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
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, 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.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require higher education. 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 are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Model makers, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $68,810
- Median hourly wage: $33.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Audio and video technicians
- Median annual wage: $71,090
- Median hourly wage: $34.18
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 4,280 people (0.7 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#48. Brickmasons and blockmasons
- Median annual wage: $72,470
- Median hourly wage: $34.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 810 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#47. Correctional officers and jailers
- Median annual wage: $72,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.00
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,680 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Electricians
- Median annual wage: $73,340
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 20,870 people (3.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#45. Public safety telecommunicators
- Median annual wage: $76,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,080 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $76,880
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,190 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#43. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $77,050
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 5,070 people (0.83 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $78,150
- Median hourly wage: $37.57
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,130 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $78,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.97
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,160 people (0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#40. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $79,330
- Median hourly wage: $38.14
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,020 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#39. Surveying and mapping technicians
- Median annual wage: $79,720
- Median hourly wage: $38.33
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas
- Median annual wage: $79,960
- Median hourly wage: $38.44
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#36. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 13,680 people (2.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#36. Media and communication workers, all other (tie)
- Median annual wage: $80,860
- Median hourly wage: $38.88
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 9,270 people (1.52 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#35. Firefighters
- Median annual wage: $81,140
- Median hourly wage: $39.01
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 7,200 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#34. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $81,350
- Median hourly wage: $39.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 7,500 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#33. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $81,490
- Median hourly wage: $39.18
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 7,800 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#32. Lighting technicians
- Median annual wage: $82,020
- Median hourly wage: $39.43
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 2,760 people (0.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#31. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $83,090
- Median hourly wage: $39.95
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 7,960 people (1.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $84,750
- Median hourly wage: $40.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,720 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#29. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $85,860
- Median hourly wage: $41.28
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 18,990 people (3.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#28. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $86,190
- Median hourly wage: $41.44
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,040 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists
- Median annual wage: $86,990
- Median hourly wage: $41.82
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 90 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. Chemical plant and system operators
- Median annual wage: $88,940
- Median hourly wage: $42.76
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 110 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#25. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners
- Median annual wage: $92,060
- Median hourly wage: $44.26
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 640 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $92,890
- Median hourly wage: $44.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Median annual wage: $95,260
- Median hourly wage: $45.80
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 270 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
- Median annual wage: $97,860
- Median hourly wage: $47.05
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,390 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. Pile driver operators
- Median annual wage: $99,710
- Median hourly wage: $47.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#20. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Median annual wage: $100,240
- Median hourly wage: $48.19
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,690 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $101,290
- Median hourly wage: $48.70
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 10,920 people (1.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#18. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $101,610
- Median hourly wage: $48.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 320 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#17. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Median annual wage: $102,280
- Median hourly wage: $49.17
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 640 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Electrical power-line installers and repairers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.74
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,230 people (0.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#15. Gambling managers (tie)
- Median annual wage: $103,450
- Median hourly wage: $49.73
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#14. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $103,840
- Median hourly wage: $49.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 330 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#13. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $103,880
- Median hourly wage: $49.94
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 2,080 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $104,160
- Median hourly wage: $50.08
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 25,700 people (4.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#11. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $104,240
- Median hourly wage: $50.12
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 250 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#10. Artists and related workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $106,480
- Median hourly wage: $51.19
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 650 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Insulation workers, mechanical
- Median annual wage: $106,540
- Median hourly wage: $51.22
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 220 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#8. Commercial divers
- Median annual wage: $107,420
- Median hourly wage: $51.65
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#7. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $109,100
- Median hourly wage: $52.45
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 450 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#6. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $117,850
- Median hourly wage: $56.66
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,930 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $129,800
- Median hourly wage: $62.41
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,050 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#4. Models
- Median annual wage: $130,000
- Median hourly wage: $62.50
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 230 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#3. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $136,750
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,910 people (0.31 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $150,440
- Median hourly wage: $72.33
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,860 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#1. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $164,150
- Median hourly wage: $78.92
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,510 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
