High paying jobs in Richmond, VA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Richmond, VA 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 Richmond, VA run 2.1% below the national average (2024), so a Richmond, VA 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.

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 Richmond, VA

OccupationMedian, Richmond, VA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$111,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,000 – $209,830630
2Dental Hygienists$104,250
Associate's degree
$94,870 – $119,350780
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$100,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,220 – $152,030690
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,820 – $124,610500
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$99,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,390 – $185,0701,470
6Advertising Sales Agents$95,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,150 – $133,470330
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$79,740 – $103,010440
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,930 – $155,940490
9Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$87,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $170,140920
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,820 – $132,450480
11Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $99,390540
12Respiratory Therapists$81,750
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,420630
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,600
Associate's degree
$60,250 – $98,1501,130
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,390 – $121,4302,980
15Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,320 – $105,5401,790
16Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,920 – $105,600490
17Chemical Plant and System Operators$77,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,330 – $96,520340
18Legal Support Workers, All Other$77,840
Associate's degree
$46,950 – $185,100330
19Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$77,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,490 – $98,6202,060
20Occupational Therapy Assistants$76,760
Associate's degree
$50,000 – $93,430210
21First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,000 – $108,2204,460
22Physical Therapist Assistants$73,640
Associate's degree
$54,850 – $83,090560
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,610 – $116,9202,210
24Food Service Managers$73,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,120 – $108,500510
25Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$71,960
Associate's degree
$37,500 – $99,230380
26Construction and Building Inspectors$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $120,3901,140
27Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$70,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $86,170210
28First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$67,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,830 – $97,110470
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,940
Associate's degree
$40,670 – $88,730210
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,790 – $92,5001,900
31Computer Network Support Specialists$65,460
Associate's degree
$42,750 – $111,610610
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $102,0406,490
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $82,580930
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,010 – $77,9302,570
35Financial Clerks, All Other$63,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,710 – $76,500270
36Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,920 – $166,7905,080
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,940
Associate's degree
$48,400 – $91,9601,930
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,830
Associate's degree
$48,480 – $90,630380
39Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$62,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,270 – $96,2203,410
40Machinists$62,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,890 – $95,800650
41First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$62,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,130 – $93,440240
42Insurance Sales Agents$62,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,540 – $141,9402,040
43Tax Preparers$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,190 – $100,470310
44Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$61,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $81,020760
45Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$61,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $94,740560
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $129,7205,710
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$61,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,550 – $81,8502,930
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $77,4902,340
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,160 – $79,2001,400
50Electricians$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $80,7403,600

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

#	Occupation	MedianRichmond, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,480	$78,000 – $209,830	630
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,250	$94,870 – $119,350	780
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,260	$76,220 – $152,030	690
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,210	$72,820 – $124,610	500
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,960	$57,390 – $185,070	1,470
6	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,680	$41,150 – $133,470	330
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$79,740 – $103,010	440
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,080	$66,930 – $155,940	490
9	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,440	$47,450 – $170,140	920
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,820 – $132,450	480
11	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,130	$41,010 – $99,390	540
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,750	$66,960 – $96,420	630
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,600	$60,250 – $98,150	1,130
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,990	$53,390 – $121,430	2,980
15	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,780	$50,320 – $105,540	1,790
16	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$50,920 – $105,600	490
17	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,930	$43,330 – $96,520	340
18	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,840	$46,950 – $185,100	330
19	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,510	$51,490 – $98,620	2,060
20	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,760	$50,000 – $93,430	210
21	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,630	$53,000 – $108,220	4,460
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,640	$54,850 – $83,090	560
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,630	$44,610 – $116,920	2,210
24	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,570	$58,120 – $108,500	510
25	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,960	$37,500 – $99,230	380
26	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$49,580 – $120,390	1,140
27	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,120	$47,980 – $86,170	210
28	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,440	$54,830 – $97,110	470
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,940	$40,670 – $88,730	210
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$46,790 – $92,500	1,900
31	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,460	$42,750 – $111,610	610
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,690	$45,140 – $102,040	6,490
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$47,020 – $82,580	930
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,030	$56,010 – $77,930	2,570
35	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,220	$50,710 – $76,500	270
36	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$37,920 – $166,790	5,080
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,940	$48,400 – $91,960	1,930
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,830	$48,480 – $90,630	380
39	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,720	$53,270 – $96,220	3,410
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,650	$46,890 – $95,800	650
41	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,510	$40,130 – $93,440	240
42	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,330	$37,540 – $141,940	2,040
43	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$37,190 – $100,470	310
44	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,840	$44,420 – $81,020	760
45	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,600	$46,990 – $94,740	560
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,510	$36,250 – $129,720	5,710
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,510	$36,550 – $81,850	2,930
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$44,420 – $77,490	2,340
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,390	$46,160 – $79,200	1,400
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$39,070 – $80,740	3,600

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

Other metro areas in VA

By field in Richmond, VA

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Richmond, VA that need no degree

More for Richmond, VA

Other metro areas in VA

By field in Richmond, VA

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree