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No Bachelor's Degree Required

37 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 37 occupations in California where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is Radiation Therapists at $166,450/year (typical entry: Associate's Degree). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

37
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$166,450
#1: Radiation Therapists
$121,923
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
584,780
Workers in These Roles

Education Breakdown

These high-paying jobs span different education levels — from no formal education to associate's degrees and trade certifications.

High School Diploma or Equivalent
21 jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $163,960
Associate's Degree
9 jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $166,450
Post-Secondary Certificate
7 jobs
Top: Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance — $140,870

All 37 Jobs Paying $100K+ Without a Bachelor's Degree

Ranked by median annual salary. Education level from O*NET (typical entry-level requirement). Click any job for the full salary breakdown.

# Occupation Education Median Salary Workers
1 Radiation Therapists Associate's $166,450 1,720
2 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $163,960 13,200
3 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $162,380 1,500
4 Air Traffic Controllers HS Diploma $160,080 2,290
5 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $141,180 1,910
6 Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Certificate $140,870 830
7 Power Distributors and Dispatchers HS Diploma $137,570 670
8 First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers HS Diploma $131,210 4,550
9 Special Effects Artists and Animators HS Diploma $130,540 7,410
10 Gas Plant Operators HS Diploma $130,220 800
11 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $129,040 8,930
12 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Associate's $128,530 10,110
13 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $127,630 8,170
14 Dental Hygienists Associate's $124,930 24,500
15 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $124,390 300,840
16 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Associate's $124,000 3,570
17 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay Certificate $121,520 1,680
18 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Associate's $121,260 20,900
19 Insulation Workers, Mechanical HS Diploma $119,690 1,310
20 Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers HS Diploma $118,880 65,940
21 Boilermakers HS Diploma $118,150 720
22 Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners Certificate $116,020 1,400
23 Pile Driver Operators HS Diploma $110,340 480
24 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels HS Diploma $110,090 2,420
25 Watch and Clock Repairers HS Diploma $110,050 N/A
26 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $108,890 41,240
27 Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film Associate's $106,900 4,700
28 Power Plant Operators HS Diploma $105,210 2,610
29 Respiratory Therapists Associate's $104,820 18,650
30 Technical Writers Associate's $104,000 5,280
31 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers HS Diploma $103,250 3,360
32 Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Certificate $102,780 1,450
33 Forensic Science Technicians Certificate $102,100 2,800
34 Commercial Divers Certificate $101,540 310
35 Construction and Building Inspectors Certificate $101,290 13,420
36 Postmasters and Mail Superintendents HS Diploma $101,150 800
37 Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door HS Diploma $100,260 4,310

Top Career Fields (No Degree, $100K+)

Healthcare Practitioners
7 qualifying jobs
Top: Radiation Therapists — $166,450
Construction
5 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $141,180
Installation & Maintenance
5 qualifying jobs
Top: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers — $129,040
Protective Service
4 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $163,960
Production
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Power Distributors and Dispatchers — $137,570
Arts & Media
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Special Effects Artists and Animators — $130,540
Management
3 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $124,390
Transportation
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Air Traffic Controllers — $160,080

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in California?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 37 occupations in California where the median salary exceeds $100,000/year and the typical entry-level education is below a bachelor's degree.
What is the highest-paying job without a degree in California?
The highest-paying occupation in California that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is Radiation Therapists, with a median annual salary of $166,450. Entry typically requires: Associate's Degree.
What education do you need for a $100K job without a college degree?
The jobs on this list typically require one of: a high school diploma, a post-secondary certificate or trade certification, some college courses, or an associate's degree. Many of these roles value on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or industry certifications over formal degrees.
What's the average salary for $100K+ no-degree jobs in California?
Among the 37 qualifying occupations in CA, the average median salary is $121,923/year. These jobs range from just over $100,000 to well above $200,000 in some fields like management and skilled trades.
How do I get a $100K job without a bachelor's degree?
Focus on high-demand fields like skilled trades (elevator installers, power plant operators), transportation (airline pilots, air traffic controllers), sales management, or tech roles that accept certifications. Build relevant experience through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or industry certifications. Many employers value demonstrated skills and experience over formal education.

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$100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in Other States

$100K+ No Degree in Washington (42) $100K+ No Degree in New Jersey (38) $100K+ No Degree in New York (36) $100K+ No Degree in Massachusetts (31) $100K+ No Degree in Illinois (29) $100K+ No Degree in District of Columbia (24) $100K+ No Degree in Hawaii (23) $100K+ No Degree in Maryland (22) $100K+ No Degree in Oregon (22) $100K+ No Degree in Connecticut (18) $100K+ No Degree in Alaska (17) $100K+ No Degree in Texas (17) $100K+ No Degree in Colorado (16) $100K+ No Degree in Nevada (15) $100K+ No Degree in Rhode Island (15) $100K+ No Degree in Minnesota (14)

What's the actual take-home? These $100K+ salaries are before taxes.

More Salary Data for California

All $100K+ Jobs in California · All California Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This page combines two authoritative data sources: salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, and education requirements from the O*NET 28.3 database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor. Jobs are filtered to those where the typical education requirement is below a bachelor's degree (including high school diploma, post-secondary certificate, associate's degree, or some college courses) and the state-level median salary exceeds $100,000/year.

See our Methodology and Data Sources pages for details.

Sources: BLS OEWS · O*NET OnLine

More About California

Salary Data
All Salaries in California Average Salary in California Highest Paying Jobs in California
Salary Thresholds
Jobs Over $100K in California Jobs Over $50K in California $100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in California
Top Cities in California
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Top Colleges in California
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