High paying jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY run 4.2% below the national average (2024), so a Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

OccupationMedian, Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$109,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,620 – $130,780270
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$103,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$92,300 – $132,570510
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$102,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,470 – $167,640850
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$102,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,670 – $168,080370
5First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$99,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$88,050 – $99,260300
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,310
Associate's degree
$76,280 – $103,700360
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$95,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,410 – $151,510850
8Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$94,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,730 – $103,110390
9First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$93,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,190 – $108,320180
10Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$90,140
Associate's degree
$65,740 – $106,540200
11Respiratory Therapists$86,720
Associate's degree
$73,040 – $102,020510
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,090
Associate's degree
$62,800 – $101,8901,040
13Millwrights$82,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,130 – $92,330290
14Dental Hygienists$82,470
Associate's degree
$62,720 – $98,540760
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,160 – $125,0301,730
16Tool and Die Makers$81,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,410 – $94,730250
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$81,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,780 – $108,790360
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,720 – $100,2702,110
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$80,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $150,410470
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,950 – $124,5301,840
21Computer Network Support Specialists$79,020
Associate's degree
$47,880 – $100,940530
22Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,050 – $107,7902,040
23Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,210
Associate's degree
$61,320 – $78,210360
24Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,100
Associate's degree
$53,730 – $78,1001,260
25Electricians$77,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $104,7102,340
26Surgical Technologists$77,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,030 – $134,890560
27First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,280 – $107,2202,250
28Construction and Building Inspectors$77,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $107,630590
29Brickmasons and Blockmasons$76,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,080 – $95,100290
30Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,000 – $108,340210
31Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,940 – $80,2801,590
32Food Service Managers$75,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,390 – $111,780410
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $134,0703,680
34Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,370 – $102,0202,870
35Firefighters$74,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,120 – $80,920820
36Chefs and Head Cooks$74,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,500 – $103,510640
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$73,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $114,540950
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $132,8703,330
39Sheet Metal Workers$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,630 – $111,500440
40Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$72,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,300 – $104,0401,430
41Mechanical Drafters$71,920
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $98,210200
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $92,3901,560
43First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$70,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,940 – $103,4304,410
44Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$69,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,180 – $92,510300
45Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,000
Associate's degree
$48,400 – $98,190350
46Advertising Sales Agents$66,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $119,870250
47Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$65,560
Associate's degree
$49,350 – $84,180230
48Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $90,460210
49Transportation Security Screeners$63,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $70,280250
50Carpenters$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $83,3602,440

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

#	Occupation	MedianBuffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,350	$66,620 – $130,780	270
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,330	$92,300 – $132,570	510
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,520	$64,470 – $167,640	850
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,330	$75,670 – $168,080	370
5	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,260	$88,050 – $99,260	300
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,310	$76,280 – $103,700	360
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,150	$60,410 – $151,510	850
8	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,730	$54,730 – $103,110	390
9	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,600	$82,190 – $108,320	180
10	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$90,140	$65,740 – $106,540	200
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,720	$73,040 – $102,020	510
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,090	$62,800 – $101,890	1,040
13	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,840	$63,130 – $92,330	290
14	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,470	$62,720 – $98,540	760
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,190	$60,160 – $125,030	1,730
16	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,510	$50,410 – $94,730	250
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,060	$45,780 – $108,790	360
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,950	$58,720 – $100,270	2,110
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,780	$49,580 – $150,410	470
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,230	$55,950 – $124,530	1,840
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$79,020	$47,880 – $100,940	530
22	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,810	$57,050 – $107,790	2,040
23	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,210	$61,320 – $78,210	360
24	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,100	$53,730 – $78,100	1,260
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,930	$37,820 – $104,710	2,340
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,440	$61,030 – $134,890	560
27	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,060	$50,280 – $107,220	2,250
28	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,040	$48,730 – $107,630	590
29	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,800	$57,080 – $95,100	290
30	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$48,000 – $108,340	210
31	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,170	$58,940 – $80,280	1,590
32	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,440	$60,390 – $111,780	410
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$45,050 – $134,070	3,680
34	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,870	$56,370 – $102,020	2,870
35	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,470	$48,120 – $80,920	820
36	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,290	$48,500 – $103,510	640
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,650	$49,170 – $114,540	950
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,070	$38,750 – $132,870	3,330
39	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$44,630 – $111,500	440
40	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,230	$40,300 – $104,040	1,430
41	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$71,920	$48,860 – $98,210	200
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,130	$48,740 – $92,390	1,560
43	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,000	$48,940 – $103,430	4,410
44	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,260	$52,180 – $92,510	300
45	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,000	$48,400 – $98,190	350
46	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,300	$37,940 – $119,870	250
47	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,560	$49,350 – $84,180	230
48	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,230	$48,130 – $90,460	210
49	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,900	$42,160 – $70,280	250
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$42,670 – $83,360	2,440

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, 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.

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

High paying jobs in Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY that need no degree

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