High paying jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX run 1.4% below the national average (2024), so a Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

OccupationMedian, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Employed

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$118,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,840 – $176,4202,550
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$108,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$88,970 – $132,8901,320
3Chemical Plant and System Operators$106,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,920 – $124,9301,420
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,060 – $182,6807,840
5Dental Hygienists$104,930
Associate's degree
$85,550 – $108,5903,060
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,100
Associate's degree
$71,350 – $106,4901,670
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$86,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,630 – $187,3501,870
8Gas Plant Operators$85,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,370 – $100,6601,510
9Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$85,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,140 – $131,0902,710
10Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$84,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $114,3505,510
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$82,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $115,8004,380
12First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$81,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,610 – $98,8001,770
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,780
Associate's degree
$52,200 – $103,1105,000
14Respiratory Therapists$80,450
Associate's degree
$57,180 – $99,6903,630
15Wellhead Pumpers$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,790 – $98,2103,860
16Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$79,450
No formal educational credential
$51,400 – $134,8602,100
17Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$79,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $106,2309,390
18Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,120 – $115,8102,890
19Mechanical Drafters$78,820
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $130,4901,300
20Calibration Technologists and Technicians$78,610
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $107,3001,930
21First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $130,88019,390
22Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$77,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,900 – $113,0104,690
23Physical Therapist Assistants$77,280
Associate's degree
$42,480 – $101,2902,210
24Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,190
Associate's degree
$45,650 – $126,5401,470
25Boilermakers$77,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,880 – $100,3101,170
26Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$76,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $101,1002,040
27First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $137,4905,920
28Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,120
Associate's degree
$38,330 – $114,2502,860
29First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $119,09024,570
30Crane and Tower Operators$75,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $99,0502,100
31First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $128,36015,270
32Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,480 – $104,9807,390
33Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,110 – $93,80016,250
34Computer Network Support Specialists$74,140
Associate's degree
$49,600 – $104,9901,990
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,090 – $137,97025,630
36Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$72,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,940 – $161,7009,530
37Surgical Technologists$71,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,950 – $94,6702,660
38Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,410
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $112,4002,200
39Construction and Building Inspectors$66,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,450 – $105,1704,980
40First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $105,67036,940
41Chemical Technicians$65,050
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $110,8102,620
42Riggers$64,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $82,7601,140
43Wind Turbine Service Technicians$64,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,230 – $75,6101,120
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,850 – $77,91010,730
45Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $100,0901,730
46Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,920 – $101,14018,360
47Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,120
Associate's degree
$45,590 – $104,1704,130
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,190 – $130,96028,720
49Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$62,910
No formal educational credential
$45,180 – $83,5301,560
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,730
Associate's degree
$42,160 – $101,3707,320

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

#	Occupation	MedianHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$118,830	$68,840 – $176,420	2,550
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,740	$88,970 – $132,890	1,320
3	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,020	$59,920 – $124,930	1,420
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,420	$65,060 – $182,680	7,840
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,930	$85,550 – $108,590	3,060
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,100	$71,350 – $106,490	1,670
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,390	$54,630 – $187,350	1,870
8	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,530	$70,370 – $100,660	1,510
9	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,400	$48,140 – $131,090	2,710
10	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,100	$45,670 – $114,350	5,510
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,710	$48,730 – $115,800	4,380
12	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,710	$67,610 – $98,800	1,770
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,780	$52,200 – $103,110	5,000
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,450	$57,180 – $99,690	3,630
15	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$56,790 – $98,210	3,860
16	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$79,450	$51,400 – $134,860	2,100
17	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,430	$36,630 – $106,230	9,390
18	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,820	$48,120 – $115,810	2,890
19	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,820	$54,990 – $130,490	1,300
20	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,610	$47,100 – $107,300	1,930
21	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,250	$48,030 – $130,880	19,390
22	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,880	$50,900 – $113,010	4,690
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,280	$42,480 – $101,290	2,210
24	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,190	$45,650 – $126,540	1,470
25	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,090	$58,880 – $100,310	1,170
26	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,950	$46,560 – $101,100	2,040
27	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,360	$47,840 – $137,490	5,920
28	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,120	$38,330 – $114,250	2,860
29	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,020	$48,170 – $119,090	24,570
30	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,500	$38,680 – $99,050	2,100
31	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,330	$46,060 – $128,360	15,270
32	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,850	$51,480 – $104,980	7,390
33	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,570	$59,110 – $93,800	16,250
34	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$74,140	$49,600 – $104,990	1,990
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,030	$37,090 – $137,970	25,630
36	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,950	$33,940 – $161,700	9,530
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,050	$46,950 – $94,670	2,660
38	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,410	$39,410 – $112,400	2,200
39	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,780	$43,450 – $105,170	4,980
40	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,990	$45,100 – $105,670	36,940
41	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,050	$44,540 – $110,810	2,620
42	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,430	$44,230 – $82,760	1,140
43	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,050	$49,230 – $75,610	1,120
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,670	$51,850 – $77,910	10,730
45	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$45,750 – $100,090	1,730
46	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$43,920 – $101,140	18,360
47	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,120	$45,590 – $104,170	4,130
48	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,090	$33,190 – $130,960	28,720
49	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$62,910	$45,180 – $83,530	1,560
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,730	$42,160 – $101,370	7,320

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX that need no degree

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