High-Paying Jobs in Los Angeles That Don’t Require a College Degree
As the cost of higher education continues to climb, a growing number of Americans are questioning the necessity of a four-year degree. A recent survey reveals that 29% of Americans now believe college isn’t worthwhile, as alternative pathways to financial security gain traction. This shift is particularly notable among Gen Z, with nearly 2 in 5 high school graduates opting out of college in 2023—a rise from 33.8% in 2019 to 38.6%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This trend coincides with a period of labor shortages in skilled trades and a resurgence in domestic manufacturing, driven in part by retiring Baby Boomers. Companies are responding by dropping degree requirements, with a July 2024 Intelligent report finding that 1 in 3 organizations have eliminated bachelor’s degree requirements for entry-level, mid-tier, and even senior positions. The demand for skilled labor, regardless of formal education, is driving up wages, with median earnings for those with a high school degree reaching their highest point since 1990, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
While still averaging $20,000 less than those earned by college graduates, wages for high school grads are increasingly competitive. Nearly 1 in 5 workers without a bachelor’s degree now out-earn their college-educated peers, and two million high school graduates across the U.S. are earning six-figure salaries. Considering the average annual cost of college exceeding $38,200 in 2025, coupled with the average student debt of over $39,000, the appeal of alternative career paths is clear.
To identify the best opportunities, Stacker ranked the 50 highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don’t require a four-year degree, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as of May 2024. The analysis focused on positions listing a high school diploma, postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements. Here are the top 50, ranked by median annual pay:
The Top 50 High-Paying Jobs in Los Angeles Without a College Degree
#50. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment – Median annual wage: $81,770 – Median hourly wage: $39.31 – Total employment: 200 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#49. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers – Median annual wage: $81,890 – Median hourly wage: $39.37 – Total employment: 7,330 people (1.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#48. Pipelayers – Median annual wage: $82,090 – Median hourly wage: $39.47 – Total employment: 500 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines – Median annual wage: $82,640 – Median hourly wage: $39.73 – Total employment: 7,900 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#46. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door – Median annual wage: $82,840 – Median hourly wage: $39.83 – Total employment: 930 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#45. Lighting technicians – Median annual wage: $83,200 – Median hourly wage: $40.00 – Total employment: 2,440 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#44. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators – Median annual wage: $84,000 – Median hourly wage: $40.39 – Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#43. Millwrights – Median annual wage: $84,010 – Median hourly wage: $40.39 – Total employment: 730 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#42. Brokerage clerks – Median annual wage: $84,290 – Median hourly wage: $40.52 – Total employment: Not available
#41. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians – Median annual wage: $85,550 – Median hourly wage: $41.13 – Total employment: 4,860 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#40. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators – Median annual wage: $89,730 – Median hourly wage: $43.14 – Total employment: 7,470 people (1.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#39. Telecommunications line installers and repairers – Median annual wage: $89,790 – Median hourly wage: $43.17 – Total employment: 3,340 people (0.54 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#38. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other – Median annual wage: $89,980 – Median hourly wage: $43.26 – Total employment: 740 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#37. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers – Median annual wage: $92,100 – Median hourly wage: $44.28 – Total employment: 17,390 people (2.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#36. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators – Median annual wage: $93,220 – Median hourly wage: $44.82 – Total employment: 8,430 people (1.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#35. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters – Median annual wage: $94,240 – Median hourly wage: $45.31 – Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#34. Riggers – Median annual wage: $94,540 – Median hourly wage: $45.45 – Total employment: 1,800 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#33. Fire inspectors and investigators – Median annual wage: $95,510 – Median hourly wage: $45.92 – Total employment: 250 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#32. Avionics technicians – Median annual wage: $95,990 – Median hourly wage: $46.15 – Total employment: 460 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#31. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers – Median annual wage: $97,730 – Median hourly wage: $46.98 – Total employment: 19,320 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#30. Media and communication workers, all other – Median annual wage: $97,980 – Median hourly wage: $47.10 – Total employment: 7,570 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#29. Firefighters – Median annual wage: $99,210 – Median hourly wage: $47.70 – Total employment: 7,200 people (1.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#28. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists – Median annual wage: $99,600 – Median hourly wage: $47.89 – Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#27. Transportation inspectors – Median annual wage: $100,440 – Median hourly wage: $48.29 – Total employment: Not available
#26. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers – Median annual wage: $101,090 – Median hourly wage: $48.60 – Total employment: 100 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#25. Costume attendants – Median annual wage: $101,860 – Median hourly wage: $48.97 – Total employment: 1,290 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#24. Construction and building inspectors – Median annual wage: $103,480 – Median hourly wage: $49.75 – Total employment: 3,730 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#23. Pile driver operators – Median annual wage: $103,790 – Median hourly wage: $49.90 – Total employment: 260 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#22. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers – Median annual wage: $104,600 – Median hourly wage: $50.29 – Total employment: 11,660 people (1.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#21. Power distributors and dispatchers – Median annual wage: $105,200 – Median hourly wage: $50.58 – Total employment: 330 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#20. Wind turbine service technicians – Median annual wage: $105,370 – Median hourly wage: $50.66 – Total employment: 60 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#19. Power plant operators – Median annual wage: $106,030 – Median hourly wage: $50.98 – Total employment: 450 people (0.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#18. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers – Median annual wage: $107,270 – Median hourly wage: $51.57 – Total employment: 1,770 people (0.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#17. Boilermakers – Median annual wage: $107,600 – Median hourly wage: $51.73 – Total employment: 400 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#16. Postmasters and mail superintendents – Median annual wage: $108,240 – Median hourly wage: $52.04 – Total employment: 130 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#15. Insulation workers, mechanical – Median annual wage: $109,360 – Median hourly wage: $52.58 – Total employment: 320 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay – Median annual wage: $110,140 – Median hourly wage: $52.95 – Total employment: 590 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#13. Ship engineers – Median annual wage: $113,440 – Median hourly wage: $54.54 – Total employment: Not available
#12. Police and sheriff’s patrol officers – Median annual wage: $115,630 – Median hourly wage: $55.59 – Total employment: 24,310 people (3.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#11. Motion picture projectionists – Median annual wage: $119,090 – Median hourly wage: $57.25 – Total employment: 120 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#10. Gambling managers – Median annual wage: $119,310 – Median hourly wage: $57.36 – Total employment: 70 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#9. First-line supervisors of correctional officers – Median annual wage: $123,670 – Median hourly wage: $59.46 – Total employment: 240 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#8. Gas plant operators – Median annual wage: $124,100 – Median hourly wage: $59.66 – Total employment: 190 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#7. Electrical power-line installers and repairers – Median annual wage: $127,810 – Median hourly wage: $61.45 – Total employment: 2,840 people (0.46 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#6. Detectives and criminal investigators – Median annual wage: $127,980 – Median hourly wage: $61.53 – Total employment: 3,070 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#5. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance – Median annual wage: $132,900 – Median hourly wage: $63.89 – Total employment: Not available
#4. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers – Median annual wage: $136,920 – Median hourly wage: $65.83 – Total employment: 1,400 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives – Median annual wage: $169,590 – Median hourly wage: $81.53 – Total employment: 4,800 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#2. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers – Median annual wage: $171,390 – Median hourly wage: $82.40 – Total employment: 2,220 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
#1. Commercial pilots – Median annual wage: $177,300 – Median hourly wage: Not available – Total employment: 2,110 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
This data, compiled by Stacker using BLS information, demonstrates that a four-year degree isn’t always a prerequisite for a lucrative career. As the labor market evolves, prioritizing skills and experience may prove to be just as valuable as traditional education.
