High paying jobs in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ that need no degree

These occupations pay well in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ run 12.6% above the national average (2024), so a New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ salary is worth about 0.89× 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

OccupationMedian, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · Employed

1Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$136,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,950 – $171,8603,270
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$135,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$100,050 – $196,96013,970
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$133,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$88,330 – $217,50010,410
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$132,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$110,810 – $168,6104,610
5Flight Attendants$127,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,430 – $165,29018,030
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$127,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,330 – $240,3105,110
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$122,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,540 – $148,7403,850
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$118,360
Associate's degree
$94,420 – $135,9203,020
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$116,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,090 – $192,66018,300
10Respiratory Therapists$110,490
Associate's degree
$87,090 – $131,5007,010
11Dental Hygienists$109,720
Associate's degree
$85,460 – $126,64014,230
12Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$107,250
Associate's degree
$83,090 – $130,9007,020
13Detectives and Criminal Investigators$106,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,130 – $175,9307,580
14Firefighters$106,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,390 – $115,38014,960
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$105,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,390 – $131,69054,270
16Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$104,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,500 – $152,3303,810
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$103,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,180 – $154,54028,220
18Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$103,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,930 – $129,7103,110
19Real Estate Sales Agents$103,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $179,5008,320
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,730
Associate's degree
$78,970 – $130,11012,700
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$102,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,440 – $121,3907,340
22Advertising Sales Agents$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,200 – $177,66013,210
23First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$97,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,740 – $142,06024,570
24Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$96,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,170 – $207,96014,250
25Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$95,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,440 – $135,76014,840
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,680 – $154,04011,430
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$93,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $176,30091,680
28Transportation Inspectors$93,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,440 – $97,8404,000
29Correctional Officers and Jailers$93,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,410 – $105,95014,730
30Construction and Building Inspectors$90,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,300 – $135,45010,340
31Subway and Streetcar Operators$90,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$90,140 – $90,1403,950
32Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$87,210
Associate's degree
$49,070 – $128,9204,180
33Computer Network Support Specialists$86,930
Associate's degree
$52,230 – $138,4106,330
34Surgical Technologists$84,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,810 – $104,7806,320
35Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$83,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,320 – $124,97076,950
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$83,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,030 – $102,5003,690
37Food Service Managers$82,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,210 – $140,41010,000
38First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$81,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $125,47019,220
39Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$81,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $161,94061,860
40First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$80,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,130 – $126,73095,180
41Insurance Sales Agents$80,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,150 – $176,01021,280
42Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$80,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,520 – $80,0003,800
43Paramedics$79,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,110 – $100,2403,850
44Electricians$79,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $132,17036,550
45Brokerage Clerks$78,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,930 – $125,6807,100
46Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,870 – $145,48021,040
47Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$78,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,560 – $84,70019,770
48Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $102,1204,380
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,690 – $108,78021,820
50Architectural and Civil Drafters$77,170
Associate's degree
$49,110 – $119,4306,710

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

#	Occupation	MedianNew York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,000	$82,950 – $171,860	3,270
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,270	$100,050 – $196,960	13,970
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$133,640	$88,330 – $217,500	10,410
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,810	$110,810 – $168,610	4,610
5	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,740	$52,430 – $165,290	18,030
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$127,140	$75,330 – $240,310	5,110
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,480	$58,540 – $148,740	3,850
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$118,360	$94,420 – $135,920	3,020
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,980	$67,090 – $192,660	18,300
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$110,490	$87,090 – $131,500	7,010
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$109,720	$85,460 – $126,640	14,230
12	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$107,250	$83,090 – $130,900	7,020
13	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,440	$62,130 – $175,930	7,580
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,420	$56,390 – $115,380	14,960
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,540	$56,390 – $131,690	54,270
16	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,810	$64,500 – $152,330	3,810
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,990	$66,180 – $154,540	28,220
18	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,780	$60,930 – $129,710	3,110
19	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,550	$48,350 – $179,500	8,320
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,730	$78,970 – $130,110	12,700
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,550	$57,440 – $121,390	7,340
22	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$50,200 – $177,660	13,210
23	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,560	$62,740 – $142,060	24,570
24	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,950	$58,170 – $207,960	14,250
25	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,980	$55,440 – $135,760	14,840
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,050	$56,680 – $154,040	11,430
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,750	$46,370 – $176,300	91,680
28	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,420	$52,440 – $97,840	4,000
29	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,220	$51,410 – $105,950	14,730
30	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,800	$52,300 – $135,450	10,340
31	Subway and Streetcar OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,140	$90,140 – $90,140	3,950
32	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,210	$49,070 – $128,920	4,180
33	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$86,930	$52,230 – $138,410	6,330
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,120	$58,810 – $104,780	6,320
35	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,840	$63,320 – $124,970	76,950
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,320	$52,030 – $102,500	3,690
37	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,970	$61,210 – $140,410	10,000
38	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,790	$49,920 – $125,470	19,220
39	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,140	$48,160 – $161,940	61,860
40	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,760	$56,130 – $126,730	95,180
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,620	$43,150 – $176,010	21,280
42	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,000	$55,520 – $80,000	3,800
43	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,550	$64,110 – $100,240	3,850
44	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,020	$46,170 – $132,170	36,550
45	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,930	$62,930 – $125,680	7,100
46	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,610	$47,870 – $145,480	21,040
47	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,130	$56,560 – $84,700	19,770
48	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,060	$52,040 – $102,120	4,380
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,990	$50,690 – $108,780	21,820
50	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,170	$49,110 – $119,430	6,710

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. 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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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ that need no degree

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