High paying jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA run 6.4% below the national average (2024), so a Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

OccupationMedian, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,520 – $157,570460
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$91,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,860 – $131,330260
3Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,150
Associate's degree
$53,220 – $99,850130
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,760 – $125,090140
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $97,040220
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,210 – $124,990990
7Respiratory Therapists$78,380
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $92,160230
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,280 – $125,250910
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$77,680
Associate's degree
$60,420 – $94,740120
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,820 – $120,600210
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $99,990580
12First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $108,6601,510
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,310 – $105,6601,360
14Dental Hygienists$70,730
Associate's degree
$36,690 – $78,710400
15Electricians$69,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $118,1801,050
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,740
Associate's degree
$59,620 – $91,190360
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $96,900210
18Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$65,870
Associate's degree
$47,740 – $104,69080
19Sheet Metal Workers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,880 – $126,430140
20First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$65,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,160 – $83,7601,610
21Tool and Die Makers$64,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,440 – $76,990120
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $98,710370
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $85,2601,250
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,180
Associate's degree
$45,410 – $92,370140
25Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $83,270760
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $91,8002,500
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040710
28Correctional Officers and Jailers$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,200 – $84,930870
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,080 – $89,510650
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,820 – $74,3402,270
31Construction and Building Inspectors$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $98,540210
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $123,1602,040
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,690 – $98,150450
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,320 – $80,670380
35Food Service Managers$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,580 – $82,470500
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $80,320200
37Chefs and Head Cooks$60,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,060 – $102,470450
38Physical Therapist Assistants$60,520
Associate's degree
$48,740 – $74,510200
39Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $80,350110
40Firefighters$60,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $85,730190
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,940 – $114,300270
42Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360150
43Carpenters$60,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,640 – $81,2901,070
44Computer Network Support Specialists$59,900
Associate's degree
$49,200 – $107,380120
45Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $76,460150
46Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $90,120950
47Mechanical Drafters$59,270
Associate's degree
$46,420 – $77,510130
48Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $70,450980
49Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $73,030250
50Massage Therapists$58,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,870 – $85,990110

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

#	Occupation	MedianScranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,540	$62,520 – $157,570	460
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,730	$68,860 – $131,330	260
3	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,150	$53,220 – $99,850	130
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$53,760 – $125,090	140
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,690	$47,650 – $97,040	220
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,660	$57,210 – $124,990	990
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,380	$59,950 – $92,160	230
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,940	$50,280 – $125,250	910
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$77,680	$60,420 – $94,740	120
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,500	$48,820 – $120,600	210
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,560	$47,580 – $99,990	580
12	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,160	$46,330 – $108,660	1,510
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,210	$49,310 – $105,660	1,360
14	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$70,730	$36,690 – $78,710	400
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,540	$42,210 – $118,180	1,050
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,740	$59,620 – $91,190	360
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$47,640 – $96,900	210
18	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$65,870	$47,740 – $104,690	80
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$41,880 – $126,430	140
20	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,030	$42,160 – $83,760	1,610
21	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,530	$47,440 – $76,990	120
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,350	$45,390 – $98,710	370
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$46,840 – $85,260	1,250
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,180	$45,410 – $92,370	140
25	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$47,150 – $83,270	760
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$44,980 – $91,800	2,500
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	710
28	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,800	$44,200 – $84,930	870
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,750	$46,080 – $89,510	650
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$53,820 – $74,340	2,270
31	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$47,740 – $98,540	210
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$37,860 – $123,160	2,040
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,160	$43,690 – $98,150	450
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$46,320 – $80,670	380
35	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$42,580 – $82,470	500
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$44,240 – $80,320	200
37	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,750	$34,060 – $102,470	450
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,520	$48,740 – $74,510	200
39	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,430	$47,310 – $80,350	110
40	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,410	$39,370 – $85,730	190
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,310	$40,940 – $114,300	270
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$42,600 – $76,360	150
43	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,240	$38,640 – $81,290	1,070
44	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$59,900	$49,200 – $107,380	120
45	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $76,460	150
46	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$46,780 – $90,120	950
47	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,270	$46,420 – $77,510	130
48	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$47,740 – $70,450	980
49	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$41,600 – $73,030	250
50	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,380	$28,870 – $85,990	110

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA. 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA that need no degree

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