High paying jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX run 14.0% below the national average (2024), so a Brownsville-Harlingen, TX salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

OccupationMedian, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · Employed

1Detectives and Criminal Investigators$109,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,620 – $112,260880
2Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$103,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,390 – $149,29050
3Dental Hygienists$82,860
Associate's degree
$73,130 – $94,980120
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$81,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,590 – $131,810190
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$76,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,450 – $181,60090
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$75,400
Associate's degree
$60,820 – $94,44070
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,320 – $97,470100
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$73,900
Associate's degree
$46,270 – $100,15070
9Self-Enrichment Teachers$73,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,180 – $73,430210
10Physical Therapist Assistants$73,020
Associate's degree
$47,750 – $92,670140
11Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,190
Associate's degree
$53,710 – $85,67080
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$67,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $97,470180
13Respiratory Therapists$66,990
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $76,280110
14Sailors and Marine Oilers$65,940
No formal educational credential
$36,870 – $86,80070
15Transportation Security Screeners$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $71,28080
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,100
Associate's degree
$35,060 – $87,280260
17Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03050
18First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$63,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $102,950580
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,850
Associate's degree
$46,840 – $74,47070
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,410 – $79,820190
21Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $86,470270
22First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $91,130420
23First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,730 – $92,990350
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$56,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $80,400290
25First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$56,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,670 – $78,650110
26Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $84,740820
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$56,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,660 – $107,090530
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,420 – $65,5701,260
29Computer Network Support Specialists$55,740
Associate's degree
$42,230 – $100,18060
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$51,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,600 – $78,46070
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$51,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $76,61080
32Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$50,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,180 – $64,340380
33First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$50,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,230 – $74,400520
34Tax Preparers$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,870 – $69,28090
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$49,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,810 – $82,2801,560
36Machinists$48,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $69,050120
37Food Service Managers$48,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,280 – $84,590350
38Information and Record Clerks, All Other$48,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,290 – $64,940120
39Architectural and Civil Drafters$48,710
Associate's degree
$38,660 – $80,60060
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,740 – $72,4001,660
41Paramedics$48,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,370 – $59,06070
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$47,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,810 – $71,380260
43Chefs and Head Cooks$47,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,060 – $75,860120
44Computer User Support Specialists$47,730
Some college, no degree
$31,250 – $77,370440
45Lodging Managers$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,930 – $92,14050
46Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,900 – $63,52050
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$47,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $70,340180
48First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$47,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,410 – $59,480190
49Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$47,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,300 – $87,65060
50Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$46,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,670 – $63,820250

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

#	Occupation	MedianBrownsville-Harlingen, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,300	$56,620 – $112,260	880
2	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,800	$36,390 – $149,290	50
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,860	$73,130 – $94,980	120
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,410	$53,590 – $131,810	190
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,160	$48,450 – $181,600	90
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$75,400	$60,820 – $94,440	70
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$33,320 – $97,470	100
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$73,900	$46,270 – $100,150	70
9	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,430	$25,180 – $73,430	210
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,020	$47,750 – $92,670	140
11	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,190	$53,710 – $85,670	80
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,640	$46,090 – $97,470	180
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,990	$59,320 – $76,280	110
14	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$65,940	$36,870 – $86,800	70
15	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$61,110 – $71,280	80
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,100	$35,060 – $87,280	260
17	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	50
18	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,420	$39,930 – $102,950	580
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,850	$46,840 – $74,470	70
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$43,410 – $79,820	190
21	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $86,470	270
22	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$35,990 – $91,130	420
23	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$37,730 – $92,990	350
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,980	$38,210 – $80,400	290
25	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,970	$39,670 – $78,650	110
26	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,820	$37,840 – $84,740	820
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,710	$30,660 – $107,090	530
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,250	$44,420 – $65,570	1,260
29	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$55,740	$42,230 – $100,180	60
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,720	$36,600 – $78,460	70
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,710	$34,010 – $76,610	80
32	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,540	$42,180 – $64,340	380
33	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,170	$34,230 – $74,400	520
34	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$27,870 – $69,280	90
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,010	$36,810 – $82,280	1,560
36	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,970	$35,560 – $69,050	120
37	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,890	$37,280 – $84,590	350
38	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,870	$31,290 – $64,940	120
39	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$48,710	$38,660 – $80,600	60
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,550	$30,740 – $72,400	1,660
41	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,110	$40,370 – $59,060	70
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,910	$35,810 – $71,380	260
43	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,850	$29,060 – $75,860	120
44	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$47,730	$31,250 – $77,370	440
45	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$28,930 – $92,140	50
46	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$28,900 – $63,520	50
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,580	$33,600 – $70,340	180
48	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,400	$27,410 – $59,480	190
49	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,180	$33,300 – $87,650	60
50	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,850	$32,670 – $63,820	250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX. 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX that need no degree

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