High paying jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA run 15.6% above the national average (2024), so a San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA salary is worth about 0.86× 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

OccupationMedian, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$160,270
Associate's degree
$94,600 – $204,1401,300
2Dental Hygienists$146,760
Associate's degree
$109,460 – $156,5803,780
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$141,780
Associate's degree
$89,980 – $176,8002,850
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$137,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,620 – $189,980770
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$132,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$95,390 – $156,6907,990
6Respiratory Therapists$130,220
Associate's degree
$95,450 – $158,1002,010
7Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$129,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,980 – $144,280980
8Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$125,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,570 – $147,7901,040
9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$124,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,910 – $149,2604,080
10Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$117,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$96,800 – $149,760870
11Firefighters$113,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,070 – $139,5903,450
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$105,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,930 – $136,6403,390
13Public Safety Telecommunicators$104,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,070 – $136,8601,110
14Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,910 – $118,6401,240
15Sheet Metal Workers$102,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $154,790880
16Legal Support Workers, All Other$102,420
Associate's degree
$61,330 – $162,520840
17Computer Network Support Specialists$101,600
Associate's degree
$65,070 – $172,0602,370
18Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$100,620
Associate's degree
$79,410 – $125,000790
19Correctional Officers and Jailers$99,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,800 – $119,4501,500
20Surgical Technologists$99,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,570 – $123,5301,440
21Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,510
Associate's degree
$67,210 – $130,6601,270
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$96,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,830 – $191,38029,980
23Physical Therapist Assistants$95,920
Associate's degree
$66,600 – $116,8501,040
24Insurance Sales Agents$95,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $204,8304,860
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$95,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,590 – $135,1802,370
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$94,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,900 – $109,1208,800
27Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,320 – $134,180940
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$93,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $177,37013,190
29Electricians$92,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,360 – $182,3409,060
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$92,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,750 – $133,5901,850
31Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,020
Associate's degree
$57,780 – $126,1701,570
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$90,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,280 – $131,5702,550
33Computer User Support Specialists$89,440
Some college, no degree
$58,910 – $130,44010,770
34Brokerage Clerks$89,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,930 – $132,7401,360
35Carpenters$89,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,020 – $132,76014,010
36Media and Communication Workers, All Other$89,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $199,9201,130
37Structural Iron and Steel Workers$87,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,880 – $124,470800
38Advertising Sales Agents$84,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,930 – $167,6701,340
39Tax Preparers$84,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $105,2301,410
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$84,030
Associate's degree
$58,590 – $131,8207,630
41Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$83,940
Associate's degree
$59,900 – $136,3501,090
42Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$82,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,120 – $106,4002,850
43Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$82,160
No formal educational credential
$58,010 – $134,8802,510
44Medical Equipment Preparers$82,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,630 – $95,6701,070
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$82,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,900 – $105,5501,730
46Architectural and Civil Drafters$81,130
Associate's degree
$63,200 – $128,8701,750
47Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$80,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,100 – $106,3502,260
48Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$80,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,990 – $144,910800
49Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,180
Associate's degree
$56,400 – $115,3801,220
50Word Processors and Typists$79,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,030 – $85,220840

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

#	Occupation	MedianSan Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$160,270	$94,600 – $204,140	1,300
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$146,760	$109,460 – $156,580	3,780
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$141,780	$89,980 – $176,800	2,850
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$137,180	$83,620 – $189,980	770
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,000	$95,390 – $156,690	7,990
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$130,220	$95,450 – $158,100	2,010
7	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,930	$61,980 – $144,280	980
8	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,160	$73,570 – $147,790	1,040
9	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,750	$60,910 – $149,260	4,080
10	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,660	$96,800 – $149,760	870
11	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$113,700	$77,070 – $139,590	3,450
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,340	$70,930 – $136,640	3,390
13	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,910	$60,070 – $136,860	1,110
14	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,500	$60,910 – $118,640	1,240
15	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,660	$55,560 – $154,790	880
16	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$102,420	$61,330 – $162,520	840
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$101,600	$65,070 – $172,060	2,370
18	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$100,620	$79,410 – $125,000	790
19	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,880	$69,800 – $119,450	1,500
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,390	$62,570 – $123,530	1,440
21	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,510	$67,210 – $130,660	1,270
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,960	$50,830 – $191,380	29,980
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$95,920	$66,600 – $116,850	1,040
24	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,640	$44,550 – $204,830	4,860
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,410	$60,590 – $135,180	2,370
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,310	$75,900 – $109,120	8,800
27	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,400	$62,320 – $134,180	940
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,100	$49,580 – $177,370	13,190
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,830	$55,360 – $182,340	9,060
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,290	$61,750 – $133,590	1,850
31	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,020	$57,780 – $126,170	1,570
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,580	$58,280 – $131,570	2,550
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$89,440	$58,910 – $130,440	10,770
34	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,370	$62,930 – $132,740	1,360
35	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,200	$59,020 – $132,760	14,010
36	Media and Communication Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,050	$45,000 – $199,920	1,130
37	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,340	$56,880 – $124,470	800
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,390	$46,930 – $167,670	1,340
39	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,240	$47,420 – $105,230	1,410
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$84,030	$58,590 – $131,820	7,630
41	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$83,940	$59,900 – $136,350	1,090
42	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,960	$61,120 – $106,400	2,850
43	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$82,160	$58,010 – $134,880	2,510
44	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,140	$57,630 – $95,670	1,070
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,100	$48,900 – $105,550	1,730
46	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$81,130	$63,200 – $128,870	1,750
47	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,510	$54,100 – $106,350	2,260
48	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,450	$51,990 – $144,910	800
49	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,180	$56,400 – $115,380	1,220
50	Word Processors and TypistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,430	$42,030 – $85,220	840

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA that need no experience

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