High paying jobs in Salinas, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Salinas, CA 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 Salinas, CA run 9.0% above the national average (2024), so a Salinas, CA salary is worth about 0.92× 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 Salinas, CA

OccupationMedian, Salinas, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$153,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$109,600 – $206,670150
2Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$122,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,190 – $169,10090
3Dental Hygienists$122,370
Associate's degree
$105,280 – $138,260240
4Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,390 – $142,280930
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,020 – $182,990190
6Correctional Officers and Jailers$109,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,800 – $116,2701,510
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$107,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$78,230 – $168,250220
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,330
Associate's degree
$62,910 – $129,920150
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$101,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,750 – $136,640150
10Construction and Building Inspectors$100,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,830 – $148,64090
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$91,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,300 – $140,840500
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$91,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,300 – $127,920500
13Physical Therapist Assistants$84,850
Associate's degree
$64,340 – $101,84070
14Sheet Metal Workers$83,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,100 – $135,81060
15Firefighters$81,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $122,590760
16Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$80,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,340 – $96,370710
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $154,640930
18Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$80,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,730 – $131,930340
19Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$79,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,870 – $115,430360
20Food Service Managers$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,210 – $130,160310
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $97,730210
22First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,890 – $115,130150
23Electricians$78,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $131,450530
24First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$78,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $99,020230
25Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$77,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,820 – $125,540190
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,610 – $104,49090
27Computer Network Support Specialists$76,230
Associate's degree
$59,810 – $119,41060
28Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$76,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,440 – $89,920320
29Lodging Managers$76,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $154,710130
30Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$75,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,920 – $102,86080
31First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$74,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,710 – $104,2001,230
32Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$73,650
No formal educational credential
$48,190 – $91,800160
33Computer User Support Specialists$73,540
Some college, no degree
$50,290 – $101,040340
34Surgical Technologists$72,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,160 – $98,870120
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$72,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,590 – $115,990300
36Chefs and Head Cooks$72,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,150 – $111,730360
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $105,260350
38Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,380 – $75,410180
39Insurance Sales Agents$70,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,310 – $97,680240
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,890 – $109,840530
41Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$69,210
No formal educational credential
$45,640 – $69,21090
42Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$68,050
No formal educational credential
$48,330 – $155,420200
43Carpenters$67,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,930 – $104,6301,210
44Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,470
Associate's degree
$49,860 – $100,26080
45Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$66,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $112,580120
46Glaziers$65,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,120 – $122,310100
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$65,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,400 – $84,40060
48Procurement Clerks$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,770 – $74,94060
49Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $101,400320
50Plasterers and Stucco Masons$64,330
No formal educational credential
$46,750 – $77,35080

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

#	Occupation	MedianSalinas, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$153,930	$109,600 – $206,670	150
2	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,630	$82,190 – $169,100	90
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$122,370	$105,280 – $138,260	240
4	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,220	$78,390 – $142,280	930
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,050	$69,020 – $182,990	190
6	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,620	$69,800 – $116,270	1,510
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$107,830	$78,230 – $168,250	220
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,330	$62,910 – $129,920	150
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,900	$63,750 – $136,640	150
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,830	$69,830 – $148,640	90
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,850	$52,300 – $140,840	500
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,200	$61,300 – $127,920	500
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$84,850	$64,340 – $101,840	70
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,470	$52,100 – $135,810	60
15	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,070	$51,540 – $122,590	760
16	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,910	$64,340 – $96,370	710
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,510	$47,370 – $154,640	930
18	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,320	$59,730 – $131,930	340
19	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,390	$53,870 – $115,430	360
20	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$46,210 – $130,160	310
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,160	$44,010 – $97,730	210
22	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,790	$52,890 – $115,130	150
23	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,780	$47,740 – $131,450	530
24	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,730	$46,450 – $99,020	230
25	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,920	$60,820 – $125,540	190
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,890	$49,610 – $104,490	90
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,230	$59,810 – $119,410	60
28	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,090	$62,440 – $89,920	320
29	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,080	$46,440 – $154,710	130
30	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,150	$48,920 – $102,860	80
31	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,010	$48,710 – $104,200	1,230
32	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$73,650	$48,190 – $91,800	160
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$73,540	$50,290 – $101,040	340
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,780	$59,160 – $98,870	120
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,550	$49,590 – $115,990	300
36	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,440	$40,150 – $111,730	360
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,490	$46,810 – $105,260	350
38	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$62,380 – $75,410	180
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,220	$39,310 – $97,680	240
40	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,920	$44,890 – $109,840	530
41	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$69,210	$45,640 – $69,210	90
42	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$68,050	$48,330 – $155,420	200
43	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,530	$47,930 – $104,630	1,210
44	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,470	$49,860 – $100,260	80
45	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,440	$48,150 – $112,580	120
46	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,380	$50,120 – $122,310	100
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,160	$43,400 – $84,400	60
48	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$44,770 – $74,940	60
49	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$47,270 – $101,400	320
50	Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNo formal educational credential	$64,330	$46,750 – $77,350	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Salinas, CA. 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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High paying jobs in Salinas, CA that need no degree

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