High paying jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA run 15.6% above the national average (2024), so a San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA salary is worth about 0.86× 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

OccupationMedian, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$175,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$153,190 – $214,0501,690
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$160,270
Associate's degree
$94,600 – $204,1401,300
3First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$159,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$112,900 – $213,890810
4Dental Hygienists$146,760
Associate's degree
$109,460 – $156,5803,780
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$145,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,690 – $233,2003,750
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$141,780
Associate's degree
$89,980 – $176,8002,850
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$137,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,620 – $189,980770
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$132,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$95,390 – $156,6907,990
9Respiratory Therapists$130,220
Associate's degree
$95,450 – $158,1002,010
10Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$129,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,980 – $144,280980
11Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$125,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,570 – $147,7901,040
12Construction and Building Inspectors$125,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,000 – $175,4602,380
13Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$124,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,910 – $149,2604,080
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$120,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,860 – $166,3309,810
15Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$117,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$96,800 – $149,760870
16Firefighters$113,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,070 – $139,5903,450
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$105,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,930 – $136,6403,390
18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$105,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,990 – $151,75011,250
19First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$105,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,050 – $191,7302,420
20Public Safety Telecommunicators$104,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,070 – $136,8601,110
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,910 – $118,6401,240
22Sheet Metal Workers$102,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $154,790880
23Legal Support Workers, All Other$102,420
Associate's degree
$61,330 – $162,520840
24First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$102,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,050 – $166,7706,130
25Computer Network Support Specialists$101,600
Associate's degree
$65,070 – $172,0602,370
26Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$100,620
Associate's degree
$79,410 – $125,000790
27Correctional Officers and Jailers$99,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,800 – $119,4501,500
28Surgical Technologists$99,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $123,5301,440
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,510
Associate's degree
$67,210 – $130,6601,270
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$96,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,830 – $191,38029,980
31Physical Therapist Assistants$95,920
Associate's degree
$66,600 – $116,8501,040
32Insurance Sales Agents$95,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $204,8304,860
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$95,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,590 – $135,1802,370
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$94,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,900 – $109,1208,800
35Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,320 – $134,180940
36Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$93,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $177,37013,190
37Electricians$92,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,360 – $182,3409,060
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$92,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,750 – $133,5901,850
39First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$91,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,960 – $139,9905,050
40Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,020
Associate's degree
$57,780 – $126,1701,570
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$90,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,280 – $131,5702,550
42Computer User Support Specialists$89,440
Some college, no degree
$58,910 – $130,44010,770
43Flight Attendants$89,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,700 – $141,7004,420
44Brokerage Clerks$89,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,930 – $132,7401,360
45Carpenters$89,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,020 – $132,76014,010
46Media and Communication Workers, All Other$89,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $199,9201,130
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$88,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,980 – $131,81019,480
48Food Service Managers$88,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $152,3004,880
49Structural Iron and Steel Workers$87,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,880 – $124,470800
50Advertising Sales Agents$84,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,930 – $167,6701,340

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$175,840	$153,190 – $214,050	1,690
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$160,270	$94,600 – $204,140	1,300
3	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$159,570	$112,900 – $213,890	810
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$146,760	$109,460 – $156,580	3,780
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$145,170	$79,690 – $233,200	3,750
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$141,780	$89,980 – $176,800	2,850
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$137,180	$83,620 – $189,980	770
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,000	$95,390 – $156,690	7,990
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$130,220	$95,450 – $158,100	2,010
10	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,930	$61,980 – $144,280	980
11	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,160	$73,570 – $147,790	1,040
12	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,130	$76,000 – $175,460	2,380
13	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,750	$60,910 – $149,260	4,080
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,810	$73,860 – $166,330	9,810
15	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,660	$96,800 – $149,760	870
16	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$113,700	$77,070 – $139,590	3,450
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,340	$70,930 – $136,640	3,390
18	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,190	$69,990 – $151,750	11,250
19	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,130	$61,050 – $191,730	2,420
20	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,910	$60,070 – $136,860	1,110
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,500	$60,910 – $118,640	1,240
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,660	$55,560 – $154,790	880
23	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$102,420	$61,330 – $162,520	840
24	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,360	$62,050 – $166,770	6,130
25	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$101,600	$65,070 – $172,060	2,370
26	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$100,620	$79,410 – $125,000	790
27	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,880	$69,800 – $119,450	1,500
28	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,390	$62,570 – $123,530	1,440
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,510	$67,210 – $130,660	1,270
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,960	$50,830 – $191,380	29,980
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$95,920	$66,600 – $116,850	1,040
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,640	$44,550 – $204,830	4,860
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,410	$60,590 – $135,180	2,370
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,310	$75,900 – $109,120	8,800
35	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,400	$62,320 – $134,180	940
36	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,100	$49,580 – $177,370	13,190
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,830	$55,360 – $182,340	9,060
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,290	$61,750 – $133,590	1,850
39	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,500	$56,960 – $139,990	5,050
40	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,020	$57,780 – $126,170	1,570
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,580	$58,280 – $131,570	2,550
42	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$89,440	$58,910 – $130,440	10,770
43	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,430	$52,700 – $141,700	4,420
44	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,370	$62,930 – $132,740	1,360
45	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,200	$59,020 – $132,760	14,010
46	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,050	$45,000 – $199,920	1,130
47	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,560	$59,980 – $131,810	19,480
48	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,290	$51,930 – $152,300	4,880
49	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,340	$56,880 – $124,470	800
50	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,390	$46,930 – $167,670	1,340

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA that need no degree

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