Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Provo-Orem (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Provo-Orem was $48,010 in May 2025, below 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 $96,710.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $92,000.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Provo-Orem. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT)) 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. Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT had about 304,660 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 | Provo-Orem median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $96,710 | 380 | $107,230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $82,250 | 330 | $87,520 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,290 | 680 | $76,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $76,270 | 1,060 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $76,070 | 2,740 | $79,920 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $67,800 | 670 | $59,650 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $65,770 | 450 | $64,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $65,530 | 3,260 | $69,500 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $64,810 | 1,560 | $74,450 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | $63,430 | 820 | $62,280 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $62,380 | 510 | $62,120 |
| Postal Service Mail Carriers | $62,090 | 470 | $60,550 |
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 | Provo-Orem median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $92,000 | 930 | $98,100 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $64,320 | 310 | $64,400 |
| Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers | $61,330 | 310 | $63,890 |
| Massage Therapists | $61,290 | 480 | $58,450 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,820 | 2,300 | $58,640 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $59,390 | 3,040 | $61,860 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $48,930 | 1,050 | $61,010 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $47,830 | 450 | $62,890 |
The most common jobs in Provo-Orem, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,710 | 12,060 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,120 | 8,710 |
| General and Operations Managers | $95,790 | 7,910 |
| Software Developers | $131,210 | 7,870 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $39,560 | 7,780 |
| Office Clerks, General | $43,080 | 6,540 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $31,190 | 4,840 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,780 | 4,770 |
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 31, 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 Provo-Orem relative to the nation is umpires, referees, and other sports officials, with a location quotient of 13.62. That means those jobs make up about 13.62 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 420 of them locally, at a median of $29,790. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk