High paying jobs in Lancaster, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, PA run 1.7% below the national average (2024), so a Lancaster, PA salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Lancaster, PA

OccupationMedian, Lancaster, PA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$105,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,010 – $133,390170
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,140 – $173,510400
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$92,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,040 – $113,060370
4Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$86,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,540 – $105,660760
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$82,830
Associate's degree
$38,500 – $100,190130
6Dental Hygienists$80,810
Associate's degree
$67,160 – $101,000370
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,530
Associate's degree
$72,480 – $99,230130
8Respiratory Therapists$80,060
Associate's degree
$64,770 – $94,620230
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,130 – $105,480290
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,410 – $110,430990
11Computer Network Support Specialists$78,060
Associate's degree
$46,410 – $108,890120
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,750 – $116,9001,630
13Structural Iron and Steel Workers$74,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,740 – $107,690140
14Construction and Building Inspectors$74,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $93,790120
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,910
Associate's degree
$60,620 – $96,200320
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,500 – $102,4401,880
17Crane and Tower Operators$72,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,220 – $78,22080
18Insurance Sales Agents$69,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $168,330530
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,560
Associate's degree
$47,950 – $91,260130
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $92,660350
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $128,8102,790
22First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,420 – $94,8801,890
23Food Service Managers$63,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,900 – $93,070420
24Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$63,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,840 – $85,90080
25Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,840
Associate's degree
$47,620 – $91,77090
26Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $77,350260
27Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,570
Associate's degree
$45,960 – $93,990330
28Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$63,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $133,800330
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $80,380820
30Electricians$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,000 – $133,1501,220
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $98,800350
32Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,340 – $75,4501,740
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,060 – $133,3101,570
34Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $88,4801,290
35Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $133,66090
36Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,970
Associate's degree
$52,900 – $93,600110
37Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,500 – $100,700160
38Surgical Technologists$62,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,690 – $77,160240
39Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360120
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,550 – $82,040280
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,560 – $85,8001,250
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $98,740820
43Physical Therapist Assistants$61,950
Associate's degree
$48,780 – $77,880220
44Millwrights$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $77,570110
45Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,780
Associate's degree
$47,420 – $88,230330
46Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$61,690
Associate's degree
$43,010 – $92,630170
47Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,120 – $94,3901,010
48Mechanical Drafters$61,270
Associate's degree
$48,980 – $86,820120
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,360 – $79,490940
50Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$60,510
No formal educational credential
$46,030 – $72,540200

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

#	Occupation	MedianLancaster, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,200	$81,010 – $133,390	170
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,950	$66,140 – $173,510	400
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,770	$61,040 – $113,060	370
4	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,800	$55,540 – $105,660	760
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$82,830	$38,500 – $100,190	130
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,810	$67,160 – $101,000	370
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,530	$72,480 – $99,230	130
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,060	$64,770 – $94,620	230
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,980	$51,130 – $105,480	290
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,360	$51,410 – $110,430	990
11	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,060	$46,410 – $108,890	120
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,300	$56,750 – $116,900	1,630
13	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,950	$52,740 – $107,690	140
14	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,950	$45,730 – $93,790	120
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,910	$60,620 – $96,200	320
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,850	$48,500 – $102,440	1,880
17	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,150	$53,220 – $78,220	80
18	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,500	$47,000 – $168,330	530
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,560	$47,950 – $91,260	130
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,350	$46,760 – $92,660	350
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,180	$39,350 – $128,810	2,790
22	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,040	$45,420 – $94,880	1,890
23	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,990	$43,900 – $93,070	420
24	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,960	$53,840 – $85,900	80
25	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,840	$47,620 – $91,770	90
26	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$49,170 – $77,350	260
27	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,570	$45,960 – $93,990	330
28	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,530	$47,650 – $133,800	330
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$47,430 – $80,380	820
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$41,000 – $133,150	1,220
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,430	$49,160 – $98,800	350
32	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,290	$55,340 – $75,450	1,740
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,160	$36,060 – $133,310	1,570
34	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$47,860 – $88,480	1,290
35	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,050	$37,720 – $133,660	90
36	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,970	$52,900 – $93,600	110
37	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,700	$43,500 – $100,700	160
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,680	$48,690 – $77,160	240
39	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $76,360	120
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$48,550 – $82,040	280
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,130	$42,560 – $85,800	1,250
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,950	$46,220 – $98,740	820
43	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,950	$48,780 – $77,880	220
44	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$49,450 – $77,570	110
45	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,780	$47,420 – $88,230	330
46	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,690	$43,010 – $92,630	170
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$46,120 – $94,390	1,010
48	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,270	$48,980 – $86,820	120
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,530	$47,360 – $79,490	940
50	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$60,510	$46,030 – $72,540	200

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

High paying jobs in Lancaster, PA that need no degree

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