High paying jobs in Odessa, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Odessa, 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 Odessa, TX run 6.1% below the national average (2024), so a Odessa, TX salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Odessa, TX

OccupationMedian, Odessa, TX · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$104,280
Associate's degree
$72,790 – $105,65030
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,040 – $148,860190
3Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $100,40040
4First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$84,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $128,220820
5Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,130
Associate's degree
$56,940 – $107,990110
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $123,0701,380
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,220 – $136,800140
8Wellhead Pumpers$75,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $100,240330
9Crane and Tower Operators$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,030 – $88,97090
10First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $122,960380
11Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$73,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $144,320770
12Physical Therapist Assistants$70,470
Associate's degree
$37,970 – $89,35060
13Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$70,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $106,530110
14Calibration Technologists and Technicians$68,630
Associate's degree
$46,840 – $102,67050
15Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$67,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $99,740200
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,840
Associate's degree
$36,530 – $96,810100
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,950 – $130,400900
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $95,990550
19Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$65,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,290 – $95,74040
20Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$64,870
Associate's degree
$37,130 – $105,42050
21Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,590 – $84,090790
22First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,700 – $98,190790
23First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,200 – $99,090440
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,530 – $74,650320
25Computer User Support Specialists$62,120
Some college, no degree
$44,500 – $82,360170
26Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,460 – $78,210290
27Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$61,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,590 – $104,820130
28Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,740 – $96,380420
29Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $171,000180
30Chemical Technicians$60,580
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $101,540100
31Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $70,880410
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,210 – $84,5101,660
33Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,890
Associate's degree
$39,970 – $79,840100
34Machinists$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,910 – $78,140380
35Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$59,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,930 – $97,47040
36Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$59,560
No formal educational credential
$39,470 – $99,420230
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,340 – $81,490170
38Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,280 – $79,130160
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,480 – $77,9303,190
40Food Service Managers$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $96,270230
41Electricians$57,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,690 – $75,1501,030
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,660
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040140
43Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $85,540240
44Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,900 – $74,14060
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,490 – $73,010670
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $104,320100
47Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$54,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $79,100190
48Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$53,130
No formal educational credential
$45,870 – $63,280390
49Insulation Workers, Mechanical$52,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $57,620100
50Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $63,12090

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

#	Occupation	MedianOdessa, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$104,280	$72,790 – $105,650	30
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,980	$64,040 – $148,860	190
3	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,750	$43,930 – $100,400	40
4	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,570	$48,200 – $128,220	820
5	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,130	$56,940 – $107,990	110
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,580	$48,970 – $123,070	1,380
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,750	$50,220 – $136,800	140
8	Wellhead PumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,450	$35,700 – $100,240	330
9	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$55,030 – $88,970	90
10	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,990	$44,880 – $122,960	380
11	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,350	$37,380 – $144,320	770
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,470	$37,970 – $89,350	60
13	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,020	$46,140 – $106,530	110
14	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,630	$46,840 – $102,670	50
15	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,260	$48,740 – $99,740	200
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,840	$36,530 – $96,810	100
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,750	$40,950 – $130,400	900
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,740	$46,940 – $95,990	550
19	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,480	$39,290 – $95,740	40
20	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$64,870	$37,130 – $105,420	50
21	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$42,590 – $84,090	790
22	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$40,700 – $98,190	790
23	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,950	$42,200 – $99,090	440
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,490	$45,530 – $74,650	320
25	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,120	$44,500 – $82,360	170
26	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,870	$39,460 – $78,210	290
27	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,840	$48,590 – $104,820	130
28	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,560	$44,740 – $96,380	420
29	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$35,710 – $171,000	180
30	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,580	$48,640 – $101,540	100
31	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$45,560 – $70,880	410
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,190	$45,210 – $84,510	1,660
33	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,890	$39,970 – $79,840	100
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$40,910 – $78,140	380
35	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,710	$37,930 – $97,470	40
36	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$59,560	$39,470 – $99,420	230
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$42,340 – $81,490	170
38	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,580	$33,280 – $79,130	160
39	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,370	$40,480 – $77,930	3,190
40	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$40,000 – $96,270	230
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,110	$41,690 – $75,150	1,030
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$56,660	$43,120 – $81,040	140
43	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$37,440 – $85,540	240
44	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,000	$44,900 – $74,140	60
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$43,490 – $73,010	670
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$34,200 – $104,320	100
47	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,980	$35,420 – $79,100	190
48	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$53,130	$45,870 – $63,280	390
49	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,760	$42,210 – $57,620	100
50	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,360	$40,690 – $63,120	90

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

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