High paying jobs in Reading, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Reading, PA 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 Reading, PA run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Reading, PA salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Reading, PA

OccupationMedian, Reading, PA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,790 – $132,860130
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,420 – $172,810270
3Crane and Tower Operators$98,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,950 – $98,86060
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$95,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,420 – $103,79080
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$87,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,670 – $114,300690
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,740
Associate's degree
$73,700 – $106,34070
7First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$84,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,290 – $123,400760
8Respiratory Therapists$84,330
Associate's degree
$68,460 – $105,820130
9Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $99,86090
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,580 – $129,000160
11Dental Hygienists$80,300
Associate's degree
$77,650 – $99,890220
12Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,280
Associate's degree
$45,800 – $110,13060
13First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,600 – $126,560700
14First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,700 – $97,0001,890
15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,290 – $83,75060
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,730
Associate's degree
$50,100 – $102,46080
17Electricians$75,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $129,830820
18Firefighters$74,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,870 – $76,340160
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,660 – $128,500280
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,010
Associate's degree
$51,250 – $106,670230
21Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$70,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,040 – $128,550120
22Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$70,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,790 – $70,310670
23Brickmasons and Blockmasons$69,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,180 – $98,41090
24Mechanical Drafters$69,840
Associate's degree
$50,980 – $84,24060
25Physical Therapist Assistants$69,530
Associate's degree
$52,050 – $78,32090
26Correctional Officers and Jailers$69,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,400 – $79,100240
27Construction and Building Inspectors$69,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,310 – $88,490130
28Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$68,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,230 – $108,170210
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,770 – $77,510710
30Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,400
Associate's degree
$58,630 – $97,06070
31Sheet Metal Workers$67,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $130,250130
32Chefs and Head Cooks$66,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,420 – $108,220210
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $100,3101,660
34Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,990 – $93,460290
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,600 – $126,8401,460
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,100 – $77,7201,360
37Tool and Die Makers$65,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,670 – $82,510100
38Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,670 – $79,870190
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,540 – $76,640990
40Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$63,790
Associate's degree
$46,280 – $71,61070
41Food Service Managers$63,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,170 – $93,920270
42Computer Network Support Specialists$63,200
Associate's degree
$54,330 – $103,32070
43First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,400 – $84,170790
44Millwrights$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $79,10070
45Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,410 – $101,750360
46Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,850 – $93,440590
47Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,750 – $90,73080
48Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,970
Associate's degree
$44,970 – $95,35070
49Chemical Technicians$61,790
Associate's degree
$40,580 – $81,790110
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,970 – $81,500510

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

#	Occupation	MedianReading, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,980	$64,790 – $132,860	130
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,570	$64,420 – $172,810	270
3	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,860	$51,950 – $98,860	60
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,190	$71,420 – $103,790	80
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,060	$58,670 – $114,300	690
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,740	$73,700 – $106,340	70
7	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,380	$56,290 – $123,400	760
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,330	$68,460 – $105,820	130
9	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,190	$47,910 – $99,860	90
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,900	$54,580 – $129,000	160
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,300	$77,650 – $99,890	220
12	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,280	$45,800 – $110,130	60
13	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,770	$57,600 – $126,560	700
14	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,200	$56,700 – $97,000	1,890
15	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$54,290 – $83,750	60
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,730	$50,100 – $102,460	80
17	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,070	$45,930 – $129,830	820
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,760	$46,870 – $76,340	160
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,390	$57,660 – $128,500	280
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,010	$51,250 – $106,670	230
21	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,630	$52,040 – $128,550	120
22	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,310	$50,790 – $70,310	670
23	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,990	$51,180 – $98,410	90
24	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,840	$50,980 – $84,240	60
25	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,530	$52,050 – $78,320	90
26	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,400	$69,400 – $79,100	240
27	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,000	$52,310 – $88,490	130
28	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,990	$50,230 – $108,170	210
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$48,770 – $77,510	710
30	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,400	$58,630 – $97,060	70
31	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,230	$47,290 – $130,250	130
32	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,980	$41,420 – $108,220	210
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,570	$46,660 – $100,310	1,660
34	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,440	$48,990 – $93,460	290
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,130	$42,600 – $126,840	1,460
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,620	$53,100 – $77,720	1,360
37	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,440	$46,670 – $82,510	100
38	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,110	$48,670 – $79,870	190
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,950	$56,540 – $76,640	990
40	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,790	$46,280 – $71,610	70
41	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,750	$49,170 – $93,920	270
42	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,200	$54,330 – $103,320	70
43	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,770	$44,400 – $84,170	790
44	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$47,690 – $79,100	70
45	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,370	$46,410 – $101,750	360
46	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,290	$45,850 – $93,440	590
47	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$48,750 – $90,730	80
48	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,970	$44,970 – $95,350	70
49	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,790	$40,580 – $81,790	110
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$46,970 – $81,500	510

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Reading, PA. 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 Reading, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Reading, PA that need no degree

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