High paying jobs in Worcester, MA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Worcester, MA 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 Worcester, MA run 2.5% above the national average (2024), so a Worcester, MA salary is worth about 0.98× 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 Worcester, MA

OccupationMedian, Worcester, MA · Employed

1Crane and Tower Operators$122,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,240 – $141,070110
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$116,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,360 – $126,040380
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$115,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,380 – $210,250380
4Roofers$105,270
No formal educational credential
$53,380 – $106,290350
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$104,940
Associate's degree
$78,980 – $130,830180
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$104,150
Associate's degree
$97,810 – $133,050290
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,090
Associate's degree
$78,800 – $125,930610
8Power Distributors and Dispatchers$102,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$99,440 – $132,390150
9Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$102,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,370 – $107,910110
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,180 – $125,680290
11Dental Hygienists$100,460
Associate's degree
$96,520 – $105,430790
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$99,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,350 – $171,150450
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$98,950
Associate's degree
$46,230 – $124,190120
14Respiratory Therapists$98,120
Associate's degree
$82,420 – $119,690250
15Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$94,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,900 – $115,660200
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$94,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,160 – $127,8901,880
17Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$93,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,760 – $167,660310
18Correctional Officers and Jailers$91,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,380 – $104,720640
19First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$87,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,470 – $131,910760
20First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$84,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,090 – $127,2101,230
21Computer Network Support Specialists$83,790
Associate's degree
$59,030 – $129,320130
22Food Service Managers$83,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $119,840340
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$82,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,860 – $119,9801,370
24Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$81,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,590 – $94,380160
25Construction and Building Inspectors$80,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,050 – $115,770540
26Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,720 – $119,210710
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $153,5902,510
28Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$80,280
No formal educational credential
$46,910 – $80,280120
29Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,150 – $102,5302,000
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,530 – $97,1902,030
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,430 – $98,780320
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,580 – $109,8901,930
33Sheet Metal Workers$77,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,680 – $109,970290
34Surgical Technologists$77,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,750 – $97,990210
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$77,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,650 – $135,8902,180
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$77,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $126,1101,230
37Brickmasons and Blockmasons$76,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,090 – $128,220140
38Physical Therapist Assistants$76,900
Associate's degree
$60,440 – $87,730310
39Occupational Therapy Assistants$76,570
Associate's degree
$48,160 – $82,490180
40Insurance Sales Agents$76,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,650 – $169,990970
41Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,530
Associate's degree
$51,220 – $105,920320
42Electricians$75,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $100,2401,580
43Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$75,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,200 – $100,7001,310
44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$73,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,300 – $96,800800
45First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$73,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,690 – $103,6003,380
46Carpenters$73,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $106,8001,590
47Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $95,440770
48Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,650
Associate's degree
$49,930 – $100,270120
49Architectural and Civil Drafters$72,310
Associate's degree
$40,560 – $103,140160
50Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$71,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,970 – $97,500660

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

#	Occupation	MedianWorcester, MA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,260	$71,240 – $141,070	110
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,460	$86,360 – $126,040	380
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,180	$75,380 – $210,250	380
4	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$105,270	$53,380 – $106,290	350
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$104,940	$78,980 – $130,830	180
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$104,150	$97,810 – $133,050	290
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,090	$78,800 – $125,930	610
8	Power Distributors and DispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,330	$99,440 – $132,390	150
9	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,070	$50,370 – $107,910	110
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,530	$73,180 – $125,680	290
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,460	$96,520 – $105,430	790
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,860	$60,350 – $171,150	450
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,950	$46,230 – $124,190	120
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,120	$82,420 – $119,690	250
15	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,900	$69,900 – $115,660	200
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,570	$65,160 – $127,890	1,880
17	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,630	$57,760 – $167,660	310
18	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,980	$66,380 – $104,720	640
19	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,950	$63,470 – $131,910	760
20	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,240	$56,090 – $127,210	1,230
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$83,790	$59,030 – $129,320	130
22	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,570	$49,140 – $119,840	340
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,260	$48,860 – $119,980	1,370
24	Insurance Appraisers, Auto DamagePostsecondary nondegree award	$81,880	$56,590 – $94,380	160
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,650	$48,050 – $115,770	540
26	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,560	$55,720 – $119,210	710
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,400	$46,990 – $153,590	2,510
28	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$80,280	$46,910 – $80,280	120
29	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,210	$60,150 – $102,530	2,000
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,060	$63,530 – $97,190	2,030
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,880	$58,430 – $98,780	320
32	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,150	$51,580 – $109,890	1,930
33	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,820	$44,680 – $109,970	290
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,610	$58,750 – $97,990	210
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,380	$44,650 – $135,890	2,180
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,050	$49,440 – $126,110	1,230
37	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,930	$59,090 – $128,220	140
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,900	$60,440 – $87,730	310
39	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,570	$48,160 – $82,490	180
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,200	$50,650 – $169,990	970
41	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,530	$51,220 – $105,920	320
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,510	$46,380 – $100,240	1,580
43	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,350	$56,200 – $100,700	1,310
44	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,800	$48,300 – $96,800	800
45	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,130	$49,690 – $103,600	3,380
46	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,010	$46,450 – $106,800	1,590
47	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,960	$48,610 – $95,440	770
48	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,650	$49,930 – $100,270	120
49	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,310	$40,560 – $103,140	160
50	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,780	$51,970 – $97,500	660

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

High paying jobs in Worcester, MA that need no degree

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