Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Reno (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Reno was $49,660 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 real estate sales agents, at a median of $106,190.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $117,850.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Reno. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Reno, NV)) 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. Reno, NV had about 275,680 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 | Reno median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Sales Agents | $106,190 | 380 | $52,830 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $102,560 | 650 | $107,230 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $92,130 | 1,030 | $76,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $82,800 | 1,030 | $79,860 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $80,810 | 310 | $74,690 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $80,610 | 2,020 | $79,920 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $78,970 | 600 | $65,510 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $78,240 | 1,230 | $74,450 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $77,810 | 1,090 | $64,520 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $77,020 | 1,170 | $63,800 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $74,110 | 470 | $61,770 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $73,260 | 1,290 | $59,850 |
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 | Reno median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $117,850 | 390 | $98,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $113,340 | 340 | $93,530 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $94,740 | 330 | $80,110 |
| Firefighters | $81,360 | 780 | $59,280 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,600 | 510 | $64,400 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $77,460 | 310 | $76,220 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,790 | 4,170 | $58,640 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $61,940 | 760 | $61,010 |
The most common jobs in Reno, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,990 | 8,960 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,020 | 8,230 |
| General and Operations Managers | $106,050 | 7,930 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $49,050 | 7,550 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,160 | 7,020 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,530 | 6,900 |
| Cashiers | $31,190 | 5,050 |
| Registered Nurses | $107,520 | 4,850 |
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 Reno relative to the nation is plasterers and stucco masons, with a location quotient of 9.6. That means those jobs make up about 9.6 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 330 of them locally, at a median of $48,130. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Reno, NV). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk