High paying jobs in Modesto, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Modesto, 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 Modesto, CA run 4.1% above the national average (2024), so a Modesto, CA salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Modesto, CA

OccupationMedian, Modesto, CA · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$141,210
Associate's degree
$80,400 – $177,780200
2Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$129,030
Associate's degree
$78,660 – $172,850370
3Dental Hygienists$123,910
Associate's degree
$103,450 – $133,640390
4Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$105,400
Associate's degree
$62,460 – $173,17080
5Respiratory Therapists$103,870
Associate's degree
$83,010 – $134,280270
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$100,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,000 – $102,300120
7Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$98,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,230 – $123,690960
8Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$90,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,020 – $131,850430
9Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$88,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $97,460140
10Physical Therapist Assistants$83,450
Associate's degree
$58,800 – $127,640150
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,700 – $129,25090
12Surgical Technologists$79,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,230 – $102,990120
13Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,340 – $97,550210
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,970 – $109,58070
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $136,8801,250
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,490 – $96,130810
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,940 – $102,8301,120
18Firefighters$77,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,320 – $126,420230
19Electricians$76,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $137,600770
20Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$76,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $97,980420
21Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$76,500
No formal educational credential
$46,470 – $106,590350
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$75,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,280 – $93,380240
23Structural Iron and Steel Workers$75,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $129,460100
24Legal Support Workers, All Other$74,670
Associate's degree
$47,400 – $108,59080
25Carpenters$73,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,970 – $117,7501,430
26Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$73,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $74,9801,000
27Insurance Sales Agents$73,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,220 – $126,810310
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$71,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,360 – $96,240150
29Sheet Metal Workers$70,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $129,19080
30Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$69,900
Associate's degree
$39,740 – $111,94090
31Automotive Body and Related Repairers$68,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $82,490180
32Computer User Support Specialists$66,390
Some college, no degree
$49,800 – $96,890360
33Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,770
No formal educational credential
$49,920 – $107,020400
34Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$65,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $79,32090
35Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,230
Associate's degree
$48,200 – $109,550110
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,820 – $90,480470
37Tax Preparers$64,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $96,270170
38Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,260 – $114,510470
39Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $94,070540
40Roofers$62,940
No formal educational credential
$49,740 – $80,580290
41Postal Service Clerks$62,910
No formal educational credential
$48,460 – $77,36070
42Bus Drivers, School$62,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $68,410190
43Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$62,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,370 – $95,6801,030
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,820 – $89,34090
45Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,240 – $77,170140
46Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$62,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $76,500220
47Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040400
48Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$61,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,710 – $84,700260
49Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,800 – $82,890100
50Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$61,750
Some college, no degree
$40,040 – $77,86090

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

#	Occupation	MedianModesto, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$141,210	$80,400 – $177,780	200
2	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$129,030	$78,660 – $172,850	370
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,910	$103,450 – $133,640	390
4	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,400	$62,460 – $173,170	80
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$103,870	$83,010 – $134,280	270
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,400	$63,000 – $102,300	120
7	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,230	$78,230 – $123,690	960
8	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,560	$52,020 – $131,850	430
9	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,940	$38,230 – $97,460	140
10	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$83,450	$58,800 – $127,640	150
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,140	$60,700 – $129,250	90
12	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,950	$50,230 – $102,990	120
13	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$53,340 – $97,550	210
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,620	$50,970 – $109,580	70
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$45,680 – $136,880	1,250
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,370	$53,490 – $96,130	810
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,200	$61,940 – $102,830	1,120
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,370	$62,320 – $126,420	230
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,710	$48,220 – $137,600	770
20	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,640	$47,740 – $97,980	420
21	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$76,500	$46,470 – $106,590	350
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,890	$47,280 – $93,380	240
23	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,820	$47,850 – $129,460	100
24	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,670	$47,400 – $108,590	80
25	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,730	$48,970 – $117,750	1,430
26	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,690	$40,830 – $74,980	1,000
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,270	$41,220 – $126,810	310
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,460	$48,360 – $96,240	150
29	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,870	$46,820 – $129,190	80
30	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$69,900	$39,740 – $111,940	90
31	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,640	$46,450 – $82,490	180
32	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$66,390	$49,800 – $96,890	360
33	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,770	$49,920 – $107,020	400
34	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,640	$55,690 – $79,320	90
35	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,230	$48,200 – $109,550	110
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,760	$47,820 – $90,480	470
37	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,630	$38,080 – $96,270	170
38	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$47,260 – $114,510	470
39	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,950	$45,390 – $94,070	540
40	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$62,940	$49,740 – $80,580	290
41	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,910	$48,460 – $77,360	70
42	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,870	$47,780 – $68,410	190
43	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,770	$38,370 – $95,680	1,030
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$47,820 – $89,340	90
45	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$45,240 – $77,170	140
46	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,100	$44,780 – $76,500	220
47	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$42,390 – $81,040	400
48	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,980	$43,710 – $84,700	260
49	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,870	$41,800 – $82,890	100
50	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$61,750	$40,040 – $77,860	90

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Modesto, 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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High paying jobs in Modesto, CA that need no experience

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