High paying jobs in Modesto, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA run 4.1% above the national average (2024), so a Modesto, CA salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Modesto, CA

OccupationMedian, Modesto, CA · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$141,210
Associate's degree
$80,400 – $177,780200
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$136,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$112,970 – $203,470130
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$129,030
Associate's degree
$78,660 – $172,850370
4Dental Hygienists$123,910
Associate's degree
$103,450 – $133,640390
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,230 – $202,600300
6First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$106,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$97,240 – $164,210100
7Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$105,400
Associate's degree
$62,460 – $173,17080
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$104,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,980 – $122,78090
9Respiratory Therapists$103,870
Associate's degree
$83,010 – $134,280270
10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$100,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,000 – $102,300120
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$98,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,230 – $123,690960
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$91,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,000 – $137,610780
13Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$90,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,020 – $131,850430
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$89,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,960 – $133,260610
15Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$88,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $97,460140
16Physical Therapist Assistants$83,450
Associate's degree
$58,800 – $127,640150
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,700 – $129,25090
18Construction and Building Inspectors$80,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,610 – $128,010120
19Surgical Technologists$79,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,230 – $102,990120
20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,340 – $97,550210
21Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,970 – $109,58070
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $136,8801,250
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,490 – $96,130810
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,940 – $102,8301,120
25Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$77,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,110 – $101,490520
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,020 – $121,700810
27Firefighters$77,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,320 – $126,420230
28Electricians$76,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $137,600770
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$76,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $97,980420
30Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$76,500
No formal educational credential
$46,470 – $106,590350
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$75,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,280 – $93,380240
32Structural Iron and Steel Workers$75,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $129,460100
33Legal Support Workers, All Other$74,670
Associate's degree
$47,400 – $108,59080
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$74,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $104,5801,490
35Carpenters$73,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $117,7501,430
36Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$73,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $74,9801,000
37Insurance Sales Agents$73,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,220 – $126,810310
38Food Service Managers$72,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,000 – $116,410350
39Paramedics$72,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,310 – $97,710130
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$71,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,360 – $96,240150
41Sheet Metal Workers$70,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $129,19080
42Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$69,900
Associate's degree
$39,740 – $111,94090
43Automotive Body and Related Repairers$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $82,490180
44First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$68,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $113,690250
45First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$66,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,690 – $94,840800
46Computer User Support Specialists$66,390
Some college, no degree
$49,800 – $96,890360
47Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,770
No formal educational credential
$49,920 – $107,020400
48Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$65,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $79,32090
49Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,230
Associate's degree
$48,200 – $109,550110
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,820 – $90,480470

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

#	Occupation	MedianModesto, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$141,210	$80,400 – $177,780	200
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,920	$112,970 – $203,470	130
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,030	$78,660 – $172,850	370
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,910	$103,450 – $133,640	390
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,390	$69,230 – $202,600	300
6	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,930	$97,240 – $164,210	100
7	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,400	$62,460 – $173,170	80
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,000	$74,980 – $122,780	90
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$103,870	$83,010 – $134,280	270
10	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,400	$63,000 – $102,300	120
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,230	$78,230 – $123,690	960
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,140	$60,000 – $137,610	780
13	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,560	$52,020 – $131,850	430
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,590	$53,960 – $133,260	610
15	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,940	$38,230 – $97,460	140
16	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$83,450	$58,800 – $127,640	150
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,140	$60,700 – $129,250	90
18	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,660	$46,610 – $128,010	120
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,950	$50,230 – $102,990	120
20	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$53,340 – $97,550	210
21	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,620	$50,970 – $109,580	70
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$45,680 – $136,880	1,250
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,370	$53,490 – $96,130	810
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,200	$61,940 – $102,830	1,120
25	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,900	$49,110 – $101,490	520
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,690	$49,020 – $121,700	810
27	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,370	$62,320 – $126,420	230
28	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,710	$48,220 – $137,600	770
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,640	$47,740 – $97,980	420
30	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$76,500	$46,470 – $106,590	350
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,890	$47,280 – $93,380	240
32	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,820	$47,850 – $129,460	100
33	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,670	$47,400 – $108,590	80
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,140	$48,870 – $104,580	1,490
35	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,730	$48,970 – $117,750	1,430
36	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,690	$40,830 – $74,980	1,000
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,270	$41,220 – $126,810	310
38	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,360	$46,000 – $116,410	350
39	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,170	$61,310 – $97,710	130
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,460	$48,360 – $96,240	150
41	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,870	$46,820 – $129,190	80
42	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$69,900	$39,740 – $111,940	90
43	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$46,450 – $82,490	180
44	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,150	$50,870 – $113,690	250
45	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,800	$45,690 – $94,840	800
46	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$66,390	$49,800 – $96,890	360
47	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,770	$49,920 – $107,020	400
48	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,640	$55,690 – $79,320	90
49	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,230	$48,200 – $109,550	110
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,760	$47,820 – $90,480	470

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Modesto, 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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High paying jobs in Modesto, CA that need no degree

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