High paying jobs in Salem, OR that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Salem, OR 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 Salem, OR run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Salem, OR salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Salem, OR

OccupationMedian, Salem, OR · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,750 – $157,200180
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$131,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$104,740 – $166,180160
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$127,680
Associate's degree
$96,350 – $137,070110
4Commercial Pilots$125,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,770 – $198,940140
5Dental Hygienists$119,050
Associate's degree
$106,970 – $125,660300
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,900 – $153,660240
7Respiratory Therapists$104,360
Associate's degree
$89,160 – $122,190130
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,580
Associate's degree
$77,280 – $123,610240
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$101,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,110 – $155,100750
10Electricians$98,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,630 – $129,0101,000
11Detectives and Criminal Investigators$97,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,430 – $132,40080
12Massage Therapists$96,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,670 – $117,490160
13Brickmasons and Blockmasons$92,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,400 – $99,070120
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$90,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,590 – $122,710500
15First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$89,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,910 – $128,010120
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,200
Associate's degree
$58,320 – $115,480140
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,050 – $121,900600
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,600 – $109,350510
19Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,100 – $91,470700
20Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$83,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $104,74060
21Computer Network Support Specialists$82,440
Associate's degree
$58,930 – $109,970160
22Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $94,96070
23Private Detectives and Investigators$81,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,170 – $93,620180
24Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $97,700440
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,420 – $95,370660
26Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,490 – $95,860180
27Glaziers$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $110,040160
28Surgical Technologists$78,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,640 – $95,730100
29Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,550 – $150,820170
30Construction and Building Inspectors$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,810 – $105,540220
31Paramedics$77,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,910 – $95,900180
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$75,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,030 – $104,6001,190
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$74,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,490 – $93,130160
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$74,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,160 – $95,370230
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,490 – $117,310750
36First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $126,400140
37Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,280 – $95,310220
38Tree Trimmers and Pruners$71,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $97,130100
39Lodging Managers$70,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,700 – $99,39060
40Architectural and Civil Drafters$70,870
Associate's degree
$47,080 – $102,100110
41First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$70,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,250 – $96,32080
42Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$70,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,170 – $95,760800
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$67,990
No formal educational credential
$48,990 – $91,590170
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $125,250870
45Physical Therapist Assistants$67,090
Associate's degree
$52,860 – $83,160130
46First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$66,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,980 – $97,720130
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,970 – $80,540100
48Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$65,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,810 – $91,330350
49Food Service Managers$65,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $108,300390
50Firefighters$64,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,040 – $95,980330

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

#	Occupation	MedianSalem, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,500	$58,750 – $157,200	180
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$131,940	$104,740 – $166,180	160
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$127,680	$96,350 – $137,070	110
4	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$125,120	$60,770 – $198,940	140
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$119,050	$106,970 – $125,660	300
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,870	$72,900 – $153,660	240
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,360	$89,160 – $122,190	130
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,580	$77,280 – $123,610	240
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,440	$64,110 – $155,100	750
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,850	$57,630 – $129,010	1,000
11	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,750	$62,430 – $132,400	80
12	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,080	$62,670 – $117,490	160
13	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,110	$64,400 – $99,070	120
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,270	$63,590 – $122,710	500
15	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,070	$71,910 – $128,010	120
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,200	$58,320 – $115,480	140
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,150	$60,050 – $121,900	600
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,320	$62,600 – $109,350	510
19	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,690	$64,100 – $91,470	700
20	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,390	$46,120 – $104,740	60
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,440	$58,930 – $109,970	160
22	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$38,510 – $94,960	70
23	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,070	$57,170 – $93,620	180
24	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,610	$48,330 – $97,700	440
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,600	$65,420 – $95,370	660
26	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$57,490 – $95,860	180
27	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$47,760 – $110,040	160
28	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,010	$67,640 – $95,730	100
29	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,600	$60,550 – $150,820	170
30	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$61,810 – $105,540	220
31	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,460	$40,910 – $95,900	180
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,990	$52,030 – $104,600	1,190
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,860	$47,490 – $93,130	160
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,610	$56,160 – $95,370	230
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$56,490 – $117,310	750
36	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,360	$47,730 – $126,400	140
37	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,160	$60,280 – $95,310	220
38	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,190	$48,490 – $97,130	100
39	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,880	$49,700 – $99,390	60
40	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,870	$47,080 – $102,100	110
41	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,790	$46,250 – $96,320	80
42	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,320	$54,170 – $95,760	800
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$67,990	$48,990 – $91,590	170
44	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,700	$44,800 – $125,250	870
45	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,090	$52,860 – $83,160	130
46	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,690	$47,980 – $97,720	130
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,270	$53,970 – $80,540	100
48	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,050	$46,810 – $91,330	350
49	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,040	$48,720 – $108,300	390
50	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,900	$45,040 – $95,980	330

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

High paying jobs in Salem, OR that need no degree

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