High paying jobs in State College, PA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in State College, 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 State College, PA run 3.2% below the national average (2024), so a State College, PA salary is worth about 1.03× 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 State College, PA

OccupationMedian, State College, PA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$96,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,000 – $125,570110
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$92,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,510 – $100,44030
3Detectives and Criminal Investigators$90,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,160 – $119,41050
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$84,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,900 – $117,79050
5Massage Therapists$82,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$27,750 – $129,42040
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,360 – $116,390340
7Dental Hygienists$78,530
Associate's degree
$65,870 – $93,470130
8Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$76,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,740 – $121,72030
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,100 – $103,090250
10Respiratory Therapists$73,690
Associate's degree
$61,400 – $79,09060
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$70,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,150 – $99,080360
12Construction and Building Inspectors$66,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,830 – $91,29050
13Correctional Officers and Jailers$66,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $87,420770
14First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$66,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,480 – $93,830250
15Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,510 – $99,47030
16Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$64,210
Associate's degree
$47,940 – $100,170180
17Computer Network Support Specialists$64,040
Associate's degree
$49,390 – $101,38040
18Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,850
Associate's degree
$46,440 – $90,63090
19Computer User Support Specialists$63,790
Some college, no degree
$39,600 – $77,050420
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,450
Associate's degree
$50,500 – $78,32060
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $124,690260
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $80,690100
23Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$62,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,130 – $104,350140
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,860 – $69,530440
25Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $85,860170
26Food Service Managers$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $88,430170
27First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,620 – $92,300510
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,040
No formal educational credential
$47,560 – $72,61050
29Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,260 – $97,690460
30Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $78,020110
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,430
Associate's degree
$45,450 – $80,55040
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,970 – $123,690300
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,860 – $78,370140
34Postal Service Clerks$58,880
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $69,85040
35Physical Therapist Assistants$58,780
Associate's degree
$47,050 – $74,37050
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $82,170120
37Insurance Sales Agents$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $129,880140
38Chefs and Head Cooks$58,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $86,670120
39Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$57,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,250 – $73,300190
40Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,760
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040140
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,680
Associate's degree
$40,910 – $75,62080
42Electricians$57,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,320 – $75,740180
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $94,510130
44Audio and Video Technicians$57,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,720 – $101,23070
45Glaziers$56,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $91,91040
46First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$56,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,550 – $82,07060
47Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,320
Associate's degree
$45,480 – $92,27050
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,360 – $75,110650
49Carpenters$55,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,340 – $81,710350
50Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$55,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,540 – $70,39050

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

#	Occupation	MedianState College, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,130	$78,000 – $125,570	110
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,440	$58,510 – $100,440	30
3	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,250	$65,160 – $119,410	50
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,880	$53,900 – $117,790	50
5	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,490	$27,750 – $129,420	40
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,880	$56,360 – $116,390	340
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,530	$65,870 – $93,470	130
8	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,640	$53,740 – $121,720	30
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,450	$54,100 – $103,090	250
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,690	$61,400 – $79,090	60
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,510	$46,150 – $99,080	360
12	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,940	$50,830 – $91,290	50
13	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,730	$46,840 – $87,420	770
14	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,730	$45,480 – $93,830	250
15	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,820	$39,510 – $99,470	30
16	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$64,210	$47,940 – $100,170	180
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$49,390 – $101,380	40
18	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,850	$46,440 – $90,630	90
19	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,790	$39,600 – $77,050	420
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,450	$50,500 – $78,320	60
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,340	$38,190 – $124,690	260
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,450	$47,250 – $80,690	100
23	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,370	$44,130 – $104,350	140
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,960	$49,860 – $69,530	440
25	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$46,440 – $85,860	170
26	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$45,910 – $88,430	170
27	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$43,620 – $92,300	510
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,040	$47,560 – $72,610	50
29	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$37,260 – $97,690	460
30	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$47,740 – $78,020	110
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,430	$45,450 – $80,550	40
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,260	$33,970 – $123,690	300
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,160	$46,860 – $78,370	140
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,880	$42,600 – $69,850	40
35	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,780	$47,050 – $74,370	50
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,760	$41,600 – $82,170	120
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$38,430 – $129,880	140
38	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,560	$38,500 – $86,670	120
39	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,970	$45,250 – $73,300	190
40	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,760	$42,390 – $81,040	140
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,680	$40,910 – $75,620	80
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,600	$44,320 – $75,740	180
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,560	$44,580 – $94,510	130
44	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,370	$45,720 – $101,230	70
45	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,740	$37,340 – $91,910	40
46	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,460	$45,550 – $82,070	60
47	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,320	$45,480 – $92,270	50
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,130	$42,360 – $75,110	650
49	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,690	$39,340 – $81,710	350
50	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,450	$30,540 – $70,390	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in State College, 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 State College, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in State College, PA that need no degree

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