High paying jobs in Erie, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Erie, PA 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 Erie, PA run 9.0% below the national average (2024), so a Erie, PA salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Erie, PA

OccupationMedian, Erie, PA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,870 – $143,240110
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$97,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,720 – $117,90050
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,420 – $127,230110
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$96,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,200 – $115,210100
5Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$86,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,070 – $86,85040
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $107,650660
7Firefighters$80,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,040 – $89,320140
8First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,620 – $106,440420
9Dental Hygienists$77,360
Associate's degree
$64,330 – $93,100140
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,510
Associate's degree
$65,040 – $94,91060
11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$74,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,070 – $97,07090
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $102,400400
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$71,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $112,260170
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $97,300280
15Electricians$65,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,890 – $94,280420
16Sheet Metal Workers$65,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $94,29070
17Insurance Sales Agents$65,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,380 – $139,970290
18Tool and Die Makers$63,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,760 – $72,890230
19Construction and Building Inspectors$63,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $86,67060
20Postal Service Clerks$62,910
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,03050
21Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$62,500
Associate's degree
$39,370 – $80,140160
22Respiratory Therapists$62,480
Associate's degree
$59,140 – $78,490110
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,180 – $88,990820
24Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$62,060
Associate's degree
$35,360 – $87,57040
25Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,480
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040310
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,500 – $75,81040
27Millwrights$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $66,89070
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,560 – $122,340960
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,800 – $72,270940
30Surgical Technologists$60,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,750 – $74,150100
31Food Service Managers$60,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,510 – $78,600240
32Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,320
Associate's degree
$41,720 – $90,91050
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $82,30090
34Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $74,870370
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,050 – $90,8901,040
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,870 – $75,130120
37Physical Therapist Assistants$59,120
Associate's degree
$45,700 – $71,150110
38Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,430 – $82,540230
39Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$58,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $88,980170
40Brickmasons and Blockmasons$58,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,090 – $83,65040
41Massage Therapists$58,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,440 – $89,26080
42Occupational Therapy Assistants$58,470
Associate's degree
$50,480 – $75,24040
43Tax Preparers$58,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $98,57050
44Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$58,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,710 – $75,41040
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,510 – $81,570280
46Mechanical Drafters$57,970
Associate's degree
$43,900 – $78,28060
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,150 – $73,310180
48Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$56,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,610 – $97,750130
49Carpenters$56,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $76,090530
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$56,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $81,200370

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

#	Occupation	MedianErie, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,050	$59,870 – $143,240	110
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,880	$36,720 – $117,900	50
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,860	$66,420 – $127,230	110
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,470	$67,200 – $115,210	100
5	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,850	$56,070 – $86,850	40
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,860	$47,360 – $107,650	660
7	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,280	$39,040 – $89,320	140
8	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,350	$55,620 – $106,440	420
9	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$77,360	$64,330 – $93,100	140
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,510	$65,040 – $94,910	60
11	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,380	$48,070 – $97,070	90
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$48,200 – $102,400	400
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,720	$45,020 – $112,260	170
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,410	$42,670 – $97,300	280
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,820	$37,890 – $94,280	420
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,710	$37,700 – $94,290	70
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,160	$44,380 – $139,970	290
18	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,740	$40,760 – $72,890	230
19	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,110	$47,350 – $86,670	60
20	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,910	$55,350 – $75,030	50
21	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,500	$39,370 – $80,140	160
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$62,480	$59,140 – $78,490	110
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,130	$44,180 – $88,990	820
24	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,060	$35,360 – $87,570	40
25	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,480	$42,390 – $81,040	310
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,330	$46,500 – $75,810	40
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$38,680 – $66,890	70
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$36,560 – $122,340	960
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,510	$48,800 – $72,270	940
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,440	$46,750 – $74,150	100
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,330	$42,510 – $78,600	240
32	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,320	$41,720 – $90,910	50
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,670	$44,570 – $82,300	90
34	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,620	$44,140 – $74,870	370
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,390	$40,050 – $90,890	1,040
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$47,870 – $75,130	120
37	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,120	$45,700 – $71,150	110
38	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,990	$39,430 – $82,540	230
39	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,820	$42,160 – $88,980	170
40	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,740	$48,090 – $83,650	40
41	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,600	$34,440 – $89,260	80
42	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,470	$50,480 – $75,240	40
43	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,460	$37,440 – $98,570	50
44	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,320	$46,710 – $75,410	40
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,030	$49,510 – $81,570	280
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,970	$43,900 – $78,280	60
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,720	$40,150 – $73,310	180
48	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,920	$38,610 – $97,750	130
49	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,850	$36,380 – $76,090	530
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,260	$37,260 – $81,200	370

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Erie, PA. 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 Erie, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Erie, PA that need no degree

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