High paying jobs in Chico, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Chico, CA, 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 Chico, CA run 1.2% above the national average (2024), so a Chico, CA salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Chico, CA

OccupationMedian, Chico, CA · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$123,880
Associate's degree
$93,980 – $151,36080
2Commercial Pilots$123,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,780 – $299,99040
3Dental Hygienists$118,800
Associate's degree
$100,650 – $128,180150
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$103,000
Associate's degree
$48,900 – $133,060150
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$99,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,330 – $151,10050
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$94,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,820 – $155,980270
7Structural Iron and Steel Workers$88,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,500 – $124,47050
8Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $110,850100
9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,010 – $132,820230
10Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,470 – $92,660380
11Surgical Technologists$78,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,860 – $100,31090
12Architectural and Civil Drafters$77,850
Associate's degree
$57,520 – $99,61070
13Physical Therapist Assistants$76,580
Associate's degree
$46,440 – $97,260100
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,920 – $102,77040
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$72,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $90,59080
16Carpenters$72,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $116,130390
17Firefighters$71,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,120 – $96,360350
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,680 – $130,540360
19Electricians$65,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,910 – $141,250320
20Postal Service Clerks$65,190
No formal educational credential
$48,460 – $75,03050
21Automotive Body and Related Repairers$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $77,71040
22Computer Network Support Specialists$63,860
Associate's degree
$51,500 – $100,88040
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $87,26080
24Massage Therapists$63,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,490 – $100,07040
25Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,550 – $93,070320
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,720 – $94,280120
27Computer User Support Specialists$62,300
Some college, no degree
$47,940 – $90,990200
28Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$61,410
No formal educational credential
$44,730 – $97,52060
29Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,250
No formal educational credential
$36,430 – $88,94030
30Roofers$61,110
No formal educational credential
$44,470 – $74,630100
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$60,900
Associate's degree
$36,910 – $103,35030
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,180 – $99,530180
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,990 – $99,370200
34Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,500 – $74,44080
35Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,710
No formal educational credential
$46,990 – $100,110150
36Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$59,300
Associate's degree
$48,260 – $72,03070
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $88,910140
38Phlebotomists$59,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,370 – $61,620100
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,280
Associate's degree
$44,680 – $78,67090
40Bus Drivers, School$58,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $75,89060
41Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040180
42Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$57,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,570 – $79,40040
43Medical Records Specialists$57,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,710 – $94,200120
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,930 – $73,220650
45Real Estate Sales Agents$56,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,680 – $94,29050
46Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$56,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,920 – $74,900160
47Pharmacy Technicians$56,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $72,240220
48Opticians, Dispensing$56,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $77,46030
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,790 – $87,220100
50Construction Laborers$54,720
No formal educational credential
$40,570 – $81,190480

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

#	Occupation	MedianChico, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$123,880	$93,980 – $151,360	80
2	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$123,880	$62,780 – $299,990	40
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$118,800	$100,650 – $128,180	150
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$103,000	$48,900 – $133,060	150
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,040	$60,330 – $151,100	50
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,760	$55,820 – $155,980	270
7	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,070	$48,500 – $124,470	50
8	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,360	$49,440 – $110,850	100
9	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,040	$52,010 – $132,820	230
10	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,750	$63,470 – $92,660	380
11	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,050	$48,860 – $100,310	90
12	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,850	$57,520 – $99,610	70
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,580	$46,440 – $97,260	100
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,190	$59,920 – $102,770	40
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,390	$46,050 – $90,590	80
16	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,290	$47,290 – $116,130	390
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,830	$54,120 – $96,360	350
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,830	$41,680 – $130,540	360
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,400	$46,910 – $141,250	320
20	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,190	$48,460 – $75,030	50
21	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$38,530 – $77,710	40
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,860	$51,500 – $100,880	40
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,440	$49,350 – $87,260	80
24	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,290	$43,490 – $100,070	40
25	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$37,550 – $93,070	320
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,920	$43,720 – $94,280	120
27	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,300	$47,940 – $90,990	200
28	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$61,410	$44,730 – $97,520	60
29	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,250	$36,430 – $88,940	30
30	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$61,110	$44,470 – $74,630	100
31	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,900	$36,910 – $103,350	30
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,730	$47,180 – $99,530	180
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$40,990 – $99,370	200
34	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$45,500 – $74,440	80
35	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,710	$46,990 – $100,110	150
36	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,300	$48,260 – $72,030	70
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,190	$40,510 – $88,910	140
38	PhlebotomistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,100	$47,370 – $61,620	100
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,280	$44,680 – $78,670	90
40	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,080	$36,080 – $75,890	60
41	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,910	$42,390 – $81,040	180
42	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,890	$39,570 – $79,400	40
43	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,490	$41,710 – $94,200	120
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,480	$39,930 – $73,220	650
45	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,710	$40,680 – $94,290	50
46	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,620	$47,920 – $74,900	160
47	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,320	$38,750 – $72,240	220
48	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,100	$45,050 – $77,460	30
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,770	$45,790 – $87,220	100
50	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$54,720	$40,570 – $81,190	480

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

High paying jobs in Chico, CA that need no experience

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