Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Providence (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Providence was $53,680 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 transportation, storage, and distribution managers, at a median of $110,000.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by cardiovascular technologists and technicians at $104,000.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Providence. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA)) 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. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA had about 714,120 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 | Providence median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $110,000 | 780 | $107,230 |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $103,810 | 580 | $74,330 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $98,320 | 640 | $62,780 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,600 | 1,200 | $106,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $97,560 | 3,350 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $91,840 | 640 | $87,520 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $88,450 | 430 | $93,790 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $86,990 | 450 | $62,120 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $86,360 | 1,310 | $78,000 |
| Food Service Managers | $82,760 | 1,080 | $69,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $80,320 | 2,310 | $79,860 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $80,100 | 510 | $74,690 |
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 | Providence median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $104,000 | 330 | $74,310 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $93,940 | 510 | $96,590 |
| Dental Hygienists | $89,310 | 1,250 | $98,100 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $86,660 | 420 | $82,280 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $85,740 | 970 | $80,110 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $85,540 | 1,020 | $93,530 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $82,560 | 670 | $76,220 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $82,240 | 450 | $78,190 |
The most common jobs in Providence, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,700 | 21,530 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,230 | 20,910 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $40,890 | 15,670 |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | 15,180 |
| Cashiers | $34,540 | 14,440 |
| General and Operations Managers | $110,360 | 14,110 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $35,750 | 13,600 |
| Nursing Assistants | $46,330 | 13,030 |
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 30, 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 Providence relative to the nation is jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, with a location quotient of 6.89. That means those jobs make up about 6.89 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 710 of them locally, at a median of $48,800. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Providence-Warwick, RI-MA). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk