High paying jobs in California that need no degree

These occupations pay well in California 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 California run 10.7% above the national average (2024), so a California salary is worth about 0.90× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in California.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in California

OccupationMedian, California · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$163,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$121,720 – $204,50013,200
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$129,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,350 – $167,0908,930
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,530
Associate's degree
$62,890 – $177,78010,110
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$127,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,910 – $204,1608,170
5Dental Hygienists$124,930
Associate's degree
$102,090 – $151,92024,500
6Detectives and Criminal Investigators$124,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,280 – $165,51012,610
7Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$123,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,260 – $208,42030,540
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$121,260
Associate's degree
$70,210 – $165,46020,900
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $153,19065,940
10Respiratory Therapists$104,820
Associate's degree
$77,010 – $145,51018,650
11Media and Communication Workers, All Other$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $170,4109,940
12Construction and Building Inspectors$101,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,220 – $161,55013,420
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,260 – $106,2308,810
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,690 – $156,53071,750
15Correctional Officers and Jailers$96,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,380 – $114,73037,860
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$93,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,720 – $154,82051,670
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$91,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,020 – $124,99024,290
18Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$90,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $132,7305,840
19Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$89,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,060 – $130,51059,640
20Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$87,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $132,21036,020
21Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$87,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,790 – $129,9105,830
22Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$86,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,860 – $116,69012,590
23Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,090
Associate's degree
$59,590 – $138,40013,450
24Firefighters$85,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,390 – $136,15031,470
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,490
Associate's degree
$54,690 – $111,1507,250
26Physical Therapist Assistants$83,110
Associate's degree
$59,500 – $102,8009,400
27Flight Attendants$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $129,29015,840
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,030 – $123,38011,630
29Surgical Technologists$81,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,140 – $115,74011,920
30First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,200 – $155,15019,600
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$80,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,240 – $168,720156,110
32Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$80,480
Associate's degree
$52,060 – $128,8807,330
33Real Estate Brokers$80,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,120 – $145,6608,430
34Advertising Sales Agents$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,260 – $157,1309,620
35Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $108,6508,520
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,390 – $100,45082,850
37Computer User Support Specialists$79,570
Some college, no degree
$52,270 – $122,75074,490
38Computer Network Support Specialists$79,190
Associate's degree
$50,090 – $148,94013,620
39Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $129,31020,080
40Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$78,350
Associate's degree
$47,640 – $107,47010,090
41Food Service Managers$78,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $127,34033,180
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$77,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $121,650149,230
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,390
Associate's degree
$50,460 – $119,58047,130
44Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,540 – $158,05050,040
45First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,530 – $125,44048,550
46Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,410 – $113,24014,040
47Sheet Metal Workers$76,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,410 – $132,1908,390
48Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,520
Associate's degree
$49,850 – $114,60011,400
49Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $152,760134,800
50Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $118,0307,110

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

#	Occupation	MedianCalifornia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$163,960	$121,720 – $204,500	13,200
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,040	$77,350 – $167,090	8,930
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,530	$62,890 – $177,780	10,110
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,630	$80,910 – $204,160	8,170
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$124,930	$102,090 – $151,920	24,500
6	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,840	$78,280 – $165,510	12,610
7	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,780	$71,260 – $208,420	30,540
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$121,260	$70,210 – $165,460	20,900
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,880	$76,300 – $153,190	65,940
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,820	$77,010 – $145,510	18,650
11	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$44,140 – $170,410	9,940
12	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,290	$56,220 – $161,550	13,420
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,980	$60,260 – $106,230	8,810
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,680	$60,690 – $156,530	71,750
15	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,370	$63,380 – $114,730	37,860
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,660	$56,720 – $154,820	51,670
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,790	$60,020 – $124,990	24,290
18	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,650	$48,610 – $132,730	5,840
19	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,000	$58,060 – $130,510	59,640
20	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,160	$52,760 – $132,210	36,020
21	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,080	$52,790 – $129,910	5,830
22	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,100	$53,860 – $116,690	12,590
23	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,090	$59,590 – $138,400	13,450
24	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,120	$52,390 – $136,150	31,470
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,490	$54,690 – $111,150	7,250
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$83,110	$59,500 – $102,800	9,400
27	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$48,130 – $129,290	15,840
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,770	$56,030 – $123,380	11,630
29	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,310	$49,140 – $115,740	11,920
30	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,140	$51,200 – $155,150	19,600
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,850	$43,240 – $168,720	156,110
32	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$80,480	$52,060 – $128,880	7,330
33	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,450	$37,120 – $145,660	8,430
34	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$42,260 – $157,130	9,620
35	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$49,350 – $108,650	8,520
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,750	$64,390 – $100,450	82,850
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$79,570	$52,270 – $122,750	74,490
38	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$79,190	$50,090 – $148,940	13,620
39	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,550	$47,880 – $129,310	20,080
40	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,350	$47,640 – $107,470	10,090
41	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,260	$47,690 – $127,340	33,180
42	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,590	$50,870 – $121,650	149,230
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,390	$50,460 – $119,580	47,130
44	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,030	$41,540 – $158,050	50,040
45	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,840	$47,530 – $125,440	48,550
46	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,630	$56,410 – $113,240	14,040
47	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,590	$47,410 – $132,190	8,390
48	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,520	$49,850 – $114,600	11,400
49	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$43,200 – $152,760	134,800
50	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,370	$47,480 – $118,030	7,110

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

Metro areas in California

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in California

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in California that need no degree

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree