Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Portland, Maine (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Portland, Maine was $56,960 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 first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers, at a median of $87,670.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $98,880.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Portland, Maine. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Portland-South Portland, ME)) 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 metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Portland-South Portland, ME had about 288,480 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Portland, Maine median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $87,670 | 440 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $85,050 | 1,210 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $82,740 | 1,550 | $74,450 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $80,950 | 770 | $78,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $79,280 | 1,340 | $79,920 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $77,330 | 310 | $74,690 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $75,460 | 600 | $64,520 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $73,600 | 860 | $76,210 |
| Food Service Managers | $72,630 | 670 | $69,390 |
| Electricians | $71,660 | 1,870 | $63,190 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $70,240 | 2,600 | $69,500 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $68,370 | 1,070 | $69,990 |
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 | Portland, Maine median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $98,880 | 500 | $98,100 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,910 | 350 | $80,110 |
| Mechanical Drafters | $76,360 | 570 | $71,550 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,950 | 300 | $64,400 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $64,280 | 700 | $62,890 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $64,090 | 920 | $61,010 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $62,540 | 1,390 | $61,860 |
| Dental Assistants | $61,240 | 830 | $48,070 |
The most common jobs in Portland, Maine, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $37,320 | 8,510 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,580 | 8,150 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,300 | 8,040 |
| General and Operations Managers | $105,390 | 7,160 |
| Registered Nurses | $88,470 | 6,970 |
| Cashiers | $36,210 | 5,610 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,070 | 5,070 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,930 | 4,950 |
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 November 9, 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 Portland, Maine relative to the nation is nuclear engineers, with a location quotient of 13.03. That means those jobs make up about 13.03 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 370 of them locally, at a median of $120,430. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Portland-South Portland, ME). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk