High paying jobs in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX run 14.1% below the national average (2024), so a McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX salary is worth about 1.16× 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

OccupationMedian, McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX · Employed

1Detectives and Criminal Investigators$103,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,730 – $115,2101,600
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$88,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,540 – $171,230190
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,060 – $106,330110
4Dental Hygienists$82,940
Associate's degree
$74,220 – $95,340210
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,350 – $132,510300
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,320 – $98,090130
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,160
Associate's degree
$60,430 – $99,140180
8Surgical Assistants$77,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,170 – $96,110130
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$74,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,090 – $94,030180
10Occupational Therapy Assistants$73,720
Associate's degree
$49,140 – $88,950120
11Physical Therapist Assistants$72,520
Associate's degree
$45,130 – $101,030410
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$66,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,760 – $116,190340
13Respiratory Therapists$65,390
Associate's degree
$54,290 – $78,140250
14Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $87,340540
15First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$62,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,020 – $96,450150
16Surgical Technologists$61,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,590 – $75,080190
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,330 – $101,150940
18Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$61,570
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,030100
19Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$60,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $89,290420
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,580 – $99,240800
21Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$60,110
Associate's degree
$31,680 – $112,020100
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$59,870
Associate's degree
$32,240 – $80,860490
23Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $85,9801,820
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,640 – $64,5201,860
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$55,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,930 – $112,0101,260
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $83,2703,040
27Computer Network Support Specialists$55,130
Associate's degree
$38,690 – $88,100130
28First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$52,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,150 – $84,280560
29Skincare Specialists$50,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,690 – $77,900120
30Firefighters$50,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,860 – $64,130390
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$50,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $76,300290
32Computer User Support Specialists$50,460
Some college, no degree
$35,660 – $72,600910
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$49,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $75,180200
34First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,290 – $76,940990
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$49,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,360 – $102,0201,910
36Food Service Managers$49,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $80,060630
37Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$49,200
Associate's degree
$29,770 – $96,810220
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$48,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,020 – $74,380110
39Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$48,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,540 – $104,180420
40Insurance Sales Agents$48,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,140 – $125,270610
41Machinists$48,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,510 – $67,080110
42Construction and Building Inspectors$48,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,260 – $95,110190
43Architectural and Civil Drafters$47,790
Associate's degree
$37,780 – $78,770120
44Paramedics$47,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,490 – $58,710190
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$47,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $68,260650
46Massage Therapists$47,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,090 – $96,820140
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$47,330
Associate's degree
$30,820 – $74,120560
48Automotive Body and Related Repairers$47,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,370 – $74,740210
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$47,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,060 – $73,010530
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$47,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,250 – $71,0504,390

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

#	Occupation	MedianMcAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,380	$49,730 – $115,210	1,600
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,450	$59,540 – $171,230	190
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,780	$48,060 – $106,330	110
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,940	$74,220 – $95,340	210
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$56,350 – $132,510	300
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,370	$48,320 – $98,090	130
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,160	$60,430 – $99,140	180
8	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,980	$36,170 – $96,110	130
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,700	$34,090 – $94,030	180
10	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,720	$49,140 – $88,950	120
11	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,520	$45,130 – $101,030	410
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,810	$41,760 – $116,190	340
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$65,390	$54,290 – $78,140	250
14	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $87,340	540
15	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,660	$39,020 – $96,450	150
16	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,830	$37,590 – $75,080	190
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$39,330 – $101,150	940
18	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$48,880 – $75,030	100
19	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,410	$44,720 – $89,290	420
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$39,580 – $99,240	800
21	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$60,110	$31,680 – $112,020	100
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,870	$32,240 – $80,860	490
23	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,360	$45,670 – $85,980	1,820
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,250	$45,640 – $64,520	1,860
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,950	$28,930 – $112,010	1,260
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,570	$37,140 – $83,270	3,040
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$55,130	$38,690 – $88,100	130
28	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,110	$34,150 – $84,280	560
29	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,980	$28,690 – $77,900	120
30	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,740	$28,860 – $64,130	390
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,560	$34,980 – $76,300	290
32	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$50,460	$35,660 – $72,600	910
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,770	$36,160 – $75,180	200
34	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$33,290 – $76,940	990
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,350	$27,360 – $102,020	1,910
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,240	$36,460 – $80,060	630
37	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$49,200	$29,770 – $96,810	220
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,690	$38,020 – $74,380	110
39	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,650	$27,540 – $104,180	420
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,340	$31,140 – $125,270	610
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,230	$25,510 – $67,080	110
42	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,080	$36,260 – $95,110	190
43	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$47,790	$37,780 – $78,770	120
44	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,670	$36,490 – $58,710	190
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,500	$36,980 – $68,260	650
46	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,410	$29,090 – $96,820	140
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$47,330	$30,820 – $74,120	560
48	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,260	$28,370 – $74,740	210
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,170	$36,060 – $73,010	530
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,040	$31,250 – $71,050	4,390

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX that need no degree

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