High paying jobs in Merced, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Merced, 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 Merced, CA run 1.7% below the national average (2024), so a Merced, CA 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 Merced, CA

OccupationMedian, Merced, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$121,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$109,130 – $197,410100
2Dental Hygienists$117,400
Associate's degree
$102,760 – $130,100100
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$110,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,250 – $136,64040
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$108,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,030 – $160,42070
5Respiratory Therapists$101,810
Associate's degree
$77,670 – $137,40040
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,400
Associate's degree
$57,070 – $159,20080
7Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,850 – $117,64040
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$93,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,950 – $161,200290
9Computer Network Support Specialists$84,870
Associate's degree
$47,350 – $116,24040
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$82,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $155,980490
11Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,860 – $107,890150
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,130 – $123,180280
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $120,850400
14Correctional Officers and Jailers$78,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,070 – $94,540270
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$76,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $97,180110
16Electricians$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,510 – $139,600180
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,840 – $83,200300
18Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,940 – $126,770160
19Carpenters$74,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,010 – $106,750350
20Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,620
Associate's degree
$60,320 – $95,72030
21Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,290 – $113,81040
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,860 – $94,590310
23Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$71,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,250 – $96,30040
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,530 – $132,500360
25Insurance Sales Agents$70,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $167,980170
26Computer User Support Specialists$69,610
Some college, no degree
$34,820 – $95,470110
27Postal Service Clerks$69,160
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,36040
28Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$68,530
No formal educational credential
$35,370 – $68,53070
29First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$68,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $101,510560
30Public Safety Telecommunicators$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $85,950120
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,630 – $83,79080
32First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$64,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $120,44070
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040200
34Paramedics$64,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,370 – $73,63030
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,480 – $97,930190
36Firefighters$63,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,120 – $91,860270
37First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,480 – $85,65030
38Production Workers, All Other$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $68,840160
39Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$63,060
No formal educational credential
$45,120 – $76,80080
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $89,880120
41Conveyor Operators and Tenders$62,970
No formal educational credential
$44,730 – $62,97040
42First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,810 – $78,560100
43Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $83,140270
44Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$61,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $77,22080
45Bus Drivers, School$61,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,770 – $71,540300
46Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,900 – $82,710200
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,320
Associate's degree
$40,480 – $83,02090
48Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$61,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $63,11030
49Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $119,550100
50Automotive Body and Related Repairers$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,480 – $74,98040

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

#	Occupation	MedianMerced, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,720	$109,130 – $197,410	100
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$117,400	$102,760 – $130,100	100
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,910	$62,250 – $136,640	40
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,040	$70,030 – $160,420	70
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,810	$77,670 – $137,400	40
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,400	$57,070 – $159,200	80
7	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,520	$60,850 – $117,640	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,920	$52,950 – $161,200	290
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$84,870	$47,350 – $116,240	40
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,540	$58,330 – $155,980	490
11	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,650	$54,860 – $107,890	150
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$55,130 – $123,180	280
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,490	$48,720 – $120,850	400
14	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,370	$59,070 – $94,540	270
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,790	$47,720 – $97,180	110
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$44,510 – $139,600	180
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,890	$61,840 – $83,200	300
18	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,800	$51,940 – $126,770	160
19	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,760	$45,010 – $106,750	350
20	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,620	$60,320 – $95,720	30
21	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,270	$49,290 – $113,810	40
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,990	$46,860 – $94,590	310
23	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,700	$47,250 – $96,300	40
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,170	$41,530 – $132,500	360
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,220	$38,100 – $167,980	170
26	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$69,610	$34,820 – $95,470	110
27	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$69,160	$54,330 – $76,360	40
28	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$68,530	$35,370 – $68,530	70
29	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,070	$46,700 – $101,510	560
30	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$44,860 – $85,950	120
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$35,630 – $83,790	80
32	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,370	$49,320 – $120,440	70
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $81,040	200
34	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,100	$53,370 – $73,630	30
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,040	$47,480 – $97,930	190
36	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,940	$54,120 – $91,860	270
37	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$41,480 – $85,650	30
38	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$35,140 – $68,840	160
39	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$63,060	$45,120 – $76,800	80
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,970	$45,930 – $89,880	120
41	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$62,970	$44,730 – $62,970	40
42	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$40,810 – $78,560	100
43	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$39,410 – $83,140	270
44	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,650	$44,340 – $77,220	80
45	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,580	$40,770 – $71,540	300
46	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$38,900 – $82,710	200
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,320	$40,480 – $83,020	90
48	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,150	$47,340 – $63,110	30
49	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$43,550 – $119,550	100
50	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$40,480 – $74,980	40

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

High paying jobs in Merced, CA that need no degree

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