High paying jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA run 10.4% above the national average (2024), so a San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA salary is worth about 0.91× 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

OccupationMedian, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$177,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,410 – $295,0001,760
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$173,150
Associate's degree
$100,130 – $213,010500
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$163,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$137,580 – $238,720370
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$154,850
Associate's degree
$98,910 – $185,3401,000
5Firefighters$152,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,680 – $181,2701,330
6Respiratory Therapists$149,680
Associate's degree
$98,000 – $178,5801,060
7Dental Hygienists$139,990
Associate's degree
$128,620 – $156,8501,620
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$136,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$105,050 – $174,0302,590
9Correctional Officers and Jailers$132,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$90,020 – $132,6701,050
10Construction and Building Inspectors$129,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $183,710860
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$129,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,800 – $196,0704,770
12Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$124,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,680 – $152,7601,360
13Computer Network Support Specialists$124,130
Associate's degree
$74,110 – $205,4001,080
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$122,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,410 – $150,830600
15Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$116,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,500 – $217,68013,390
16Electrical and Electronics Drafters$115,530
Associate's degree
$59,590 – $210,370480
17Public Safety Telecommunicators$113,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,400 – $159,540400
18Advertising Sales Agents$113,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,950 – $178,580380
19Sheet Metal Workers$109,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,810 – $155,470750
20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$108,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,150 – $139,050460
21Legal Support Workers, All Other$107,980
Associate's degree
$72,190 – $187,860380
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$107,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,270 – $155,6003,830
23Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$107,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,660 – $121,200390
24Surgical Technologists$106,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,640 – $133,480700
25Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$106,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,840 – $157,5805,300
26First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$104,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,920 – $171,9402,360
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$103,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,980 – $211,4206,530
28Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$102,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,320 – $133,080420
29Paralegals and Legal Assistants$99,250
Associate's degree
$60,030 – $157,4502,030
30Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$98,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,740 – $148,660370
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,020
Associate's degree
$67,410 – $134,330420
32Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$97,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,150 – $100,8101,240
33Physical Therapist Assistants$97,190
Associate's degree
$69,290 – $118,810400
34Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$96,680
Associate's degree
$74,600 – $144,300530
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$95,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,160 – $117,020510
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$95,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,320 – $113,2203,290
37Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$95,280
Associate's degree
$66,570 – $126,9702,880
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$95,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,320 – $139,6507,630
39Computer User Support Specialists$93,590
Some college, no degree
$59,310 – $135,6905,790
40Tapers$92,810
No formal educational credential
$65,670 – $133,880480
41Electricians$91,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,290 – $173,3405,480
42Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$90,660
Associate's degree
$57,100 – $114,6001,000
43First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$89,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,750 – $135,4002,440
44Food Service Managers$89,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,810 – $153,8701,360
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$88,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,550 – $113,440720
46Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$87,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,940 – $124,4601,060
47Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$87,430
No formal educational credential
$56,080 – $110,950870
48Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$87,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,770 – $126,880660
49Medical Records Specialists$86,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,430 – $151,520920
50Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$86,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,120 – $169,0302,630

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$177,400	$94,410 – $295,000	1,760
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$173,150	$100,130 – $213,010	500
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$163,700	$137,580 – $238,720	370
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$154,850	$98,910 – $185,340	1,000
5	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$152,100	$59,680 – $181,270	1,330
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$149,680	$98,000 – $178,580	1,060
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$139,990	$128,620 – $156,850	1,620
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,140	$105,050 – $174,030	2,590
9	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,670	$90,020 – $132,670	1,050
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,750	$58,990 – $183,710	860
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,700	$76,800 – $196,070	4,770
12	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,340	$60,680 – $152,760	1,360
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$124,130	$74,110 – $205,400	1,080
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$122,860	$80,410 – $150,830	600
15	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,510	$49,500 – $217,680	13,390
16	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$115,530	$59,590 – $210,370	480
17	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,800	$65,400 – $159,540	400
18	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,250	$58,950 – $178,580	380
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,280	$54,810 – $155,470	750
20	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,190	$63,150 – $139,050	460
21	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$107,980	$72,190 – $187,860	380
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,560	$63,270 – $155,600	3,830
23	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,310	$79,660 – $121,200	390
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,840	$77,640 – $133,480	700
25	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,220	$74,840 – $157,580	5,300
26	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,070	$60,920 – $171,940	2,360
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,670	$56,980 – $211,420	6,530
28	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$102,980	$67,320 – $133,080	420
29	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$99,250	$60,030 – $157,450	2,030
30	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,230	$59,740 – $148,660	370
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,020	$67,410 – $134,330	420
32	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,900	$68,150 – $100,810	1,240
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$97,190	$69,290 – $118,810	400
34	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$96,680	$74,600 – $144,300	530
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,980	$57,160 – $117,020	510
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,320	$77,320 – $113,220	3,290
37	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,280	$66,570 – $126,970	2,880
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,010	$60,320 – $139,650	7,630
39	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$93,590	$59,310 – $135,690	5,790
40	TapersNo formal educational credential	$92,810	$65,670 – $133,880	480
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,030	$54,290 – $173,340	5,480
42	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$90,660	$57,100 – $114,600	1,000
43	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,970	$56,750 – $135,400	2,440
44	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,900	$59,810 – $153,870	1,360
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,980	$56,550 – $113,440	720
46	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,950	$62,940 – $124,460	1,060
47	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$87,430	$56,080 – $110,950	870
48	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,270	$52,770 – $126,880	660
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,890	$55,430 – $151,520	920
50	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,840	$51,120 – $169,030	2,630

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA that need no degree

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