High paying jobs in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, 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 Rosa-Petaluma, CA run 7.8% above the national average (2024), so a Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA salary is worth about 0.93× 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 Rosa-Petaluma, CA

OccupationMedian, Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$274,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,320 – $306,270130
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$161,570
Associate's degree
$103,280 – $206,22090
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$137,530
Associate's degree
$85,830 – $174,150200
4Dental Hygienists$136,210
Associate's degree
$130,010 – $151,580310
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$125,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,320 – $149,560590
6Respiratory Therapists$123,220
Associate's degree
$93,540 – $138,750200
7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$105,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,900 – $144,270710
8Surgical Technologists$99,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,470 – $121,010120
9Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$99,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,070 – $103,970180
10Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,410
Associate's degree
$62,970 – $124,420130
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$96,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,290 – $124,940150
12Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$95,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,380 – $131,02090
13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$92,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$74,280 – $110,300870
14Firefighters$87,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,380 – $120,820310
15Physical Therapist Assistants$87,300
Associate's degree
$65,420 – $109,27090
16Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$82,650
No formal educational credential
$57,990 – $127,990700
17Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$82,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,480 – $102,440190
18Public Safety Telecommunicators$81,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,270 – $101,400100
19Carpenters$80,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,070 – $121,4902,150
20Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$80,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,080 – $91,760240
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$80,040
Associate's degree
$60,220 – $116,810150
22Insurance Sales Agents$79,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,280 – $177,030440
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$79,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,200 – $122,600560
24Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$79,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,480 – $120,830120
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,270 – $153,8601,840
26Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,140 – $101,240180
27Computer Network Support Specialists$78,450
Associate's degree
$44,630 – $121,620190
28Paralegals and Legal Assistants$78,160
Associate's degree
$49,400 – $100,890290
29Automotive Body and Related Repairers$78,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,960 – $100,150260
30Opticians, Dispensing$77,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,270 – $87,940120
31Electricians$77,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $134,9901,080
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,600 – $131,340260
33Computer User Support Specialists$76,900
Some college, no degree
$58,380 – $101,960520
34Maintenance Workers, Machinery$75,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,590 – $96,87080
35Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$75,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,540 – $98,9401,000
36Sheet Metal Workers$74,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $161,510110
37Forest and Conservation Technicians$74,410
Associate's degree
$36,880 – $111,82090
38Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$74,170
Associate's degree
$48,320 – $121,02080
39Tree Trimmers and Pruners$73,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,370 – $100,160190
40Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$73,110
No formal educational credential
$48,540 – $98,110320
41Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$68,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,080 – $87,360300
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$68,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $99,700240
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$66,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,960 – $126,8101,330
44Tax Preparers$65,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $97,300130
45Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$64,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,870 – $126,280200
46Medical Assistants$64,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,770 – $79,8901,550
47Community Health Workers$64,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,940 – $80,320100
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,430 – $133,120560
49Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$64,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $129,36070
50Roofers$64,020
No formal educational credential
$49,130 – $105,950430

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

#	Occupation	MedianSanta Rosa-Petaluma, CA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$274,730	$75,320 – $306,270	130
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$161,570	$103,280 – $206,220	90
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$137,530	$85,830 – $174,150	200
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$136,210	$130,010 – $151,580	310
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,910	$81,320 – $149,560	590
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$123,220	$93,540 – $138,750	200
7	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,080	$56,900 – $144,270	710
8	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,960	$61,470 – $121,010	120
9	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,560	$77,070 – $103,970	180
10	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,410	$62,970 – $124,420	130
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,970	$66,290 – $124,940	150
12	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,680	$55,380 – $131,020	90
13	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,580	$74,280 – $110,300	870
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,400	$41,380 – $120,820	310
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$87,300	$65,420 – $109,270	90
16	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$82,650	$57,990 – $127,990	700
17	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,200	$62,480 – $102,440	190
18	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,990	$51,270 – $101,400	100
19	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,520	$51,070 – $121,490	2,150
20	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,330	$66,080 – $91,760	240
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$80,040	$60,220 – $116,810	150
22	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,680	$41,280 – $177,030	440
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,510	$49,200 – $122,600	560
24	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,410	$58,480 – $120,830	120
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,350	$48,270 – $153,860	1,840
26	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,960	$56,140 – $101,240	180
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,450	$44,630 – $121,620	190
28	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,160	$49,400 – $100,890	290
29	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,060	$48,960 – $100,150	260
30	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,460	$48,270 – $87,940	120
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,380	$47,850 – $134,990	1,080
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$51,600 – $131,340	260
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$76,900	$58,380 – $101,960	520
34	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,780	$50,590 – $96,870	80
35	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,080	$45,540 – $98,940	1,000
36	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,440	$49,190 – $161,510	110
37	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,410	$36,880 – $111,820	90
38	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$74,170	$48,320 – $121,020	80
39	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,570	$58,370 – $100,160	190
40	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$73,110	$48,540 – $98,110	320
41	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,870	$51,080 – $87,360	300
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,410	$48,220 – $99,700	240
43	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,890	$42,960 – $126,810	1,330
44	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,930	$45,670 – $97,300	130
45	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,970	$50,870 – $126,280	200
46	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,820	$46,770 – $79,890	1,550
47	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,720	$48,940 – $80,320	100
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$49,430 – $133,120	560
49	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,470	$49,140 – $129,360	70
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$64,020	$49,130 – $105,950	430

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, 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 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA that need no experience

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