High paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA run 8.8% above the national average (2024), so a Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

OccupationMedian, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$161,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$129,690 – $200,620110
2Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers$142,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$87,900 – $165,77070
3Dental Hygienists$135,990
Associate's degree
$106,210 – $151,030260
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$132,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$94,810 – $161,250180
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$132,490
Associate's degree
$97,520 – $161,410100
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$120,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,180 – $131,500730
7Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$115,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,940 – $213,150170
8Construction and Building Inspectors$112,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,540 – $165,150210
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$110,770
Associate's degree
$62,310 – $140,020250
10Respiratory Therapists$108,600
Associate's degree
$80,730 – $134,900130
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$99,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,510 – $125,330100
12Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,190 – $95,740470
13Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$94,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,650 – $140,59090
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$91,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,720 – $138,260530
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$89,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,360 – $135,110780
16Computer Network Support Specialists$88,670
Associate's degree
$50,840 – $130,610100
17Fire Inspectors and Investigators$86,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$86,830 – $122,55080
18Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$85,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,660 – $127,550250
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$63,750 – $117,640130
20Physical Therapist Assistants$85,150
Associate's degree
$64,040 – $102,450100
21Traffic Technicians$84,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,780 – $92,37070
22Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,410
Associate's degree
$47,070 – $101,090100
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $98,90090
24Insurance Sales Agents$83,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $171,530350
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,040
Associate's degree
$63,530 – $139,230110
26Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$82,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,960 – $120,950460
27Firefighters$82,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,240 – $125,620410
28Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,560 – $131,060400
29Paralegals and Legal Assistants$80,930
Associate's degree
$57,930 – $97,500360
30Computer User Support Specialists$80,520
Some college, no degree
$57,280 – $102,770960
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,410 – $95,650650
32Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,550 – $120,430260
33Food Service Managers$78,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $129,840450
34Surgical Technologists$78,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,720 – $107,490170
35Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,910 – $135,58080
36Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$77,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $95,730160
37Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,500
Associate's degree
$53,200 – $109,180110
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $113,3101,440
39Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$75,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $127,430540
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,560 – $103,140110
41Lodging Managers$75,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $146,900120
42Electricians$75,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $113,520630
43Carpenters$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $105,6401,100
44First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$74,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,540 – $124,330220
45Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,250 – $93,660160
46Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $140,2601,110
47Architectural and Civil Drafters$73,930
Associate's degree
$51,070 – $103,470180
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,490 – $159,7501,470
49Transportation Security Screeners$71,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,210 – $78,35070
50Sheet Metal Workers$70,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $133,06090

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$161,440	$129,690 – $200,620	110
2	Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$142,560	$87,900 – $165,770	70
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$135,990	$106,210 – $151,030	260
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$132,910	$94,810 – $161,250	180
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$132,490	$97,520 – $161,410	100
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,900	$79,180 – $131,500	730
7	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,880	$62,940 – $213,150	170
8	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$112,550	$59,540 – $165,150	210
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$110,770	$62,310 – $140,020	250
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$108,600	$80,730 – $134,900	130
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,660	$56,510 – $125,330	100
12	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,740	$64,190 – $95,740	470
13	Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,590	$60,650 – $140,590	90
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,050	$55,720 – $138,260	530
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,190	$58,360 – $135,110	780
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$88,670	$50,840 – $130,610	100
17	Fire Inspectors and InvestigatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,830	$86,830 – $122,550	80
18	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,960	$57,660 – $127,550	250
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$63,750 – $117,640	130
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$85,150	$64,040 – $102,450	100
21	Traffic TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,650	$58,780 – $92,370	70
22	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,410	$47,070 – $101,090	100
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$48,290 – $98,900	90
24	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,990	$45,330 – $171,530	350
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,040	$63,530 – $139,230	110
26	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,740	$58,960 – $120,950	460
27	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,250	$58,240 – $125,620	410
28	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$52,560 – $131,060	400
29	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,930	$57,930 – $97,500	360
30	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$80,520	$57,280 – $102,770	960
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,010	$65,410 – $95,650	650
32	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,640	$48,550 – $120,430	260
33	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,570	$47,630 – $129,840	450
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,510	$49,720 – $107,490	170
35	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,470	$47,910 – $135,580	80
36	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,560	$45,960 – $95,730	160
37	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,500	$53,200 – $109,180	110
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,370	$49,440 – $113,310	1,440
39	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,750	$46,350 – $127,430	540
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,690	$49,560 – $103,140	110
41	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,430	$46,850 – $146,900	120
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,290	$48,170 – $113,520	630
43	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$46,980 – $105,640	1,100
44	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,980	$51,540 – $124,330	220
45	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$46,250 – $93,660	160
46	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,300	$43,550 – $140,260	1,110
47	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$73,930	$51,070 – $103,470	180
48	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$43,490 – $159,750	1,470
49	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,240	$53,210 – $78,350	70
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,420	$46,880 – $133,060	90

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA that need no degree

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