High paying jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Trenton-Princeton, NJ 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ run 3.2% above the national average (2024), so a Trenton-Princeton, NJ salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ

OccupationMedian, Trenton-Princeton, NJ · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$138,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$91,980 – $228,060370
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$132,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$96,090 – $171,220330
3Detectives and Criminal Investigators$110,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,570 – $175,930370
4First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$104,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,850 – $140,070710
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,930 – $105,030130
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$101,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,290 – $126,380120
7Dental Hygienists$100,920
Associate's degree
$98,140 – $110,460330
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$100,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,300 – $182,140400
9Electricians$98,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,520 – $125,680600
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,300
Associate's degree
$77,220 – $117,400160
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$95,820
Associate's degree
$74,110 – $113,340220
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$90,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,950 – $131,850680
13Firefighters$88,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,160 – $101,840340
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$86,860
Associate's degree
$50,150 – $110,320160
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $163,950900
16Computer Network Support Specialists$84,750
Associate's degree
$51,120 – $125,130190
17Legal Support Workers, All Other$84,490
Associate's degree
$50,450 – $147,530100
18Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,300 – $112,460770
19Construction and Building Inspectors$82,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,020 – $112,460660
20Roofers$82,100
No formal educational credential
$45,230 – $96,490140
21Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,710
Associate's degree
$59,480 – $122,840220
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$80,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,150 – $118,8001,250
23Food Service Managers$80,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,160 – $125,190270
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,910 – $111,9402,770
25Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$79,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,030 – $179,810350
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,200 – $98,600260
27First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,000 – $123,700550
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$77,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $161,4901,620
29Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,500 – $100,770150
30Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$76,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,490 – $110,850110
31Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $127,300280
32Physical Therapist Assistants$75,410
Associate's degree
$34,790 – $82,22080
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,840 – $80,890880
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $111,720430
35Advertising Sales Agents$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $118,540110
36Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,030
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $92,15080
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$73,250
Associate's degree
$48,050 – $104,650790
38Insurance Sales Agents$72,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,550 – $157,870320
39Computer User Support Specialists$71,920
Some college, no degree
$45,680 – $102,6901,180
40Construction Laborers$71,920
No formal educational credential
$38,200 – $106,370960
41Brokerage Clerks$71,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,790 – $93,530330
42Machinists$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,200 – $114,400120
43Surgical Technologists$70,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,780 – $90,310150
44Chefs and Head Cooks$70,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,890 – $107,910480
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$69,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,570 – $125,010270
46First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$69,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $89,850120
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$69,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $89,330280
48Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$69,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,960 – $112,230840
49Audio and Video Technicians$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,940 – $109,39080
50Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$68,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $87,590780

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

#	Occupation	MedianTrenton-Princeton, NJ	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$138,760	$91,980 – $228,060	370
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,610	$96,090 – $171,220	330
3	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,750	$78,570 – $175,930	370
4	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,310	$66,850 – $140,070	710
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,650	$83,930 – $105,030	130
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,590	$70,290 – $126,380	120
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,920	$98,140 – $110,460	330
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,490	$60,300 – $182,140	400
9	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,210	$48,520 – $125,680	600
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,300	$77,220 – $117,400	160
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,820	$74,110 – $113,340	220
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,190	$59,950 – $131,850	680
13	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,090	$48,160 – $101,840	340
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,860	$50,150 – $110,320	160
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,920	$49,190 – $163,950	900
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$84,750	$51,120 – $125,130	190
17	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$84,490	$50,450 – $147,530	100
18	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,420	$58,300 – $112,460	770
19	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,660	$53,020 – $112,460	660
20	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$82,100	$45,230 – $96,490	140
21	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,710	$59,480 – $122,840	220
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,700	$56,150 – $118,800	1,250
23	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,420	$50,160 – $125,190	270
24	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,460	$50,910 – $111,940	2,770
25	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,230	$44,030 – $179,810	350
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,410	$49,200 – $98,600	260
27	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,240	$48,000 – $123,700	550
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,490	$44,010 – $161,490	1,620
29	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,290	$56,500 – $100,770	150
30	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,510	$60,490 – $110,850	110
31	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,360	$50,440 – $127,300	280
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,410	$34,790 – $82,220	80
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,380	$62,840 – $80,890	880
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,240	$47,730 – $111,720	430
35	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$35,170 – $118,540	110
36	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,030	$49,210 – $92,150	80
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,250	$48,050 – $104,650	790
38	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,200	$47,550 – $157,870	320
39	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,920	$45,680 – $102,690	1,180
40	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$71,920	$38,200 – $106,370	960
41	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,660	$59,790 – $93,530	330
42	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$46,200 – $114,400	120
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,610	$53,780 – $90,310	150
44	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,210	$34,890 – $107,910	480
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,800	$51,570 – $125,010	270
46	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,540	$44,210 – $89,850	120
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,480	$48,690 – $89,330	280
48	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,160	$48,960 – $112,230	840
49	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$45,940 – $109,390	80
50	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,470	$47,510 – $87,590	780

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Trenton-Princeton, NJ. 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ that need no degree

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