High paying jobs in California that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in California, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in California run 10.7% above the national average (2024), so a California salary is worth about 0.90× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in California.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in California

OccupationMedian, California · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$129,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,350 – $167,0908,930
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,530
Associate's degree
$62,890 – $177,78010,110
3Dental Hygienists$124,930
Associate's degree
$102,090 – $151,92024,500
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$121,260
Associate's degree
$70,210 – $165,46020,900
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$118,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $153,19065,940
6Respiratory Therapists$104,820
Associate's degree
$77,010 – $145,51018,650
7Media and Communication Workers, All Other$102,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $170,4109,940
8Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,260 – $106,2308,810
9Correctional Officers and Jailers$96,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,380 – $114,73037,860
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$91,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,020 – $124,99024,290
11Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$90,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $132,7305,840
12Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$87,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,760 – $132,21036,020
13Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$87,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,790 – $129,9105,830
14Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$86,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,860 – $116,69012,590
15Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,090
Associate's degree
$59,590 – $138,40013,450
16Firefighters$85,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,390 – $136,15031,470
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,490
Associate's degree
$54,690 – $111,1507,250
18Physical Therapist Assistants$83,110
Associate's degree
$59,500 – $102,8009,400
19Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,030 – $123,38011,630
20Surgical Technologists$81,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,140 – $115,74011,920
21Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$80,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,240 – $168,720156,110
22Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$80,480
Associate's degree
$52,060 – $128,8807,330
23Advertising Sales Agents$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,260 – $157,1309,620
24Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $108,6508,520
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,390 – $100,45082,850
26Computer User Support Specialists$79,570
Some college, no degree
$52,270 – $122,75074,490
27Computer Network Support Specialists$79,190
Associate's degree
$50,090 – $148,94013,620
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $129,31020,080
29Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$78,350
Associate's degree
$47,640 – $107,47010,090
30Paralegals and Legal Assistants$77,390
Associate's degree
$50,460 – $119,58047,130
31Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,410 – $113,24014,040
32Sheet Metal Workers$76,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,410 – $132,1908,390
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,520
Associate's degree
$49,850 – $114,60011,400
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $152,760134,800
35Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $118,0307,110
36Electricians$76,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $140,34073,310
37Insurance Sales Agents$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,560 – $165,43041,160
38Carpenters$75,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,490 – $119,950100,750
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $107,70026,830
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$73,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,180 – $96,73020,940
41Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$72,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $131,10047,660
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$72,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,950 – $109,06035,130
43Medical Equipment Repairers$72,450
Associate's degree
$47,920 – $129,8106,080
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$71,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $98,7108,180
45Tax Preparers$70,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $104,00010,270
46Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$67,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,600 – $90,81024,380
47Automotive Body and Related Repairers$66,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,910 – $97,48014,050
48Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,880
No formal educational credential
$46,050 – $120,24027,280
49Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$65,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,120 – $92,08020,590
50Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$64,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,180 – $95,28065,420

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

#	Occupation	MedianCalifornia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,040	$77,350 – $167,090	8,930
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,530	$62,890 – $177,780	10,110
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$124,930	$102,090 – $151,920	24,500
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$121,260	$70,210 – $165,460	20,900
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,880	$76,300 – $153,190	65,940
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,820	$77,010 – $145,510	18,650
7	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,630	$44,140 – $170,410	9,940
8	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,980	$60,260 – $106,230	8,810
9	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,370	$63,380 – $114,730	37,860
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,790	$60,020 – $124,990	24,290
11	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,650	$48,610 – $132,730	5,840
12	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,160	$52,760 – $132,210	36,020
13	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,080	$52,790 – $129,910	5,830
14	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,100	$53,860 – $116,690	12,590
15	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,090	$59,590 – $138,400	13,450
16	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,120	$52,390 – $136,150	31,470
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,490	$54,690 – $111,150	7,250
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$83,110	$59,500 – $102,800	9,400
19	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,770	$56,030 – $123,380	11,630
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,310	$49,140 – $115,740	11,920
21	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,850	$43,240 – $168,720	156,110
22	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$80,480	$52,060 – $128,880	7,330
23	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$42,260 – $157,130	9,620
24	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$49,350 – $108,650	8,520
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,750	$64,390 – $100,450	82,850
26	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$79,570	$52,270 – $122,750	74,490
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$79,190	$50,090 – $148,940	13,620
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,550	$47,880 – $129,310	20,080
29	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,350	$47,640 – $107,470	10,090
30	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,390	$50,460 – $119,580	47,130
31	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,630	$56,410 – $113,240	14,040
32	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,590	$47,410 – $132,190	8,390
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,520	$49,850 – $114,600	11,400
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$43,200 – $152,760	134,800
35	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,370	$47,480 – $118,030	7,110
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,160	$46,800 – $140,340	73,310
37	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$38,560 – $165,430	41,160
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,920	$47,490 – $119,950	100,750
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,400	$47,880 – $107,700	26,830
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,950	$47,180 – $96,730	20,940
41	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,830	$47,350 – $131,100	47,660
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,560	$46,950 – $109,060	35,130
43	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$72,450	$47,920 – $129,810	6,080
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,570	$46,090 – $98,710	8,180
45	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,030	$38,910 – $104,000	10,270
46	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,130	$48,600 – $90,810	24,380
47	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,860	$41,910 – $97,480	14,050
48	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,880	$46,050 – $120,240	27,280
49	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,340	$46,120 – $92,080	20,590
50	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,980	$38,180 – $95,280	65,420

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in California. 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.

More for California

Metro areas in California

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in California

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in California to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in California that need no experience

More for California

Metro areas in California

By field in California

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience