Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require a college degree

Written by:
January 5, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don't require a college degree

From the moment they first set foot 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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 non-degree 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 2019 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Los Angeles that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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welcomia // Shutterstock

#50. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,310
- Employment: 3,960

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Canva

#49. Boilermakers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,600
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,040
- Employment: 15,820
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#48. Real estate sales agents

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $72,910
- Employment: 3,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

#47. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $73,050
- Employment: 16,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Canva

#46. Pesticide handlers, sprayers, and applicators, vegetation

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $73,240
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,230
- Employment: 25,780
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#45. Advertising sales agents

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,010
- Employment: 5,890

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Canva

#44. Transportation inspectors

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,140
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Canva

#43. Rotary drill operators, oil and gas

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,390
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,070
- Employment: 21,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
9 / 50
Unsplash

#42. Crane and tower operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,530
- Employment: 1,560

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#41. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $74,690
- Employment: 63,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

#40. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $75,270
- Employment: 9,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Bigflick // Shutterstock

#39. Correctional officers and jailers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $75,510
- Employment: 2,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,130
- Employment: 423,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Unsplash

#38. Choreographers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $75,770
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,590
- Employment: 4,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#37. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $77,510
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#35 (tie). Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,360
- Employment: 790

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#35 (tie). Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $78,360
- Employment: 11,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

#34. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $79,150
- Employment: 810

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
18 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#33. Private detectives and investigators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,070
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Sound engineering technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,220
- Employment: 3,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,090
- Employment: 12,890
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
20 / 50
Avatar_023 // Shutterstock

#31. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,250
- Employment: 2,610

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 123,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $81,740
- Employment: 5,730

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Pixabay

#29. Surveying and mapping technicians

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $82,420
- Employment: 990

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 53,030
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

#28. Ship engineers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $82,540
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
24 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

#27. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $82,870
- Employment: 18,320

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#26. Power distributors and dispatchers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $83,910
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Canva

#25. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $84,710
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
27 / 50
Canva

#24. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $85,790
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- Employment: 9,790
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
28 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#23. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $85,870
- Employment: 12,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#22. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $86,100
- Employment: 1,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#21. Real estate brokers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,550
- Employment: 2,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Canva

#20. Loading and moving machine operators, underground mining

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $87,850
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,730
- Employment: 4,200
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
32 / 50
NancyS // Shutterstock

#19. Forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $89,520
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $53,350
- Employment: 2,160
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#18. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $90,240
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Kokulina // Shutterstock

#17. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $91,640
- Employment: 1,640

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,600
- Employment: 3,400
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
35 / 50
Canva

#16. Construction and building inspectors

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,230
- Employment: 3,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#15. Power plant operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,700
- Employment: 1,890

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#14. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $92,720
- Employment: 2,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Canva

#13. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $93,790
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Daniel Tausis // Unsplash

#12. Firefighters

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $97,450
- Employment: 9,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 324,620
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
40 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#11. Gas plant operators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,180
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $99,190
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Pixabay

#9. Gambling managers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $102,590
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,700
- Employment: 4,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $103,370
- Employment: 7,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

#7. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $109,100
- Employment: 600

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
45 / 50
Aniwat phromrungsee // Shutterstock

#6. Commercial divers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $109,130
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,100
- Employment: 3,420
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
46 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#5. Detectives and criminal investigators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $122,130
- Employment: 3,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#4. Commercial pilots

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $123,930
- Employment: 2,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Canva

#3. Fire inspectors and investigators

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $126,790
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
49 / 50
Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $166,740
- Employment: 1,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
U.S. Air Force

#1. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Annual mean salary: $180,200
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award

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