High paying jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA run 13.6% above the national average (2024), so a Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA salary is worth about 0.88× 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

OccupationMedian, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$169,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$102,030 – $209,3902,410
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$167,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$137,680 – $203,4104,840
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$130,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,250 – $169,5402,140
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$127,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,510 – $174,0303,240
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$127,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,040 – $202,85012,260
6Dental Hygienists$122,980
Associate's degree
$56,800 – $137,3107,940
7Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$121,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,870 – $127,88024,720
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$119,430
Associate's degree
$57,180 – $168,3603,550
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$108,030
Associate's degree
$64,070 – $154,8606,450
10Lighting Technicians$105,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,300 – $160,5102,040
11Respiratory Therapists$104,640
Associate's degree
$75,000 – $130,7907,010
12Media and Communication Workers, All Other$103,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,750 – $170,4107,490
13Construction and Building Inspectors$100,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,630 – $158,4803,870
14Firefighters$98,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,710 – $150,7607,200
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $154,94019,690
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,250 – $103,5702,780
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$93,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,580 – $151,92017,470
18Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$92,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,460 – $130,7208,780
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$89,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,100 – $122,1307,540
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$83,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,870 – $123,1205,020
21Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$82,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,430 – $122,20020,850
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$82,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,240 – $116,9002,230
23Physical Therapist Assistants$82,140
Associate's degree
$59,710 – $101,0603,730
24Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,940
Associate's degree
$49,170 – $128,1003,230
25Surgical Technologists$81,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,250 – $102,0103,440
26Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$81,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $131,1006,610
27First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,570 – $147,9706,860
28Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $100,6402,140
29Advertising Sales Agents$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,260 – $157,1305,230
30Legal Support Workers, All Other$80,330
Associate's degree
$48,430 – $130,5902,020
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,340 – $152,94050,470
32Flight Attendants$79,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $113,05010,080
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,200 – $96,63033,590
34Correctional Officers and Jailers$78,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,180 – $109,5806,070
35Structural Iron and Steel Workers$78,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $110,2002,150
36Food Service Managers$77,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,830 – $125,29011,330
37Sound Engineering Technicians$77,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,890 – $140,5102,820
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$77,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,110 – $119,08054,340
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,520
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $112,16022,240
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$77,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,550 – $95,7606,520
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,870 – $157,08019,780
42Insurance Sales Agents$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $161,52014,680
43Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,630
Associate's degree
$49,820 – $108,3703,890
44Carpenters$75,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,860 – $117,43030,600
45Computer User Support Specialists$75,070
Some college, no degree
$49,560 – $110,15020,660
46First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $121,83017,650
47Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $135,83054,950
48Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$74,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,880 – $119,1301,980
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$73,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,590 – $109,01010,720
50Electricians$73,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $131,68020,610

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

#	Occupation	MedianLos Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$169,350	$102,030 – $209,390	2,410
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$167,600	$137,680 – $203,410	4,840
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$130,440	$77,250 – $169,540	2,140
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,890	$82,510 – $174,030	3,240
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,500	$70,040 – $202,850	12,260
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$122,980	$56,800 – $137,310	7,940
7	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,980	$78,870 – $127,880	24,720
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$119,430	$57,180 – $168,360	3,550
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,030	$64,070 – $154,860	6,450
10	Lighting TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,010	$52,300 – $160,510	2,040
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,640	$75,000 – $130,790	7,010
12	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,050	$43,750 – $170,410	7,490
13	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,280	$50,630 – $158,480	3,870
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,050	$58,710 – $150,760	7,200
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,600	$58,240 – $154,940	19,690
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,780	$60,250 – $103,570	2,780
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,870	$57,580 – $151,920	17,470
18	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,890	$52,460 – $130,720	8,780
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,070	$59,100 – $122,130	7,540
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,250	$50,870 – $123,120	5,020
21	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,850	$58,430 – $122,200	20,850
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,460	$54,240 – $116,900	2,230
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$82,140	$59,710 – $101,060	3,730
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,940	$49,170 – $128,100	3,230
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,580	$50,250 – $102,010	3,440
26	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,000	$48,850 – $131,100	6,610
27	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$50,570 – $147,970	6,860
28	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,370	$49,220 – $100,640	2,140
29	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$42,260 – $157,130	5,230
30	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$80,330	$48,430 – $130,590	2,020
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$43,340 – $152,940	50,470
32	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,390	$48,130 – $113,050	10,080
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,310	$64,200 – $96,630	33,590
34	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,770	$60,180 – $109,580	6,070
35	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,040	$47,000 – $110,200	2,150
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,850	$46,830 – $125,290	11,330
37	Sound Engineering TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,850	$44,890 – $140,510	2,820
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,530	$51,110 – $119,080	54,340
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,520	$51,200 – $112,160	22,240
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,380	$48,550 – $95,760	6,520
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$37,870 – $157,080	19,780
42	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$37,450 – $161,520	14,680
43	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,630	$49,820 – $108,370	3,890
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,740	$46,860 – $117,430	30,600
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,070	$49,560 – $110,150	20,660
46	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,740	$46,820 – $121,830	17,650
47	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,490	$39,520 – $135,830	54,950
48	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,420	$48,880 – $119,130	1,980
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,830	$46,590 – $109,010	10,720
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,810	$46,140 – $131,680	20,610

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA. 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA that need no degree

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