,700 – $135,1801,370
21Power Plant Operators$96,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $135,690150
22First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$96,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $130,6901,230
23First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$95,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,250 – $121,640150
24Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$95,370
No formal educational credential
$60,420 – $177,950100
25Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$94,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,940 – $107,680100
26Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$94,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,510 – $120,2201,010
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$93,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,730 – $116,790640
28Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$92,860
No formal educational credential
$52,560 – $93,27060
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$92,570
Associate's degree
$77,210 – $130,530130
30Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$92,260
Associate's degree
$70,590 – $122,910200
31Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$92,250
No formal educational credential
$83,460 – $123,620160
32Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$90,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $115,14060
33Pile Driver Operators$89,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $121,73080
34Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$87,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,200 – $132,200190
35Real Estate Sales Agents$86,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,420 – $123,120100
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$85,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,070 – $105,140330
37Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$84,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,000 – $100,24060
38First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$83,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,810 – $106,290330
39Public Safety Telecommunicators$83,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $103,020140
40Electricians$82,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,550 – $123,200930
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$82,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,640 – $94,310160
42Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,380 – $143,460300
43Surgical Technologists$80,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,930 – $103,150210
44Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $99,530150
45Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,900 – $109,260540
46Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $79,880100
47Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,040
Associate's degree
$48,210 – $137,520140
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,410 – $108,850150
49Medical Equipment Repairers$78,570
Associate's degree
$62,330 – $99,520120
50Food Service Managers$78,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,180 – $119,440240

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

#	Occupation	MedianAnchorage, AK	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$161,100	$100,260 – $195,190	110
2	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$160,970	$86,570 – $213,530	280
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$132,740	$60,590 – $139,940	490
4	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,060	$95,320 – $168,960	110
5	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,240	$72,180 – $183,680	90
6	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$121,660	$96,180 – $126,630	70
7	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,020	$80,240 – $132,370	570
8	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,820	$76,100 – $162,510	660
9	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,580	$43,560 – $156,300	140
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,750	$78,170 – $125,200	80
11	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,780	$71,450 – $124,280	160
12	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$103,110	$49,220 – $130,270	160
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$102,330	$48,410 – $103,340	180
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,020	$59,610 – $103,010	350
15	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,920	$58,570 – $163,530	590
16	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$98,920	$59,720 – $166,970	60
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,690	$58,530 – $107,940	260
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,070	$49,300 – $116,580	160
19	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$97,950	$79,950 – $105,870	130
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,830	$59,700 – $135,180	1,370
21	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,630	$42,950 – $135,690	150
22	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,000	$61,360 – $130,690	1,230
23	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,480	$49,250 – $121,640	150
24	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$95,370	$60,420 – $177,950	100
25	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,370	$60,940 – $107,680	100
26	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,120	$54,510 – $120,220	1,010
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,600	$53,730 – $116,790	640
28	Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential	$92,860	$52,560 – $93,270	60
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,570	$77,210 – $130,530	130
30	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,260	$70,590 – $122,910	200
31	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$92,250	$83,460 – $123,620	160
32	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,000	$51,990 – $115,140	60
33	Pile Driver OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,880	$58,330 – $121,730	80
34	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,670	$62,200 – $132,200	190
35	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,380	$52,420 – $123,120	100
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,620	$58,070 – $105,140	330
37	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,190	$64,000 – $100,240	60
38	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,900	$56,810 – $106,290	330
39	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,870	$47,340 – $103,020	140
40	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,440	$58,550 – $123,200	930
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,330	$66,640 – $94,310	160
42	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,530	$57,380 – $143,460	300
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,880	$58,930 – $103,150	210
44	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,740	$46,800 – $99,530	150
45	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$48,900 – $109,260	540
46	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$49,990 – $79,880	100
47	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,040	$48,210 – $137,520	140
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,720	$53,410 – $108,850	150
49	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,570	$62,330 – $99,520	120
50	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,560	$58,180 – $119,440	240

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

Other metro areas in AK

Fairbanks-College, AK

By field in Anchorage, AK

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Anchorage, AK that need no degree

More for Anchorage, AK

Other metro areas in AK

By field in Anchorage, AK

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree