High paying jobs in Portland-South Portland, ME that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Portland-South Portland, ME 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 Portland-South Portland, ME run 1.9% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-South Portland, ME 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 Portland-South Portland, ME

OccupationMedian, Portland-South Portland, ME · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,530 – $193,540170
2Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$108,850
Associate's degree
$82,750 – $130,480750
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$101,260
Associate's degree
$79,250 – $133,650180
4Dental Hygienists$98,880
Associate's degree
$86,060 – $112,320500
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$96,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,320 – $126,890160
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,000 – $99,180230
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$87,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $139,370440
8Respiratory Therapists$86,440
Associate's degree
$65,210 – $107,530200
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$63,240 – $125,760160
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,400 – $124,6001,210
11First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$82,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,170 – $104,3301,550
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,300 – $106,060770
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,910
Associate's degree
$64,900 – $103,970350
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,030 – $108,8501,340
15Detectives and Criminal Investigators$79,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,980 – $174,050180
16Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,180 – $92,600220
17Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,890 – $110,960280
18Massage Therapists$78,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,450 – $127,180230
19Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$77,770
Associate's degree
$51,850 – $113,760240
20Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,520
Associate's degree
$61,560 – $99,600190
21Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,380
Associate's degree
$55,390 – $94,91090
22Construction and Building Inspectors$77,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $106,810310
23Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,320
Associate's degree
$51,270 – $103,020170
24Mechanical Drafters$76,360
Associate's degree
$52,170 – $76,360570
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,430 – $83,060300
26First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$75,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,400 – $103,240190
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,060 – $92,600600
28Crane and Tower Operators$74,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,020 – $95,090170
29Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$74,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,800 – $100,610150
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,050 – $92,350860
31Food Service Managers$72,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $93,600670
32Electricians$71,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,350 – $98,0301,870
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$70,610
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $93,810260
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$70,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $100,2202,600
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,670 – $122,4501,070
36Physical Therapist Assistants$67,140
Associate's degree
$60,560 – $77,730150
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$67,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $93,450550
38Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,610 – $90,1001,090
39Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$66,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $78,8301,060
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $113,5301,520
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$66,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,420 – $83,140590
42Sheet Metal Workers$66,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $75,490540
43Paramedics$65,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,420 – $86,120110
44Insurance Sales Agents$65,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,270 – $107,9401,080
45Surgical Technologists$65,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,330 – $99,850200
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $99,520760
47Machinists$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,540 – $80,2501,100
48Riggers$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,800 – $81,990280
49Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,280 – $75,790590
50Medical Equipment Repairers$64,670
Associate's degree
$42,970 – $94,690170

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-South Portland, ME	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,570	$67,530 – $193,540	170
2	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$108,850	$82,750 – $130,480	750
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$101,260	$79,250 – $133,650	180
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,880	$86,060 – $112,320	500
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,760	$81,320 – $126,890	160
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,250	$67,000 – $99,180	230
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,670	$48,530 – $139,370	440
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,440	$65,210 – $107,530	200
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$63,240 – $125,760	160
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,050	$52,400 – $124,600	1,210
11	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,740	$51,170 – $104,330	1,550
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,950	$60,300 – $106,060	770
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,910	$64,900 – $103,970	350
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$58,030 – $108,850	1,340
15	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,030	$65,980 – $174,050	180
16	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,170	$54,180 – $92,600	220
17	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,100	$60,890 – $110,960	280
18	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,090	$32,450 – $127,180	230
19	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,770	$51,850 – $113,760	240
20	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,520	$61,560 – $99,600	190
21	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,380	$55,390 – $94,910	90
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,330	$52,000 – $106,810	310
23	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,320	$51,270 – $103,020	170
24	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,360	$52,170 – $76,360	570
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,950	$63,430 – $83,060	300
26	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,890	$54,400 – $103,240	190
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$54,060 – $92,600	600
28	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,650	$60,020 – $95,090	170
29	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,140	$56,800 – $100,610	150
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,600	$61,050 – $92,350	860
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,630	$46,290 – $93,600	670
32	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,660	$56,350 – $98,030	1,870
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,610	$51,200 – $93,810	260
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,240	$47,710 – $100,220	2,600
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,370	$40,670 – $122,450	1,070
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,140	$60,560 – $77,730	150
37	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,020	$54,330 – $93,450	550
38	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,750	$50,610 – $90,100	1,090
39	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,420	$51,880 – $78,830	1,060
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,390	$45,590 – $113,530	1,520
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,100	$50,420 – $83,140	590
42	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,070	$48,490 – $75,490	540
43	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,960	$59,420 – $86,120	110
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,950	$50,270 – $107,940	1,080
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,910	$48,330 – $99,850	200
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,370	$36,860 – $99,520	760
47	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$50,540 – $80,250	1,100
48	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$54,800 – $81,990	280
49	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$52,280 – $75,790	590
50	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$64,670	$42,970 – $94,690	170

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Portland-South Portland, ME. 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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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Portland-South Portland, ME to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Portland-South Portland, ME that need no degree

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