High paying jobs in Santa Fe, NM that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Santa Fe, NM 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 Santa Fe, NM run 1.2% below the national average (2024), so a Santa Fe, NM salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Santa Fe, NM

OccupationMedian, Santa Fe, NM · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$120,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,890 – $159,14090
2Dental Hygienists$99,260
Associate's degree
$93,210 – $120,880120
3First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$98,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,060 – $98,30070
4Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$89,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,760 – $110,47050
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$86,000
Associate's degree
$61,040 – $125,50060
6First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,720 – $198,95050
7Computer Network Support Specialists$83,650
Associate's degree
$47,390 – $119,54060
8Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$83,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,440 – $93,57050
9Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$81,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,140 – $95,680600
10Detectives and Criminal Investigators$76,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,880 – $111,97060
11Paramedics$75,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,520 – $78,03080
12Lodging Managers$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,370 – $95,18060
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,080 – $97,090310
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$72,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,340 – $117,280210
15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$72,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,930 – $85,90070
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,450
Associate's degree
$56,260 – $93,140140
17First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,790 – $117,400140
18Chefs and Head Cooks$72,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $106,130100
19Physical Therapist Assistants$70,200
Associate's degree
$59,660 – $93,60040
20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$69,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $97,200240
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,870 – $136,760180
22Fire Inspectors and Investigators$68,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,950 – $80,61050
23First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$67,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,280 – $101,810210
24Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$67,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,840 – $83,540190
25Surveying and Mapping Technicians$66,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $96,80040
26Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$66,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,090 – $101,250140
27First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $97,360610
28Food Service Managers$65,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $109,560150
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,370
Associate's degree
$38,300 – $82,96070
30Construction and Building Inspectors$64,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,910 – $80,06060
31Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $83,41050
32Tutors$62,400
Some college, no degree
$37,930 – $102,030110
33Medical Records Specialists$62,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,240 – $100,55090
34First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$62,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,090 – $94,39070
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040130
36Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,320
Associate's degree
$54,310 – $80,490280
37Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $74,03040
38Carpenters$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $85,040210
39Computer User Support Specialists$58,920
Some college, no degree
$43,720 – $78,580270
40Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,790 – $103,010260
41Forest and Conservation Technicians$58,280
Associate's degree
$48,460 – $96,47050
42Electricians$57,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,280 – $82,800150
43Plasterers and Stucco Masons$57,150
No formal educational credential
$45,450 – $61,85060
44Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,780 – $105,31050
45Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$55,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,500 – $92,130370
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $64,04060
47Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$54,830
No formal educational credential
$42,940 – $57,54050
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$54,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,500 – $75,460210
49First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$54,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,480 – $81,76080
50Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$54,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $61,56030

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Fe, NM	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,030	$82,890 – $159,140	90
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$99,260	$93,210 – $120,880	120
3	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,300	$63,060 – $98,300	70
4	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,010	$61,760 – $110,470	50
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,000	$61,040 – $125,500	60
6	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,790	$59,720 – $198,950	50
7	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,650	$47,390 – $119,540	60
8	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,620	$40,440 – $93,570	50
9	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,410	$54,140 – $95,680	600
10	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,230	$65,880 – $111,970	60
11	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,660	$52,520 – $78,030	80
12	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$52,370 – $95,180	60
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,640	$54,080 – $97,090	310
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,910	$39,340 – $117,280	210
15	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,750	$52,930 – $85,900	70
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,450	$56,260 – $93,140	140
17	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,310	$44,790 – $117,400	140
18	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,020	$46,700 – $106,130	100
19	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,200	$59,660 – $93,600	40
20	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,870	$41,010 – $97,200	240
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,200	$38,870 – $136,760	180
22	Fire Inspectors and InvestigatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,140	$57,950 – $80,610	50
23	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,630	$49,280 – $101,810	210
24	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,600	$42,840 – $83,540	190
25	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,310	$44,010 – $96,800	40
26	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,040	$42,090 – $101,250	140
27	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,760	$44,240 – $97,360	610
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,730	$50,470 – $109,560	150
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,370	$38,300 – $82,960	70
30	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,770	$49,910 – $80,060	60
31	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,790	$45,440 – $83,410	50
32	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,400	$37,930 – $102,030	110
33	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,280	$38,240 – $100,550	90
34	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,030	$49,090 – $94,390	70
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$43,120 – $81,040	130
36	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,320	$54,310 – $80,490	280
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $74,030	40
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$45,320 – $85,040	210
39	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,920	$43,720 – $78,580	270
40	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$33,790 – $103,010	260
41	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,280	$48,460 – $96,470	50
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,250	$37,280 – $82,800	150
43	Plasterers and Stucco MasonsNo formal educational credential	$57,150	$45,450 – $61,850	60
44	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,590	$39,780 – $105,310	50
45	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,640	$35,500 – $92,130	370
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$46,840 – $64,040	60
47	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$54,830	$42,940 – $57,540	50
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,650	$43,500 – $75,460	210
49	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,570	$37,480 – $81,760	80
50	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,080	$36,640 – $61,560	30

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Santa Fe, NM. 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 Santa Fe, NM to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Santa Fe, NM that need no degree

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