Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Syracuse (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Syracuse was $52,990 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 $107,700.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $93,640.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Syracuse. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Syracuse, NY)) 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. Syracuse, NY had about 300,130 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 | Syracuse median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $107,700 | 560 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $104,110 | 300 | $106,040 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $98,390 | 340 | $93,790 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $82,530 | 520 | $51,610 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $82,060 | 590 | $78,000 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $81,230 | 1,060 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $80,140 | 1,370 | $79,860 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $79,720 | 320 | $60,850 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $79,280 | 1,230 | $74,450 |
| Electricians | $77,110 | 1,160 | $63,190 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $77,090 | 2,450 | $72,080 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $76,350 | 2,120 | $76,590 |
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 | Syracuse median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $93,640 | 580 | $98,100 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $87,860 | 660 | $80,110 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $82,830 | 360 | $78,190 |
| Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | $78,170 | 350 | $74,090 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $66,600 | 970 | $61,010 |
| Surgical Technologists | $63,270 | 310 | $64,650 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $62,880 | 1,850 | $64,400 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $62,810 | 1,060 | $61,860 |
The most common jobs in Syracuse, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,440 | 8,310 |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 | 8,180 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,250 | 8,150 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,940 | 6,750 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,950 | 6,640 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,660 | 6,390 |
| Cashiers | $33,950 | 6,140 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $38,230 | 6,010 |
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 Syracuse relative to the nation is word processors and typists, with a location quotient of 8.6. That means those jobs make up about 8.6 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 580 of them locally, at a median of $46,220. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Syracuse, NY). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk