Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Delaware (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Delaware was $52,190 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was police and sheriff's patrol officers, at a median of $92,970.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses at $68,710.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Delaware. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Delaware) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the state that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Delaware had about 484,790 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 1,000 positions in the state, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Delaware median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $68,710 | 2,240 | $64,400 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,110 | 2,480 | $62,890 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $62,320 | 1,730 | $61,010 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $62,160 | 1,890 | $61,860 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $58,410 | 1,910 | $50,620 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,590 | 9,040 | $58,640 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,780 | 4,600 | $50,670 |
| Medical Assistants | $44,490 | 2,880 | $45,690 |
The most common jobs in Delaware, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $99,520 | 14,290 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,360 | 13,400 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | 13,310 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | 11,820 |
| Cashiers | $33,490 | 11,450 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,320 | 9,220 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $57,590 | 9,040 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $36,880 | 7,580 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published October 28, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Delaware relative to the nation is meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, with a location quotient of 11.96. That means those jobs make up about 11.96 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 5,430 of them locally, at a median of $35,500. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for Delaware. Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk