High paying jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA run 11.9% above the national average (2024), so a San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA salary is worth about 0.89× 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

OccupationMedian, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,630
Associate's degree
$65,290 – $168,060720
2Dental Hygienists$123,790
Associate's degree
$108,320 – $130,5301,940
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$120,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,670 – $158,870740
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$113,480
Associate's degree
$65,440 – $149,3901,770
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$110,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,010 – $151,9604,950
6Respiratory Therapists$105,040
Associate's degree
$82,140 – $131,4401,430
7Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$104,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,810 – $130,540490
8Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$96,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,780 – $103,780660
9Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$92,480
Associate's degree
$52,380 – $131,6001,450
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$92,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,510 – $128,040690
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,620
Associate's degree
$61,090 – $138,6601,980
12Legal Support Workers, All Other$89,920
Associate's degree
$48,430 – $147,580570
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$87,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,440 – $104,8301,720
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,520 – $118,5102,840
15Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,520 – $136,0803,130
16Surgical Technologists$82,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,300 – $101,4301,110
17Physical Therapist Assistants$82,160
Associate's degree
$42,050 – $101,060870
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,840
Associate's degree
$57,780 – $99,170700
19Sheet Metal Workers$80,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $126,5401,480
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,950 – $96,3906,610
21Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,390 – $108,020880
22Computer Network Support Specialists$79,270
Associate's degree
$48,090 – $114,280990
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,650 – $97,700710
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$78,340
Associate's degree
$49,920 – $105,2901,130
25Insurance Sales Agents$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,950 – $164,3303,680
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,140 – $103,5801,030
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $98,7301,080
28Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,340 – $110,350740
29Paralegals and Legal Assistants$76,300
Associate's degree
$48,210 – $107,3804,440
30Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$76,290
No formal educational credential
$48,410 – $114,1103,220
31Electricians$76,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,890 – $126,2608,060
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,320 – $152,1109,040
33Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$75,970
Associate's degree
$50,180 – $106,4401,900
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$75,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,370 – $95,5201,430
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,710 – $113,9903,210
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$74,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,250 – $151,56011,730
37Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,250
Associate's degree
$49,110 – $101,900790
38Computer User Support Specialists$74,020
Some college, no degree
$49,660 – $102,8705,260
39Carpenters$73,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $117,5808,710
40Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$72,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $127,7905,100
41Transportation Security Screeners$72,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $79,100690
42Firefighters$70,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,830 – $99,1302,880
43Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$70,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $94,290540
44Tax Preparers$70,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $99,120690
45Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$69,300
No formal educational credential
$51,020 – $86,1301,230
46Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$68,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,030 – $74,910690
47Medical Equipment Preparers$67,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $79,540630
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $99,5102,230
49Medical Equipment Repairers$67,400
Associate's degree
$50,000 – $128,160490
50Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$66,530
No formal educational credential
$47,170 – $102,7602,330

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,630	$65,290 – $168,060	720
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,790	$108,320 – $130,530	1,940
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,870	$65,670 – $158,870	740
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$113,480	$65,440 – $149,390	1,770
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,400	$78,010 – $151,960	4,950
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$105,040	$82,140 – $131,440	1,430
7	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,840	$61,810 – $130,540	490
8	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,580	$58,780 – $103,780	660
9	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$92,480	$52,380 – $131,600	1,450
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,390	$58,510 – $128,040	690
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,620	$61,090 – $138,660	1,980
12	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$89,920	$48,430 – $147,580	570
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,560	$61,440 – $104,830	1,720
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,550	$59,520 – $118,510	2,840
15	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,670	$54,520 – $136,080	3,130
16	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,260	$62,300 – $101,430	1,110
17	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$82,160	$42,050 – $101,060	870
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,840	$57,780 – $99,170	700
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,080	$47,440 – $126,540	1,480
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,720	$64,950 – $96,390	6,610
21	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,630	$61,390 – $108,020	880
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$79,270	$48,090 – $114,280	990
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$63,650 – $97,700	710
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,340	$49,920 – $105,290	1,130
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$44,950 – $164,330	3,680
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,970	$55,140 – $103,580	1,030
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,510	$47,730 – $98,730	1,080
28	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,400	$49,340 – $110,350	740
29	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,300	$48,210 – $107,380	4,440
30	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$76,290	$48,410 – $114,110	3,220
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,160	$47,890 – $126,260	8,060
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,100	$43,320 – $152,110	9,040
33	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$75,970	$50,180 – $106,440	1,900
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,070	$51,370 – $95,520	1,430
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$46,710 – $113,990	3,210
36	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,610	$41,250 – $151,560	11,730
37	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,250	$49,110 – $101,900	790
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$74,020	$49,660 – $102,870	5,260
39	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,200	$47,310 – $117,580	8,710
40	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,510	$46,030 – $127,790	5,100
41	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,130	$46,070 – $79,100	690
42	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,900	$56,830 – $99,130	2,880
43	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,380	$45,900 – $94,290	540
44	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,170	$38,700 – $99,120	690
45	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$69,300	$51,020 – $86,130	1,230
46	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,350	$50,030 – $74,910	690
47	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,830	$49,160 – $79,540	630
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,480	$51,990 – $99,510	2,230
49	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,400	$50,000 – $128,160	490
50	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$66,530	$47,170 – $102,760	2,330

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA that need no experience

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