High paying jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 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-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA salary is worth about 0.95× 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-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

OccupationMedian, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$135,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,650 – $161,180810
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$128,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$108,560 – $161,310680
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,420
Associate's degree
$98,230 – $136,190690
4Dental Hygienists$123,100
Associate's degree
$107,650 – $147,4702,380
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$112,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,750 – $159,9205,880
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$109,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,950 – $202,6301,810
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$105,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$81,460 – $139,480590
8Electricians$105,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,360 – $134,3807,340
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,810
Associate's degree
$71,070 – $125,8501,520
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,640 – $147,1004,600
11Respiratory Therapists$100,030
Associate's degree
$82,330 – $116,410760
12Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,310 – $123,710410
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$97,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,640 – $114,0602,290
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$95,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,480 – $123,300540
15Construction and Building Inspectors$93,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,600 – $123,7801,200
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$93,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,860 – $142,1104,390
17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$86,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,830 – $144,4001,500
18Firefighters$85,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,250 – $110,5701,730
19Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,930
Associate's degree
$64,060 – $103,200610
20Massage Therapists$84,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,710 – $103,6501,580
21Correctional Officers and Jailers$84,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,510 – $95,8201,350
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$83,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,690 – $101,290450
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$83,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,330 – $135,930610
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,060 – $102,7802,250
25Surgical Technologists$82,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,720 – $97,100650
26Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$82,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,070 – $155,0002,210
27Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,820 – $117,7701,730
28Brickmasons and Blockmasons$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,740 – $102,760400
29Public Safety Telecommunicators$81,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,140 – $99,490470
30Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$81,100
No formal educational credential
$39,010 – $119,2501,100
31Mechanical Drafters$80,510
Associate's degree
$53,740 – $126,700410
32Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,600 – $81,1102,130
33Sheet Metal Workers$79,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,980 – $127,4502,280
34Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$79,350
Associate's degree
$46,890 – $111,850780
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,520 – $123,2903,040
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$78,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,800 – $103,5503,880
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,570 – $105,6704,830
38Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,600 – $100,6701,260
39Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,990
Associate's degree
$56,960 – $105,5501,730
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,220 – $104,8601,160
41Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,980 – $131,56010,670
42First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$76,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,220 – $98,270600
43Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,530 – $101,310730
44Advertising Sales Agents$76,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,580 – $116,600730
45First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,360 – $105,4604,970
46First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,190 – $106,6307,740
47Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,870
Associate's degree
$52,670 – $98,730910
48Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$75,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,750 – $103,850400
49Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $90,8301,160
50Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,560
Associate's degree
$61,360 – $101,0701,180

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,300	$79,650 – $161,180	810
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$128,500	$108,560 – $161,310	680
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,420	$98,230 – $136,190	690
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,100	$107,650 – $147,470	2,380
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,480	$71,750 – $159,920	5,880
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,860	$68,950 – $202,630	1,810
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,890	$81,460 – $139,480	590
8	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,090	$60,360 – $134,380	7,340
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,810	$71,070 – $125,850	1,520
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,010	$57,640 – $147,100	4,600
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,030	$82,330 – $116,410	760
12	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,120	$62,310 – $123,710	410
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,200	$79,640 – $114,060	2,290
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,360	$73,480 – $123,300	540
15	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,340	$64,600 – $123,780	1,200
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,200	$62,860 – $142,110	4,390
17	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,890	$56,830 – $144,400	1,500
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,170	$58,250 – $110,570	1,730
19	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,930	$64,060 – $103,200	610
20	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,730	$50,710 – $103,650	1,580
21	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,640	$64,510 – $95,820	1,350
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,860	$53,690 – $101,290	450
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,760	$59,330 – $135,930	610
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,510	$65,060 – $102,780	2,250
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,430	$61,720 – $97,100	650
26	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,180	$61,070 – $155,000	2,210
27	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,160	$51,820 – $117,770	1,730
28	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$55,740 – $102,760	400
29	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,160	$61,140 – $99,490	470
30	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$81,100	$39,010 – $119,250	1,100
31	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$80,510	$53,740 – $126,700	410
32	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$57,600 – $81,110	2,130
33	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,570	$49,980 – $127,450	2,280
34	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$79,350	$46,890 – $111,850	780
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,040	$59,520 – $123,290	3,040
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,750	$59,800 – $103,550	3,880
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$57,570 – $105,670	4,830
38	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,520	$58,600 – $100,670	1,260
39	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,990	$56,960 – $105,550	1,730
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,980	$50,220 – $104,860	1,160
41	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,900	$45,980 – $131,560	10,670
42	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,910	$55,220 – $98,270	600
43	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,630	$49,530 – $101,310	730
44	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,570	$40,580 – $116,600	730
45	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,510	$51,360 – $105,460	4,970
46	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,380	$53,190 – $106,630	7,740
47	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,870	$52,670 – $98,730	910
48	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,660	$58,750 – $103,850	400
49	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$51,220 – $90,830	1,160
50	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,560	$61,360 – $101,070	1,180

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA that need no degree

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