High paying jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX run 3.1% above the national average (2024), so a Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 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.

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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

OccupationMedian, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$160,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,660 – $266,6201,810
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$122,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,660 – $146,9601,340
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$104,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,780 – $195,0009,600
4Dental Hygienists$101,870
Associate's degree
$50,190 – $120,0607,050
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,810
Associate's degree
$80,350 – $116,1602,160
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$94,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,130 – $123,1808,000
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$94,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,020 – $125,8002,530
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,700 – $104,10016,430
9Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$86,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $100,4502,450
10Detectives and Criminal Investigators$86,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $176,6101,830
11Respiratory Therapists$84,080
Associate's degree
$69,160 – $100,2403,010
12Mechanical Drafters$83,200
Associate's degree
$56,440 – $94,2601,620
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,140
Associate's degree
$51,290 – $106,8605,470
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,590 – $119,1808,630
15Physical Therapist Assistants$80,370
Associate's degree
$37,890 – $104,8902,110
16Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,430 – $116,1608,290
17Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$80,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,190 – $80,1105,440
18Surgical Technologists$79,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,300 – $96,4102,790
19First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $123,91019,530
20Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,960 – $104,4903,030
21Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,750 – $105,6803,930
22First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,030 – $157,6105,530
23First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,280 – $104,48021,530
24Computer Network Support Specialists$75,930
Associate's degree
$45,200 – $128,0403,340
25Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,580
Associate's degree
$45,080 – $103,8802,720
26Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$73,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,000 – $104,3602,910
27First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$73,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,590 – $113,02045,710
28Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$71,930
Associate's degree
$42,920 – $117,1201,290
29First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $106,83016,880
30Construction and Building Inspectors$69,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $108,5905,450
31Transportation Security Screeners$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,830 – $73,0701,690
32Crane and Tower Operators$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $91,9401,310
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,890
Associate's degree
$46,790 – $100,0903,360
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $138,47029,100
35Firefighters$64,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,460 – $92,7008,780
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,930 – $77,62012,590
37Chefs and Head Cooks$64,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,610 – $99,9903,550
38Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $93,21012,730
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,370 – $128,75043,560
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,220
Associate's degree
$38,730 – $100,9208,320
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $151,05015,890
42Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $85,8804,620
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0407,100
44Food Service Managers$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $101,8806,710
45Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$61,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,700 – $84,4302,140
46Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $82,23011,980
47Advertising Sales Agents$61,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,520 – $97,9602,390
48Flight Attendants$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,140 – $77,7407,680
49Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,550 – $84,1202,460
50Computer User Support Specialists$60,710
Some college, no degree
$39,990 – $92,46022,600

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

#	Occupation	MedianDallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$160,160	$80,660 – $266,620	1,810
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,210	$84,660 – $146,960	1,340
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,790	$69,780 – $195,000	9,600
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$101,870	$50,190 – $120,060	7,050
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,810	$80,350 – $116,160	2,160
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,920	$52,130 – $123,180	8,000
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,490	$77,020 – $125,800	2,530
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,910	$62,700 – $104,100	16,430
9	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,520	$38,130 – $100,450	2,450
10	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,110	$50,870 – $176,610	1,830
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,080	$69,160 – $100,240	3,010
12	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$83,200	$56,440 – $94,260	1,620
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,140	$51,290 – $106,860	5,470
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,890	$51,590 – $119,180	8,630
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,370	$37,890 – $104,890	2,110
16	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,230	$56,430 – $116,160	8,290
17	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,110	$44,190 – $80,110	5,440
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,990	$44,300 – $96,410	2,790
19	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,740	$48,160 – $123,910	19,530
20	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,580	$48,960 – $104,490	3,030
21	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,910	$46,750 – $105,680	3,930
22	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,870	$45,030 – $157,610	5,530
23	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,230	$50,280 – $104,480	21,530
24	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,930	$45,200 – $128,040	3,340
25	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,580	$45,080 – $103,880	2,720
26	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,530	$48,000 – $104,360	2,910
27	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,070	$46,590 – $113,020	45,710
28	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$71,930	$42,920 – $117,120	1,290
29	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,940	$44,230 – $106,830	16,880
30	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,020	$46,660 – $108,590	5,450
31	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$43,830 – $73,070	1,690
32	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$46,290 – $91,940	1,310
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,890	$46,790 – $100,090	3,360
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$37,200 – $138,470	29,100
35	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,900	$48,460 – $92,700	8,780
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$53,930 – $77,620	12,590
37	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,100	$42,610 – $99,990	3,550
38	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$44,310 – $93,210	12,730
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$34,370 – $128,750	43,560
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,220	$38,730 – $100,920	8,320
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$38,080 – $151,050	15,890
42	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$44,340 – $85,880	4,620
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	7,100
44	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$45,050 – $101,880	6,710
45	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,530	$42,700 – $84,430	2,140
46	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,250	$39,350 – $82,230	11,980
47	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,150	$35,520 – $97,960	2,390
48	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$33,140 – $77,740	7,680
49	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$42,550 – $84,120	2,460
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,710	$39,990 – $92,460	22,600

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, 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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX that need no degree

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