High paying jobs in Syracuse, NY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Syracuse, NY 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 Syracuse, NY run 4.3% below the national average (2024), so a Syracuse, NY salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Syracuse, NY

OccupationMedian, Syracuse, NY · Employed

1Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$126,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,090 – $148,750130
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$124,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,060 – $131,650250
3Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$119,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$96,620 – $124,030160
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$107,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,120 – $163,620560
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$104,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,450 – $171,560280
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$104,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,170 – $144,020300
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$98,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,170 – $131,730340
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,910
Associate's degree
$77,180 – $119,850210
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$97,900
Associate's degree
$57,940 – $111,260100
10Power Plant Operators$97,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,840 – $131,030290
11Dental Hygienists$93,640
Associate's degree
$79,660 – $102,760580
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$87,860
Associate's degree
$66,150 – $107,600660
13Respiratory Therapists$85,860
Associate's degree
$68,330 – $102,720280
14Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,450 – $110,240280
15Insulation Workers, Mechanical$82,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $96,670100
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,830
Associate's degree
$48,760 – $125,820360
17Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$82,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $82,530520
18Real Estate Sales Agents$82,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $173,290120
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,950 – $111,750590
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$81,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,410 – $126,7301,060
21First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,730 – $128,3501,370
22Maintenance Workers, Machinery$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,320 – $90,360320
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $128,1201,230
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,870 – $97,680350
25Electricians$77,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $117,3101,160
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $132,6302,450
27Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$76,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,000 – $106,3502,120
28Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$76,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,220 – $107,600240
29Construction and Building Inspectors$75,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,020 – $105,180350
30Mechanical Drafters$75,510
Associate's degree
$52,990 – $98,960130
31Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,270 – $97,8501,410
32Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,230 – $91,340130
33Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$74,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,160 – $154,870280
34Food Service Managers$74,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,580 – $99,860220
35Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $102,730180
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,420 – $96,090820
37First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$72,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,560 – $105,1402,510
38Correctional Officers and Jailers$72,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,110 – $80,340530
39First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$71,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $106,800100
40Opticians, Dispensing$68,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,930 – $85,070180
41Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$67,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,850 – $92,530160
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $99,450840
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$66,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $96,780970
44Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,140
Associate's degree
$47,270 – $96,260280
45Insurance Sales Agents$65,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $135,260670
46Medical Equipment Repairers$65,530
Associate's degree
$44,720 – $83,510100
47Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $87,690280
48Chemical Technicians$65,060
Associate's degree
$39,890 – $128,020120
49Computer Network Support Specialists$64,850
Associate's degree
$48,880 – $93,180260
50Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$64,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $88,300670

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

#	Occupation	MedianSyracuse, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$126,630	$66,090 – $148,750	130
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,970	$76,060 – $131,650	250
3	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,230	$96,620 – $124,030	160
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,700	$63,120 – $163,620	560
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,340	$77,450 – $171,560	280
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,110	$82,170 – $144,020	300
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,390	$60,170 – $131,730	340
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,910	$77,180 – $119,850	210
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,900	$57,940 – $111,260	100
10	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,300	$62,840 – $131,030	290
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,640	$79,660 – $102,760	580
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,860	$66,150 – $107,600	660
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$85,860	$68,330 – $102,720	280
14	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,610	$45,450 – $110,240	280
15	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,950	$37,630 – $96,670	100
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,830	$48,760 – $125,820	360
17	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,530	$49,160 – $82,530	520
18	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,520	$45,060 – $173,290	120
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,060	$58,950 – $111,750	590
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,230	$61,410 – $126,730	1,060
21	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,140	$56,730 – $128,350	1,370
22	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$47,320 – $90,360	320
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$49,450 – $128,120	1,230
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,170	$53,870 – $97,680	350
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,110	$46,080 – $117,310	1,160
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,090	$46,780 – $132,630	2,450
27	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,350	$56,000 – $106,350	2,120
28	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,310	$47,220 – $107,600	240
29	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,610	$46,020 – $105,180	350
30	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,510	$52,990 – $98,960	130
31	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$56,270 – $97,850	1,410
32	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$50,230 – $91,340	130
33	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,320	$51,160 – $154,870	280
34	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,140	$56,580 – $99,860	220
35	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,880	$52,000 – $102,730	180
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,030	$52,420 – $96,090	820
37	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,620	$49,560 – $105,140	2,510
38	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,060	$50,110 – $80,340	530
39	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,650	$46,850 – $106,800	100
40	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,880	$46,930 – $85,070	180
41	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,430	$54,850 – $92,530	160
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$44,720 – $99,450	840
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,600	$47,320 – $96,780	970
44	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,140	$47,270 – $96,260	280
45	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,910	$37,830 – $135,260	670
46	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$65,530	$44,720 – $83,510	100
47	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$52,000 – $87,690	280
48	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,060	$39,890 – $128,020	120
49	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,850	$48,880 – $93,180	260
50	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,770	$47,250 – $88,300	670

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Syracuse, NY. 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 Syracuse, NY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Syracuse, NY that need no degree

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