High paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA run 8.8% above the national average (2024), so a Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA salary is worth about 0.92× 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 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

OccupationMedian, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$135,990
Associate's degree
$106,210 – $151,030260
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$132,490
Associate's degree
$97,520 – $161,410100
3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$120,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,180 – $131,500730
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$110,770
Associate's degree
$62,310 – $140,020250
5Respiratory Therapists$108,600
Associate's degree
$80,730 – $134,900130
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$99,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,510 – $125,330100
7Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,190 – $95,740470
8Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$94,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,650 – $140,59090
9Computer Network Support Specialists$88,670
Associate's degree
$50,840 – $130,610100
10Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$85,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,660 – $127,550250
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$63,750 – $117,640130
12Physical Therapist Assistants$85,150
Associate's degree
$64,040 – $102,450100
13Traffic Technicians$84,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,780 – $92,37070
14Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,410
Associate's degree
$47,070 – $101,090100
15Public Safety Telecommunicators$84,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $98,90090
16Insurance Sales Agents$83,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $171,530350
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,040
Associate's degree
$63,530 – $139,230110
18Firefighters$82,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,240 – $125,620410
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,560 – $131,060400
20Paralegals and Legal Assistants$80,930
Associate's degree
$57,930 – $97,500360
21Computer User Support Specialists$80,520
Some college, no degree
$57,280 – $102,770960
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,410 – $95,650650
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,550 – $120,430260
24Surgical Technologists$78,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,720 – $107,490170
25Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,910 – $135,58080
26Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$77,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $95,730160
27Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,500
Associate's degree
$53,200 – $109,180110
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,560 – $103,140110
29Electricians$75,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,170 – $113,520630
30Carpenters$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $105,6401,100
31Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$74,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,250 – $93,660160
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $140,2601,110
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$73,930
Associate's degree
$51,070 – $103,470180
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,490 – $159,7501,470
35Transportation Security Screeners$71,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,210 – $78,35070
36Sheet Metal Workers$70,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $133,06090
37Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$70,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,360 – $93,040210
38Audio and Video Technicians$68,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,970 – $116,51070
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,210 – $96,140200
40Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$67,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,600 – $95,930420
41Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$66,900
No formal educational credential
$58,770 – $75,400220
42Highway Maintenance Workers$66,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,790 – $92,58090
43Glaziers$66,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $111,38070
44Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$66,340
Associate's degree
$42,600 – $113,78090
45Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,770 – $75,250410
46Information and Record Clerks, All Other$65,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,710 – $79,830210
47Postal Service Clerks$65,600
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36070
48Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$64,370
No formal educational credential
$46,430 – $99,720440
49Automotive Body and Related Repairers$63,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $81,260120
50Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,200 – $66,14090

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$135,990	$106,210 – $151,030	260
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$132,490	$97,520 – $161,410	100
3	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,900	$79,180 – $131,500	730
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$110,770	$62,310 – $140,020	250
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$108,600	$80,730 – $134,900	130
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,660	$56,510 – $125,330	100
7	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,740	$64,190 – $95,740	470
8	Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,590	$60,650 – $140,590	90
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$88,670	$50,840 – $130,610	100
10	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,960	$57,660 – $127,550	250
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$63,750 – $117,640	130
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$85,150	$64,040 – $102,450	100
13	Traffic TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,650	$58,780 – $92,370	70
14	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,410	$47,070 – $101,090	100
15	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,410	$48,290 – $98,900	90
16	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,990	$45,330 – $171,530	350
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,040	$63,530 – $139,230	110
18	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,250	$58,240 – $125,620	410
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$52,560 – $131,060	400
20	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,930	$57,930 – $97,500	360
21	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$80,520	$57,280 – $102,770	960
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,010	$65,410 – $95,650	650
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,640	$48,550 – $120,430	260
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,510	$49,720 – $107,490	170
25	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,470	$47,910 – $135,580	80
26	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,560	$45,960 – $95,730	160
27	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,500	$53,200 – $109,180	110
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,690	$49,560 – $103,140	110
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,290	$48,170 – $113,520	630
30	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$46,980 – $105,640	1,100
31	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,360	$46,250 – $93,660	160
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,300	$43,550 – $140,260	1,110
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$73,930	$51,070 – $103,470	180
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$43,490 – $159,750	1,470
35	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,240	$53,210 – $78,350	70
36	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,420	$46,880 – $133,060	90
37	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,060	$38,360 – $93,040	210
38	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,940	$41,970 – $116,510	70
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,890	$49,210 – $96,140	200
40	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,480	$43,600 – $95,930	420
41	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$66,900	$58,770 – $75,400	220
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,550	$47,790 – $92,580	90
43	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,520	$47,840 – $111,380	70
44	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$66,340	$42,600 – $113,780	90
45	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,220	$54,770 – $75,250	410
46	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,610	$48,710 – $79,830	210
47	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,600	$42,600 – $76,360	70
48	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$64,370	$46,430 – $99,720	440
49	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,360	$44,570 – $81,260	120
50	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,210	$41,200 – $66,140	90

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

High paying jobs in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA that need no experience

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