High paying jobs in New York that need no degree

These occupations pay well in New York 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 run 7.9% above the national average (2024), so a New York salary is worth about 0.93× 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 New York.

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

Find high paying jobs in New York

OccupationMedian, New York · Employed

1Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$135,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,180 – $168,3703,470
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$132,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$87,670 – $158,5104,100
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$127,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,430 – $204,6006,740
4Flight Attendants$126,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,430 – $163,75012,060
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$124,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,100 – $189,55012,750
6First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$121,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,490 – $198,13016,870
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$121,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,740 – $141,1605,840
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$113,270
Associate's degree
$81,180 – $133,4203,240
9Respiratory Therapists$107,810
Associate's degree
$81,270 – $131,5007,010
10Dental Hygienists$106,130
Associate's degree
$77,680 – $126,64013,660
11Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,920
Associate's degree
$79,630 – $127,1206,880
12First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$103,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,770 – $126,5103,380
13Real Estate Sales Agents$102,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $178,7108,660
14Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$102,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,380 – $240,3104,300
15Detectives and Criminal Investigators$101,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,130 – $166,8009,600
16Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$101,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,490 – $128,2404,170
17Firefighters$100,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,390 – $106,44012,950
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$100,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $120,0908,530
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$99,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,510 – $208,74011,390
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$98,470
Associate's degree
$67,540 – $129,31013,450
21Advertising Sales Agents$98,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,560 – $178,60013,570
22Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$98,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,930 – $129,9803,160
23First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$95,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,240 – $140,21029,600
24Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$94,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,290 – $151,7304,480
25Transportation Inspectors$93,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,620 – $97,8403,720
26Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,000 – $118,25053,470
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$92,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $174,82080,510
28First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$91,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,750 – $137,73026,930
29Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$89,570
Associate's degree
$50,540 – $128,7503,540
30Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$87,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,580 – $87,4203,590
31Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$87,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,560 – $130,37017,330
32Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$84,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,610 – $84,70016,770
33Brickmasons and Blockmasons$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,470 – $127,9803,790
34Food Service Managers$84,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,420 – $143,1808,000
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$80,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,190 – $144,92014,490
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,420 – $122,44088,890
37Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$80,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,610 – $109,7706,980
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,070 – $156,40061,500
39Surgical Technologists$79,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,680 – $105,3306,540
40Construction and Building Inspectors$79,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,540 – $134,43011,160
41First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,240 – $124,45083,110
42Brokerage Clerks$78,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,820 – $125,6805,950
43Electricians$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,740 – $131,64040,130
44First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,400 – $118,68020,830
45Insurance Sales Agents$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $173,75022,420
46Computer Network Support Specialists$77,540
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $128,3507,170
47Bailiffs$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,400 – $96,7703,830
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $130,42023,210
49Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,040
Associate's degree
$48,760 – $111,8204,390
50Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,940 – $93,22027,770

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

#	Occupation	MedianNew York	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,720	$78,180 – $168,370	3,470
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,520	$87,670 – $158,510	4,100
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,180	$80,430 – $204,600	6,740
4	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,650	$52,430 – $163,750	12,060
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,080	$94,100 – $189,550	12,750
6	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,780	$64,490 – $198,130	16,870
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,280	$58,740 – $141,160	5,840
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$113,270	$81,180 – $133,420	3,240
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$107,810	$81,270 – $131,500	7,010
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$106,130	$77,680 – $126,640	13,660
11	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,920	$79,630 – $127,120	6,880
12	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,320	$79,770 – $126,510	3,380
13	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,990	$48,350 – $178,710	8,660
14	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$102,800	$63,380 – $240,310	4,300
15	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,240	$62,130 – $166,800	9,600
16	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,150	$58,490 – $128,240	4,170
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,960	$56,390 – $106,440	12,950
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,960	$50,470 – $120,090	8,530
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,390	$57,510 – $208,740	11,390
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,470	$67,540 – $129,310	13,450
21	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,360	$49,560 – $178,600	13,570
22	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,310	$71,930 – $129,980	3,160
23	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,700	$61,240 – $140,210	29,600
24	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,070	$61,290 – $151,730	4,480
25	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,420	$66,620 – $97,840	3,720
26	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,790	$53,000 – $118,250	53,470
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,190	$45,750 – $174,820	80,510
28	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,150	$59,750 – $137,730	26,930
29	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$89,570	$50,540 – $128,750	3,540
30	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,150	$58,580 – $87,420	3,590
31	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,130	$51,560 – $130,370	17,330
32	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,480	$57,610 – $84,700	16,770
33	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$60,470 – $127,980	3,790
34	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,200	$62,420 – $143,180	8,000
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,980	$50,190 – $144,920	14,490
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,640	$61,420 – $122,440	88,890
37	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,000	$65,610 – $109,770	6,980
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,590	$47,070 – $156,400	61,500
39	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,550	$53,680 – $105,330	6,540
40	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,460	$51,540 – $134,430	11,160
41	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$55,240 – $124,450	83,110
42	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,930	$56,820 – $125,680	5,950
43	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$45,740 – $131,640	40,130
44	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,580	$50,400 – $118,680	20,830
45	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$37,790 – $173,750	22,420
46	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$77,540	$48,970 – $128,350	7,170
47	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$56,400 – $96,770	3,830
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,490	$46,130 – $130,420	23,210
49	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,040	$48,760 – $111,820	4,390
50	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$58,940 – $93,220	27,770

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

Metro areas in New York

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

By field in New York

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 to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in New York that need no degree

More for New York

Metro areas in New York

By field in New York

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree