High paying jobs in Massachusetts that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts run 5.8% above the national average (2024), so a Massachusetts 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. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Massachusetts.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Massachusetts

OccupationMedian, Massachusetts · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$123,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,400 – $223,7004,310
2Structural Iron and Steel Workers$120,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,760 – $128,0802,050
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$115,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,620 – $172,4805,490
4Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$110,600
Associate's degree
$62,360 – $146,8801,490
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$110,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,470 – $127,6202,350
6Detectives and Criminal Investigators$110,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,150 – $179,0301,300
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$107,480
Associate's degree
$89,190 – $133,4802,190
8First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$104,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,110 – $159,6805,540
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,620
Associate's degree
$75,350 – $131,9405,500
10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$103,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,070 – $181,4307,320
11Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,640 – $108,7902,230
12Respiratory Therapists$102,170
Associate's degree
$80,330 – $123,9302,220
13Dental Hygienists$100,640
Associate's degree
$93,510 – $117,3806,850
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,660 – $134,82018,330
15First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$96,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,550 – $140,0103,370
16Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$95,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,520 – $106,5201,320
17Brickmasons and Blockmasons$94,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,940 – $136,8601,570
18Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$93,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,010 – $135,08013,460
19Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,180 – $133,4001,410
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$92,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,540 – $129,97012,140
21Food Service Managers$92,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,290 – $129,9904,310
22Computer Network Support Specialists$88,650
Associate's degree
$60,980 – $134,2501,980
23Correctional Officers and Jailers$86,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,520 – $101,6206,360
24Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$83,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $162,33032,300
25Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,650 – $123,2605,070
26Construction and Building Inspectors$83,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,330 – $123,4004,290
27Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$82,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,320 – $123,93014,820
28Sheet Metal Workers$82,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $121,0502,890
29Surgical Technologists$80,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,350 – $109,5502,220
30Advertising Sales Agents$80,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $134,8201,480
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,690 – $93,98013,210
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,530 – $114,80012,390
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $157,00022,700
34Physical Therapist Assistants$79,460
Associate's degree
$62,030 – $88,2802,640
35Electricians$79,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $128,21017,810
36Insurance Sales Agents$79,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,620 – $163,3809,940
37Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,160 – $108,15017,040
38Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$78,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $103,8201,690
39Medical Equipment Repairers$78,230
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $100,4902,200
40Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,710
Associate's degree
$57,670 – $105,8204,030
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,640
Associate's degree
$49,770 – $117,4807,800
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,820 – $102,4108,200
43Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,990
Associate's degree
$56,850 – $102,6602,660
44Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,630 – $125,4009,680
45First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,020 – $107,49034,520
46Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,610 – $106,4002,890
47Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,730 – $108,6701,620
48Carpenters$75,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $122,88018,540
49Computer User Support Specialists$75,070
Some college, no degree
$48,740 – $104,95017,570
50Occupational Therapy Assistants$75,040
Associate's degree
$42,120 – $82,1801,410

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

#	Occupation	MedianMassachusetts	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,830	$75,400 – $223,700	4,310
2	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,840	$82,760 – $128,080	2,050
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,150	$62,620 – $172,480	5,490
4	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$110,600	$62,360 – $146,880	1,490
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,210	$81,470 – $127,620	2,350
6	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,150	$76,150 – $179,030	1,300
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$107,480	$89,190 – $133,480	2,190
8	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,320	$77,110 – $159,680	5,540
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,620	$75,350 – $131,940	5,500
10	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,410	$62,070 – $181,430	7,320
11	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,410	$56,640 – $108,790	2,230
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$102,170	$80,330 – $123,930	2,220
13	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,640	$93,510 – $117,380	6,850
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,850	$67,660 – $134,820	18,330
15	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,600	$75,550 – $140,010	3,370
16	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,520	$65,520 – $106,520	1,320
17	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,950	$59,940 – $136,860	1,570
18	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,880	$52,010 – $135,080	13,460
19	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,040	$75,180 – $133,400	1,410
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,250	$59,540 – $129,970	12,140
21	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,240	$58,290 – $129,990	4,310
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$88,650	$60,980 – $134,250	1,980
23	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,310	$63,520 – $101,620	6,360
24	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,760	$48,030 – $162,330	32,300
25	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,740	$58,650 – $123,260	5,070
26	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,200	$50,330 – $123,400	4,290
27	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,650	$59,320 – $123,930	14,820
28	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,100	$46,440 – $121,050	2,890
29	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,870	$60,350 – $109,550	2,220
30	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,500	$45,130 – $134,820	1,480
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,220	$61,690 – $93,980	13,210
32	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,920	$52,530 – $114,800	12,390
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$47,940 – $157,000	22,700
34	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,460	$62,030 – $88,280	2,640
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,420	$46,990 – $128,210	17,810
36	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,300	$57,620 – $163,380	9,940
37	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$61,160 – $108,150	17,040
38	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,530	$48,740 – $103,820	1,690
39	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,230	$48,860 – $100,490	2,200
40	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,710	$57,670 – $105,820	4,030
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$49,770 – $117,480	7,800
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,300	$50,820 – $102,410	8,200
43	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,990	$56,850 – $102,660	2,660
44	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$52,630 – $125,400	9,680
45	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,770	$51,020 – $107,490	34,520
46	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,500	$39,610 – $106,400	2,890
47	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,070	$59,730 – $108,670	1,620
48	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,200	$48,230 – $122,880	18,540
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$75,070	$48,740 – $104,950	17,570
50	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,040	$42,120 – $82,180	1,410

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Massachusetts. 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.

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Massachusetts to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Massachusetts that need no degree

More for Massachusetts

Metro areas in Massachusetts

By field in Massachusetts

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree