High paying jobs in Connecticut that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Connecticut 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 Connecticut run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Connecticut 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 Connecticut.

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

Find high paying jobs in Connecticut

OccupationMedian, Connecticut · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$126,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $135,730940
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$114,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,760 – $179,2302,410
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$109,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,500 – $142,0202,240
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,230
Associate's degree
$77,790 – $129,480990
5Dental Hygienists$100,690
Associate's degree
$87,190 – $106,0203,240
6Construction and Building Inspectors$98,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,140 – $129,8301,430
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$98,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$83,030 – $125,1201,310
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$96,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,390 – $127,0501,430
9Detectives and Criminal Investigators$95,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,990 – $130,540940
10Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$94,940
Associate's degree
$43,880 – $129,020620
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,240 – $132,7706,230
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$92,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,660 – $123,7906,980
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$91,970
Associate's degree
$68,070 – $122,7603,230
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$88,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,090 – $129,7403,190
15Respiratory Therapists$85,230
Associate's degree
$72,410 – $121,6201,370
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$83,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,660 – $123,0609,150
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$82,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,880 – $119,0306,490
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$82,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,310 – $102,6606,500
19Computer Network Support Specialists$81,890
Associate's degree
$60,080 – $128,940850
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,390
Associate's degree
$52,420 – $112,5801,190
21Surgical Technologists$79,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,980 – $104,9201,220
22First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,710 – $160,4801,430
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,900 – $98,850980
24Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,000 – $106,9202,860
25Sheet Metal Workers$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,780 – $93,9401,480
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$78,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,090 – $116,42024,420
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,420 – $98,5401,080
28Food Service Managers$77,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,020 – $108,4601,520
29Firefighters$77,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,320 – $85,5002,970
30Electricians$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,680 – $104,2807,710
31Tool and Die Makers$77,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,770 – $100,2001,880
32Paramedics$77,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,370 – $90,0601,000
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $102,9905,410
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$76,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,160 – $157,37011,420
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,280 – $100,1603,800
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,290
Associate's degree
$51,220 – $90,590810
37Physical Therapist Assistants$75,880
Associate's degree
$62,070 – $82,870980
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $126,4309,870
39Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,940 – $90,390540
40Opticians, Dispensing$75,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,700 – $85,070610
41Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,380 – $99,4601,910
42Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$74,870
Associate's degree
$59,020 – $108,0601,300
43Insurance Sales Agents$74,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $161,6905,230
44Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$73,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,170 – $130,9502,760
45Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$73,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,610 – $81,0608,540
46Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,780
Associate's degree
$60,180 – $81,400820
47Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$71,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,760 – $82,0801,250
48Medical Equipment Repairers$71,220
Associate's degree
$47,210 – $99,6301,060
49Computer User Support Specialists$70,210
Some college, no degree
$46,180 – $101,5409,300
50Industrial Machinery Mechanics$69,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $101,4902,360

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

#	Occupation	MedianConnecticut	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,850	$46,960 – $135,730	940
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,210	$68,760 – $179,230	2,410
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,360	$94,500 – $142,020	2,240
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,230	$77,790 – $129,480	990
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,690	$87,190 – $106,020	3,240
6	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,670	$65,140 – $129,830	1,430
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,500	$83,030 – $125,120	1,310
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,830	$60,390 – $127,050	1,430
9	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,240	$78,990 – $130,540	940
10	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,940	$43,880 – $129,020	620
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,050	$59,240 – $132,770	6,230
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,260	$63,660 – $123,790	6,980
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,970	$68,070 – $122,760	3,230
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,330	$63,090 – $129,740	3,190
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$85,230	$72,410 – $121,620	1,370
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,150	$49,660 – $123,060	9,150
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,520	$61,880 – $119,030	6,490
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,170	$63,310 – $102,660	6,500
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,890	$60,080 – $128,940	850
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,390	$52,420 – $112,580	1,190
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,890	$45,980 – $104,920	1,220
22	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$50,710 – $160,480	1,430
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,820	$60,900 – $98,850	980
24	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$60,000 – $106,920	2,860
25	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$49,780 – $93,940	1,480
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,200	$52,090 – $116,420	24,420
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,190	$54,420 – $98,540	1,080
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,990	$52,020 – $108,460	1,520
29	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,630	$51,320 – $85,500	2,970
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$47,680 – $104,280	7,710
31	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,540	$47,770 – $100,200	1,880
32	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,480	$60,370 – $90,060	1,000
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,280	$45,670 – $102,990	5,410
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,940	$43,160 – $157,370	11,420
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,610	$45,280 – $100,160	3,800
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,290	$51,220 – $90,590	810
37	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,880	$62,070 – $82,870	980
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$46,340 – $126,430	9,870
39	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$43,940 – $90,390	540
40	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,300	$48,700 – $85,070	610
41	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,200	$47,380 – $99,460	1,910
42	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,870	$59,020 – $108,060	1,300
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,840	$42,670 – $161,690	5,230
44	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,940	$47,170 – $130,950	2,760
45	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,690	$62,610 – $81,060	8,540
46	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,780	$60,180 – $81,400	820
47	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,940	$49,760 – $82,080	1,250
48	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$71,220	$47,210 – $99,630	1,060
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$70,210	$46,180 – $101,540	9,300
50	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,950	$47,310 – $101,490	2,360

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

Metro areas in Connecticut

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

By field in Connecticut

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Connecticut that need no degree

More for Connecticut

Metro areas in Connecticut

By field in Connecticut

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree