High paying jobs in Waco, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Waco, TX 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 Waco, TX run 7.5% below the national average (2024), so a Waco, TX salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Waco, TX

OccupationMedian, Waco, TX · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$105,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,490 – $134,79060
2Dental Hygienists$95,340
Associate's degree
$80,960 – $100,530150
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$91,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,410 – $145,610200
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,810 – $102,960110
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,720 – $93,020350
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,580
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $107,40040
7Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,360
Associate's degree
$36,520 – $104,82080
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,260
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $101,720190
9Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,170
Associate's degree
$60,900 – $90,88050
10Physical Therapist Assistants$76,340
Associate's degree
$42,240 – $100,270140
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$76,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$76,180 – $100,40080
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,150 – $94,870690
13Respiratory Therapists$75,370
Associate's degree
$65,360 – $91,760100
14Massage Therapists$72,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,530 – $105,49060
15Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$72,500
Associate's degree
$46,530 – $107,01070
16Detectives and Criminal Investigators$70,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,760 – $153,670120
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$69,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,380 – $108,140680
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,470 – $98,610820
19First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$67,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,830 – $113,960120
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,480 – $99,300270
21Computer Network Support Specialists$66,850
Associate's degree
$40,420 – $126,37060
22First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$66,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $110,320750
23Surgical Technologists$66,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,730 – $80,35090
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,020 – $91,49060
25Tax Preparers$65,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,850 – $124,96040
26Tutors$64,750
Some college, no degree
$32,670 – $64,75050
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,230 – $123,470790
28Firefighters$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,310 – $69,740210
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,050 – $78,570780
30Crane and Tower Operators$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,190 – $94,03050
31First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $82,690410
32Lodging Managers$61,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,670 – $118,96040
33Surveying and Mapping Technicians$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $71,26070
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $61,480140
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $96,7001,530
36Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03080
37First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$59,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,480 – $76,81050
38Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$59,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $104,990280
39Construction and Building Inspectors$59,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,130 – $81,890140
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,570 – $78,130210
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,620
Associate's degree
$39,600 – $76,400250
42Maintenance Workers, Machinery$58,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $76,970170
43Paramedics$58,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,050 – $83,42060
44Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,110 – $80,220300
45Architectural and Civil Drafters$57,650
Associate's degree
$44,900 – $87,40060
46Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $84,31040
47Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $76,030490
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $77,180410
49Millwrights$57,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,400 – $81,79050
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,990 – $68,170100

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

#	Occupation	MedianWaco, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,570	$71,490 – $134,790	60
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,340	$80,960 – $100,530	150
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,380	$59,410 – $145,610	200
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,610	$51,810 – $102,960	110
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,580	$44,720 – $93,020	350
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,580	$44,540 – $107,400	40
7	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,360	$36,520 – $104,820	80
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,260	$47,120 – $101,720	190
9	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,170	$60,900 – $90,880	50
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,340	$42,240 – $100,270	140
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,180	$76,180 – $100,400	80
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,850	$56,150 – $94,870	690
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,370	$65,360 – $91,760	100
14	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,560	$29,530 – $105,490	60
15	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$72,500	$46,530 – $107,010	70
16	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,990	$54,760 – $153,670	120
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,980	$45,380 – $108,140	680
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,230	$44,470 – $98,610	820
19	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,810	$41,830 – $113,960	120
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,980	$49,480 – $99,300	270
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,850	$40,420 – $126,370	60
22	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,290	$45,130 – $110,320	750
23	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,020	$51,730 – $80,350	90
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,610	$50,020 – $91,490	60
25	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,020	$43,850 – $124,960	40
26	TutorsSome college, no degree	$64,750	$32,670 – $64,750	50
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,880	$34,230 – $123,470	790
28	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$46,310 – $69,740	210
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,070	$51,050 – $78,570	780
30	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$34,190 – $94,030	50
31	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,240	$38,110 – $82,690	410
32	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,170	$31,670 – $118,960	40
33	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$39,520 – $71,260	70
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,930	$38,070 – $61,480	140
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$40,370 – $96,700	1,530
36	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	80
37	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,890	$57,480 – $76,810	50
38	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,630	$36,130 – $104,990	280
39	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,240	$41,130 – $81,890	140
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,660	$42,570 – $78,130	210
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,620	$39,600 – $76,400	250
42	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,400	$37,170 – $76,970	170
43	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,390	$46,050 – $83,420	60
44	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,900	$44,110 – $80,220	300
45	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,650	$44,900 – $87,400	60
46	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$38,590 – $84,310	40
47	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,550	$37,530 – $76,030	490
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$40,440 – $77,180	410
49	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,070	$30,400 – $81,790	50
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,770	$40,990 – $68,170	100

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

High paying jobs in Waco, TX that need no degree

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