Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require a college degree
From the moment they arrive on campus, today’s high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches. While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students’ future careers, it’s not necessary for all fields — something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
To find the highest paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don’t require higher education. All professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn’t list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Craft artists
- Annual mean salary: $72,090
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 3,740
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($72,090)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($62,140)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($57,610)
#49. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $72,130
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)

#48. Electricians
- Annual mean salary: $72,450
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,660
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,310
- Employment: 650,580
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,090)
--- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI ($86,600)
#47. Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $72,500
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $50,590
- Employment: 44,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,510)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($78,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($75,380)

#46. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 870
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,430
- Employment: 55,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($95,980)
--- Decatur, IL ($92,670)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($89,340)
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#45. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $73,370
- #59 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 740
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#44. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $73,950
- #38 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
#43. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Annual mean salary: $74,130
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,360
- Employment: 25,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,600)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($92,910)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,660)

#42. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Annual mean salary: $74,260
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,060
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,320
- Employment: 121,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,980)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($92,370)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($87,990)
#41. Fabric and apparel patternmakers
- Annual mean salary: $74,480
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,070
- Employment: 3,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($84,960)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,260)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($74,480)
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#40. Correctional officers and jailers
- Annual mean salary: $74,550
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,130
National
- Annual mean salary: $53,420
- Employment: 392,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,580)
--- Salinas, CA ($89,100)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($86,260)

#39. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $74,820
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,960
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)

#38. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $75,550
- #58 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 54,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
#37. Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
- Annual mean salary: $76,460
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,850
- Employment: 35,720
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,740)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,090)

#36. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Annual mean salary: $76,480
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 500
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 11,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($89,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,970)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($86,050)
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#35. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $77,290
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,680
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#34. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $77,780
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,430
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)
#33. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Annual mean salary: $77,840
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $49,810
- Employment: 56,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($84,710)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($77,840)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($76,960)
#32. Sound engineering technicians
- Annual mean salary: $78,010
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,810
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,360
- Employment: 10,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($96,070)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($84,930)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($84,620)

#31. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $78,140
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,310
- Employment: 44,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)
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#30. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $78,530
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 16,290
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#29. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Annual mean salary: $78,850
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,600
National
- Annual mean salary: $56,280
- Employment: 404,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,910)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($91,860)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,120)

#28. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,740
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)

#27. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $79,260
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,330
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,470
- Employment: 125,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,470)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($86,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,860)

#26. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $81,710
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,370
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 43,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)
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#25. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $83,290
- #184 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#24. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Annual mean salary: $84,210
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,840
- Employment: 11,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($84,210)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($75,750)
--- Lafayette, LA ($75,710)

#23. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $85,710
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,140
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#22. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $86,340
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 19,170
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)

#21. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $86,750
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)
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#20. Firefighters
- Annual mean salary: $91,660
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,760
National
- Annual mean salary: $55,290
- Employment: 317,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,210)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,150)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($97,470)

#19. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $92,810
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,460
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#18. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $93,080
- #9 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,900
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,480
- Employment: 117,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#17. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $93,400
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#16. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $93,870
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)
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#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- #32 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,400
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#14. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $98,750
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 380
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#13. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $102,060
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#12. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $103,160
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)

#11. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Annual mean salary: $104,060
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120
National
- Annual mean salary: $54,340
- Employment: 2,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($134,990)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($104,060)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($84,900)
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#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $105,300
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 260
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- Employment: 54,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)

#9. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $106,930
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 800
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)
#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $108,030
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,920
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#7. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $109,290
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 510
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $115,860
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,930
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)
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#5. Athletes and sports competitors
- Annual mean salary: $121,150
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $116,930
- Employment: 12,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($212,500)
--- Cleveland-Elyria, OH ($210,210)
--- Columbus, OH ($201,290)

#4. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
- Annual mean salary: $137,140
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,380
- Employment: 1,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,660)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($102,040)

#3. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $145,740
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,540
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)
#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $155,890
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,420
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#1. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $184,260
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,280
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
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