High paying jobs in Pennsylvania that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Pennsylvania 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. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Pennsylvania.

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

Find high paying jobs in Pennsylvania

OccupationMedian, Pennsylvania · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$106,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,550 – $122,5104,150
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,560 – $182,3908,540
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$102,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,840 – $137,9805,690
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$97,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,770 – $154,3603,370
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$91,120
Associate's degree
$51,280 – $107,9902,250
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$85,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $109,78026,510
7Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$83,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $83,8702,750
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$82,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,050 – $136,5105,930
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,710
Associate's degree
$68,370 – $103,5702,980
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$81,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,430 – $133,14026,860
11Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$81,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $100,2003,890
12Dental Hygienists$80,610
Associate's degree
$63,130 – $103,5407,970
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,900 – $120,85020,220
14Respiratory Therapists$78,490
Associate's degree
$62,440 – $95,5206,530
15Computer Network Support Specialists$78,310
Associate's degree
$50,140 – $125,9004,170
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,560 – $136,5102,080
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $119,98013,270
18Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,070
Associate's degree
$47,950 – $99,9303,470
19Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,050
Associate's degree
$56,430 – $97,7408,090
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$75,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,920 – $102,69012,910
21First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $102,39028,900
22Firefighters$73,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,620 – $89,1905,020
23Insurance Sales Agents$73,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,770 – $163,97019,390
24Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,590
Associate's degree
$55,690 – $77,7902,560
25Brickmasons and Blockmasons$69,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,690 – $102,7602,910
26Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,770 – $134,11013,620
27Electricians$67,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $122,62022,730
28Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$66,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $70,3103,070
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,980 – $132,42051,270
30Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,830 – $89,9802,710
31Construction and Building Inspectors$65,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $93,7905,320
32Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$65,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $143,2809,370
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $97,56056,600
34Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$64,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,510 – $97,8005,220
35Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,800
Associate's degree
$46,740 – $96,6805,370
36Food Service Managers$64,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,900 – $94,66010,530
37Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $133,98039,920
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,500 – $77,75038,260
39Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,000 – $81,8206,870
40Chefs and Head Cooks$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,040 – $95,8309,170
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $84,62022,160
42Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,650
Associate's degree
$47,740 – $83,8402,290
43Mechanical Drafters$63,480
Associate's degree
$47,700 – $95,1302,330
44Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $85,63015,560
45Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,370
Associate's degree
$45,710 – $96,08014,670
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $80,4804,660
47Surgical Technologists$62,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,130 – $77,7604,490
48Physical Therapist Assistants$62,580
Associate's degree
$49,610 – $78,0104,270
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,970 – $89,44015,880
50Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $80,44012,630

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

#	Occupation	MedianPennsylvania	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,230	$64,550 – $122,510	4,150
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,240	$65,560 – $182,390	8,540
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,400	$72,840 – $137,980	5,690
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,580	$63,770 – $154,360	3,370
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$91,120	$51,280 – $107,990	2,250
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,470	$48,680 – $109,780	26,510
7	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,610	$58,990 – $83,870	2,750
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,870	$53,050 – $136,510	5,930
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,710	$68,370 – $103,570	2,980
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,540	$58,430 – $133,140	26,860
11	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,020	$46,280 – $100,200	3,890
12	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,610	$63,130 – $103,540	7,970
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,400	$50,900 – $120,850	20,220
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,490	$62,440 – $95,520	6,530
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,310	$50,140 – $125,900	4,170
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,000	$48,560 – $136,510	2,080
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,290	$46,360 – $119,980	13,270
18	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,070	$47,950 – $99,930	3,470
19	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,050	$56,430 – $97,740	8,090
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,270	$48,920 – $102,690	12,910
21	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,990	$47,640 – $102,390	28,900
22	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,460	$48,620 – $89,190	5,020
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,370	$39,770 – $163,970	19,390
24	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,590	$55,690 – $77,790	2,560
25	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,560	$49,690 – $102,760	2,910
26	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,080	$46,770 – $134,110	13,620
27	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,600	$45,600 – $122,620	22,730
28	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,970	$48,240 – $70,310	3,070
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,130	$38,980 – $132,420	51,270
30	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,960	$41,830 – $89,980	2,710
31	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,870	$48,610 – $93,790	5,320
32	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,680	$46,290 – $143,280	9,370
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,270	$45,000 – $97,560	56,600
34	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,960	$41,510 – $97,800	5,220
35	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,800	$46,740 – $96,680	5,370
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,750	$43,900 – $94,660	10,530
37	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$37,270 – $133,980	39,920
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,940	$51,500 – $77,750	38,260
39	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,870	$48,000 – $81,820	6,870
40	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$39,040 – $95,830	9,170
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,840	$47,510 – $84,620	22,160
42	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,650	$47,740 – $83,840	2,290
43	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,480	$47,700 – $95,130	2,330
44	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,460	$46,840 – $85,630	15,560
45	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,370	$45,710 – $96,080	14,670
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,310	$45,670 – $80,480	4,660
47	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,680	$47,130 – $77,760	4,490
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,580	$49,610 – $78,010	4,270
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$45,970 – $89,440	15,880
50	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,740	$45,910 – $80,440	12,630

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

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

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

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Pennsylvania to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Pennsylvania that need no degree

More for Pennsylvania

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

By field in Pennsylvania

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree