High paying jobs in Colorado that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Colorado 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 Colorado run 3.1% above the national average (2024), so a Colorado salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Colorado.

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

Find high paying jobs in Colorado

OccupationMedian, Colorado · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$139,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,780 – $269,6301,240
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$132,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,160 – $213,5802,310
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$126,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$88,800 – $156,3102,790
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$110,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,190 – $203,2108,230
5Dental Hygienists$109,580
Associate's degree
$95,680 – $128,9004,270
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,410
Associate's degree
$85,500 – $130,7201,430
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$105,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,010 – $161,5501,930
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,170 – $131,3602,370
9First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$102,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,320 – $141,3901,900
10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$100,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,870 – $217,2402,230
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$97,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,340 – $109,3009,610
12Lodging Managers$91,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,990 – $190,4201,100
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$87,760
Associate's degree
$63,270 – $111,7303,960
14Respiratory Therapists$86,220
Associate's degree
$66,560 – $109,0702,110
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,300 – $127,25013,590
16Computer Network Support Specialists$82,750
Associate's degree
$52,710 – $126,3004,530
17Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,960 – $130,1602,690
18First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$81,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,740 – $122,77021,380
19Real Estate Brokers$79,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,320 – $135,2003,280
20Construction and Building Inspectors$79,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,290 – $121,7403,700
21Food Service Managers$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,140 – $123,0602,440
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $164,84037,810
23Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$79,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,540 – $108,9402,200
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,620 – $149,89027,530
25First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,890 – $127,9609,580
26Paralegals and Legal Assistants$78,190
Associate's degree
$56,930 – $106,1605,620
27Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,550 – $123,3605,680
28Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$77,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,080 – $106,6401,400
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,440
Associate's degree
$52,110 – $105,3501,410
30First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $112,25026,100
31Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,030 – $88,6603,180
32Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,370
Associate's degree
$48,980 – $107,9903,570
33Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,110
Associate's degree
$50,530 – $107,2801,260
34Surgical Technologists$75,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,040 – $92,5802,100
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $101,5907,260
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,130 – $95,7302,620
37Firefighters$74,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,000 – $114,1706,510
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$73,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,820 – $84,4404,920
39Advertising Sales Agents$73,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $164,9301,110
40Computer User Support Specialists$71,900
Some college, no degree
$48,590 – $116,85016,740
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,960 – $98,8504,060
42Transportation Security Screeners$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $78,6901,250
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$70,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $96,4504,600
44Insurance Sales Agents$68,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $158,6909,530
45Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,850
Associate's degree
$50,580 – $100,370930
46Medical Equipment Repairers$66,720
Associate's degree
$44,490 – $95,5401,460
47Legal Support Workers, All Other$66,660
Associate's degree
$45,220 – $146,9902,000
48Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$66,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $93,9301,630
49Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$65,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,850 – $100,29010,340
50Chefs and Head Cooks$65,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $93,2703,970

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

#	Occupation	MedianColorado	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$139,680	$59,780 – $269,630	1,240
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,610	$80,160 – $213,580	2,310
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,810	$88,800 – $156,310	2,790
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,450	$62,190 – $203,210	8,230
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$109,580	$95,680 – $128,900	4,270
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,410	$85,500 – $130,720	1,430
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,480	$73,010 – $161,550	1,930
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,980	$59,170 – $131,360	2,370
9	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$102,580	$73,320 – $141,390	1,900
10	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,080	$72,870 – $217,240	2,230
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,350	$65,340 – $109,300	9,610
12	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,750	$56,990 – $190,420	1,100
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,760	$63,270 – $111,730	3,960
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,220	$66,560 – $109,070	2,110
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,260	$57,300 – $127,250	13,590
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,750	$52,710 – $126,300	4,530
17	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,080	$60,960 – $130,160	2,690
18	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,230	$59,740 – $122,770	21,380
19	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,970	$44,320 – $135,200	3,280
20	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,950	$54,290 – $121,740	3,700
21	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$66,140 – $123,060	2,440
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$44,530 – $164,840	37,810
23	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,610	$53,540 – $108,940	2,200
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$47,620 – $149,890	27,530
25	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,890	$50,890 – $127,960	9,580
26	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,190	$56,930 – $106,160	5,620
27	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,620	$59,550 – $123,360	5,680
28	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,600	$50,080 – $106,640	1,400
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,440	$52,110 – $105,350	1,410
30	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,600	$49,990 – $112,250	26,100
31	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,410	$51,030 – $88,660	3,180
32	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,370	$48,980 – $107,990	3,570
33	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,110	$50,530 – $107,280	1,260
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,740	$51,040 – $92,580	2,100
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,600	$50,470 – $101,590	7,260
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,200	$50,130 – $95,730	2,620
37	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,170	$47,000 – $114,170	6,510
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,880	$50,820 – $84,440	4,920
39	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,420	$38,160 – $164,930	1,110
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,900	$48,590 – $116,850	16,740
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,830	$49,960 – $98,850	4,060
42	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$58,530 – $78,690	1,250
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,480	$47,450 – $96,450	4,600
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,730	$42,450 – $158,690	9,530
45	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,850	$50,580 – $100,370	930
46	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$66,720	$44,490 – $95,540	1,460
47	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$66,660	$45,220 – $146,990	2,000
48	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,020	$46,490 – $93,930	1,630
49	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,850	$49,850 – $100,290	10,340
50	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,400	$46,330 – $93,270	3,970

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

Metro areas in Colorado

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

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Colorado that need no degree

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree