High paying jobs in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD run 2.6% above the national average (2024), so a Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD salary is worth about 0.98× 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

OccupationMedian, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$121,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,490 – $205,5204,270
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$119,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$98,200 – $156,4703,250
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$119,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,530 – $126,0201,420
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$101,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$91,450 – $129,510950
5Dental Hygienists$100,820
Associate's degree
$83,590 – $103,9204,180
6Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$98,620
Associate's degree
$66,090 – $115,4201,160
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$97,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,030 – $159,6602,160
8Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,910 – $104,5401,760
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$95,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,620 – $151,49010,700
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$94,640
Associate's degree
$80,530 – $115,6401,660
11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$92,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,230 – $151,0403,740
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$89,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,040 – $121,20013,160
13Respiratory Therapists$88,790
Associate's degree
$67,730 – $103,6402,990
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,100 – $127,1609,350
15Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$84,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,710 – $136,5101,280
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,590 – $127,0706,850
17Insurance Sales Agents$81,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $175,1608,480
18Computer Network Support Specialists$81,230
Associate's degree
$50,000 – $135,4702,080
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,220
Associate's degree
$52,400 – $106,4301,430
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,190
Associate's degree
$63,570 – $102,5404,130
21First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,760 – $121,6309,460
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$79,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,480 – $102,6907,150
23Firefighters$78,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,580 – $89,1903,970
24Sheet Metal Workers$77,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,510 – $125,8701,530
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $150,01019,060
26Occupational Therapy Assistants$76,440
Associate's degree
$60,900 – $80,820940
27Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,260 – $105,700980
28Brickmasons and Blockmasons$75,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,300 – $106,0401,210
29Construction and Building Inspectors$75,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $106,1302,900
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,940 – $126,2602,020
31Food Service Managers$75,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,390 – $101,4904,740
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $142,2107,150
33Electricians$74,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $132,61010,090
34Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$74,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,150 – $159,8505,370
35Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$73,380
Associate's degree
$46,820 – $105,3701,880
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$72,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $102,87028,900
37Physical Therapist Assistants$71,540
Associate's degree
$59,380 – $80,8801,650
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$71,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,930 – $134,26019,260
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$70,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,620 – $79,69015,920
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$70,430
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $97,95011,150
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,430 – $96,3905,500
42Surgical Technologists$69,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,790 – $79,9802,020
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$69,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,490 – $90,2002,290
44Paramedics$68,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,740 – $103,3201,760
45Transportation Security Screeners$67,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,340 – $74,070930
46Correctional Officers and Jailers$67,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $94,7705,570
47Architectural and Civil Drafters$67,020
Associate's degree
$49,920 – $98,9702,110
48Chemical Technicians$66,940
Associate's degree
$45,920 – $95,5401,370
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$66,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,780 – $113,3105,620
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$66,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,060 – $84,3601,650

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

#	Occupation	MedianPhiladelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,570	$77,490 – $205,520	4,270
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$119,540	$98,200 – $156,470	3,250
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$119,460	$64,530 – $126,020	1,420
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,050	$91,450 – $129,510	950
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,820	$83,590 – $103,920	4,180
6	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$98,620	$66,090 – $115,420	1,160
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,580	$74,030 – $159,660	2,160
8	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,540	$49,910 – $104,540	1,760
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,840	$62,620 – $151,490	10,700
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$94,640	$80,530 – $115,640	1,660
11	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,510	$59,230 – $151,040	3,740
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,580	$55,040 – $121,200	13,160
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$88,790	$67,730 – $103,640	2,990
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,870	$58,100 – $127,160	9,350
15	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,100	$49,710 – $136,510	1,280
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,560	$54,590 – $127,070	6,850
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,540	$46,760 – $175,160	8,480
18	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,230	$50,000 – $135,470	2,080
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,220	$52,400 – $106,430	1,430
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,190	$63,570 – $102,540	4,130
21	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,520	$49,760 – $121,630	9,460
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,490	$57,480 – $102,690	7,150
23	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,050	$47,580 – $89,190	3,970
24	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,140	$45,510 – $125,870	1,530
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,580	$44,990 – $150,010	19,060
26	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,440	$60,900 – $80,820	940
27	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,320	$47,260 – $105,700	980
28	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,970	$54,300 – $106,040	1,210
29	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,710	$50,440 – $106,130	2,900
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,290	$48,940 – $126,260	2,020
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,070	$55,390 – $101,490	4,740
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,860	$48,400 – $142,210	7,150
33	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,590	$46,980 – $132,610	10,090
34	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,280	$49,150 – $159,850	5,370
35	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,380	$46,820 – $105,370	1,880
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,700	$47,860 – $102,870	28,900
37	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,540	$59,380 – $80,880	1,650
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,020	$38,930 – $134,260	19,260
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,710	$60,620 – $79,690	15,920
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,430	$48,970 – $97,950	11,150
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,340	$49,430 – $96,390	5,500
42	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,650	$48,790 – $79,980	2,020
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,080	$50,490 – $90,200	2,290
44	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,640	$54,740 – $103,320	1,760
45	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,330	$48,340 – $74,070	930
46	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,200	$49,520 – $94,770	5,570
47	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$67,020	$49,920 – $98,970	2,110
48	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,940	$45,920 – $95,540	1,370
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,810	$48,780 – $113,310	5,620
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,680	$50,060 – $84,360	1,650

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD that need no degree

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