High paying jobs in Boulder, CO that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Boulder, CO 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 Boulder, CO run 5.2% above the national average (2024), so a Boulder, CO 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 Boulder, CO

OccupationMedian, Boulder, CO · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$142,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$99,880 – $218,210150
2First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$136,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,990 – $212,280730
3Legal Support Workers, All Other$134,890
Associate's degree
$52,280 – $185,10090
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$132,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$119,130 – $160,45080
5Dental Hygienists$130,000
Associate's degree
$93,600 – $133,460300
6First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$121,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$86,390 – $131,600130
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$114,620
Associate's degree
$99,980 – $136,660160
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$111,020
Associate's degree
$87,230 – $126,74060
9Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$103,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,180 – $195,900120
10Mechanical Drafters$102,710
Associate's degree
$71,990 – $161,77060
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,430 – $104,690370
12Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$99,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $184,7703,230
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$94,190
Associate's degree
$78,810 – $127,80080
14Respiratory Therapists$91,880
Associate's degree
$72,600 – $106,780130
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$88,330
Associate's degree
$65,570 – $116,390290
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$84,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,770 – $136,490950
17Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,870
Associate's degree
$60,140 – $136,46070
18Food Service Managers$84,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,600 – $123,560170
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $160,6201,880
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,600 – $126,660630
21First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,020 – $118,790560
22Surgical Technologists$81,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,960 – $97,760130
23Construction and Building Inspectors$80,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,540 – $107,910160
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,210 – $142,7301,910
25Firefighters$79,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $107,200360
26Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,850 – $112,190880
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$79,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,270 – $94,100150
28Computer Network Support Specialists$78,770
Associate's degree
$55,500 – $130,180270
29Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,370
Associate's degree
$57,260 – $98,040120
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,170 – $94,20080
31Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$77,350
Associate's degree
$59,920 – $95,180120
32Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,210
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $101,400280
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$76,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,460 – $82,700250
34Medical Equipment Repairers$76,490
Associate's degree
$50,450 – $107,590100
35Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,200
Associate's degree
$49,230 – $103,840190
36Drafters, All Other$74,630
Associate's degree
$52,480 – $102,82060
37Computer User Support Specialists$74,380
Some college, no degree
$48,200 – $124,6601,710
38Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,760 – $85,490170
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $96,830340
40Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,290 – $94,980170
41Massage Therapists$71,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,090 – $125,010420
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$71,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,900 – $113,670340
43Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$71,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $93,370190
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$70,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,110 – $84,26080
45Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$69,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,840 – $101,44060
46Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,010
Associate's degree
$55,250 – $93,640150
47Advertising Sales Agents$68,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,740 – $150,390100
48Chemical Technicians$66,960
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $93,530150
49Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$66,610
No formal educational credential
$37,530 – $71,380110
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$66,090
Associate's degree
$53,880 – $98,760400

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

#	Occupation	MedianBoulder, CO	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$142,270	$99,880 – $218,210	150
2	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,380	$65,990 – $212,280	730
3	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$134,890	$52,280 – $185,100	90
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,360	$119,130 – $160,450	80
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$130,000	$93,600 – $133,460	300
6	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$121,000	$86,390 – $131,600	130
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$114,620	$99,980 – $136,660	160
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$111,020	$87,230 – $126,740	60
9	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,440	$77,180 – $195,900	120
10	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$102,710	$71,990 – $161,770	60
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$78,430 – $104,690	370
12	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,990	$48,620 – $184,770	3,230
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,190	$78,810 – $127,800	80
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$91,880	$72,600 – $106,780	130
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$88,330	$65,570 – $116,390	290
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,880	$56,770 – $136,490	950
17	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,870	$60,140 – $136,460	70
18	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,820	$67,600 – $123,560	170
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,660	$48,160 – $160,620	1,880
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,940	$55,600 – $126,660	630
21	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,340	$60,020 – $118,790	560
22	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,600	$61,960 – $97,760	130
23	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,570	$57,540 – $107,910	160
24	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$55,210 – $142,730	1,910
25	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,390	$47,730 – $107,200	360
26	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$49,850 – $112,190	880
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,030	$55,270 – $94,100	150
28	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,770	$55,500 – $130,180	270
29	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,370	$57,260 – $98,040	120
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,800	$50,170 – $94,200	80
31	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,350	$59,920 – $95,180	120
32	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,210	$59,320 – $101,400	280
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,800	$59,460 – $82,700	250
34	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$76,490	$50,450 – $107,590	100
35	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,200	$49,230 – $103,840	190
36	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,630	$52,480 – $102,820	60
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$74,380	$48,200 – $124,660	1,710
38	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$53,760 – $85,490	170
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,050	$52,000 – $96,830	340
40	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,590	$53,290 – $94,980	170
41	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,870	$55,090 – $125,010	420
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,080	$48,900 – $113,670	340
43	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,060	$50,440 – $93,370	190
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,240	$43,110 – $84,260	80
45	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,600	$45,840 – $101,440	60
46	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,010	$55,250 – $93,640	150
47	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,140	$31,740 – $150,390	100
48	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,960	$47,510 – $93,530	150
49	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$66,610	$37,530 – $71,380	110
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,090	$53,880 – $98,760	400

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Boulder, CO. 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 Boulder, CO to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Boulder, CO that need no degree

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