High paying jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO run 5.8% above the national average (2024), so a Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

OccupationMedian, Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$135,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$87,660 – $224,4001,340
2Commercial Pilots$132,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,100 – $285,550710
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$127,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$116,190 – $158,5101,430
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$119,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$87,420 – $145,310890
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$115,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,180 – $204,7405,430
6Dental Hygienists$113,760
Associate's degree
$100,890 – $128,0202,100
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$113,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,870 – $171,3501,230
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,410
Associate's degree
$87,700 – $130,720750
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,640 – $113,6304,990
10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$101,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $229,4801,340
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,000
Associate's degree
$63,920 – $112,2101,980
12Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$91,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,180 – $132,4101,180
13Firefighters$87,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,980 – $122,7503,010
14Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$86,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,750 – $133,5201,740
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$86,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,790 – $129,6607,180
16Respiratory Therapists$85,870
Associate's degree
$65,230 – $110,0701,100
17Advertising Sales Agents$84,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,400 – $164,930620
18First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$83,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,540 – $126,01011,780
19Computer Network Support Specialists$82,750
Associate's degree
$58,070 – $124,6503,580
20Construction and Building Inspectors$82,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,000 – $126,2402,300
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,000 – $154,62017,660
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$80,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $164,53024,480
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$80,500
Associate's degree
$60,590 – $111,5603,740
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$80,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,950 – $104,0001,060
25Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,540 – $126,4803,580
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,110 – $130,2204,520
27Architectural and Civil Drafters$79,860
Associate's degree
$60,260 – $114,1902,120
28Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$79,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $110,590850
29Electrical and Electronics Drafters$79,530
Associate's degree
$57,580 – $132,970560
30Food Service Managers$79,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,020 – $113,2701,320
31First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,240 – $117,36014,710
32Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,330
Associate's degree
$53,240 – $102,800750
33Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,080
Associate's degree
$50,530 – $107,660770
34Broadcast Technicians$78,050
Associate's degree
$49,090 – $120,450700
35Insurance Sales Agents$77,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $167,3805,150
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,140 – $89,3501,900
37Surgical Technologists$77,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,860 – $92,5801,210
38Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,100 – $100,6003,440
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$76,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,160 – $97,170960
40Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,610 – $89,5502,700
41Computer User Support Specialists$75,480
Some college, no degree
$49,870 – $122,2709,960
42Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$74,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,030 – $94,8602,090
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,450 – $98,1302,770
44Legal Support Workers, All Other$72,250
Associate's degree
$50,220 – $146,9901,200
45Medical Equipment Repairers$72,230
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $94,880930
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$71,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,010 – $104,8804,360
47Transportation Security Screeners$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $78,690990
48Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$70,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,380 – $94,670930
49First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$69,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,200 – $100,9806,870
50Public Safety Telecommunicators$68,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,500 – $86,680750

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

#	Occupation	MedianDenver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,220	$87,660 – $224,400	1,340
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,810	$57,100 – $285,550	710
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,250	$116,190 – $158,510	1,430
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,500	$87,420 – $145,310	890
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,390	$65,180 – $204,740	5,430
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$113,760	$100,890 – $128,020	2,100
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,340	$78,870 – $171,350	1,230
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,410	$87,700 – $130,720	750
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,970	$76,640 – $113,630	4,990
10	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,750	$76,300 – $229,480	1,340
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,000	$63,920 – $112,210	1,980
12	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,090	$59,180 – $132,410	1,180
13	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,980	$60,980 – $122,750	3,010
14	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,830	$64,750 – $133,520	1,740
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,800	$60,790 – $129,660	7,180
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$85,870	$65,230 – $110,070	1,100
17	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,540	$50,400 – $164,930	620
18	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,400	$61,540 – $126,010	11,780
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,750	$58,070 – $124,650	3,580
20	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,020	$56,000 – $126,240	2,300
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,060	$49,000 – $154,620	17,660
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,650	$45,250 – $164,530	24,480
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,500	$60,590 – $111,560	3,740
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,440	$54,950 – $104,000	1,060
25	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,930	$60,540 – $126,480	3,580
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,860	$51,110 – $130,220	4,520
27	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,860	$60,260 – $114,190	2,120
28	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,630	$51,880 – $110,590	850
29	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,530	$57,580 – $132,970	560
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,490	$68,020 – $113,270	1,320
31	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,120	$54,240 – $117,360	14,710
32	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,330	$53,240 – $102,800	750
33	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,080	$50,530 – $107,660	770
34	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,050	$49,090 – $120,450	700
35	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,590	$43,770 – $167,380	5,150
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,570	$54,140 – $89,350	1,900
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,020	$53,860 – $92,580	1,210
38	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,990	$53,100 – $100,600	3,440
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,150	$52,160 – $97,170	960
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,810	$51,610 – $89,550	2,700
41	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,480	$49,870 – $122,270	9,960
42	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,420	$52,030 – $94,860	2,090
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$50,450 – $98,130	2,770
44	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$72,250	$50,220 – $146,990	1,200
45	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$72,230	$49,880 – $94,880	930
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,580	$49,010 – $104,880	4,360
47	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$58,530 – $78,690	990
48	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,130	$48,380 – $94,670	930
49	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,250	$50,200 – $100,980	6,870
50	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,620	$52,500 – $86,680	750

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO. 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO that need no degree

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