Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Tulsa (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Tulsa was $46,670 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 petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers, at a median of $107,170.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $100,350.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Tulsa. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Tulsa, OK)) 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. Tulsa, OK had about 458,730 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 | Tulsa median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $107,170 | 570 | $96,710 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $97,220 | 430 | $106,040 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $96,740 | 470 | $107,230 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $80,880 | 740 | $95,320 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $78,720 | 3,170 | $79,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $75,970 | 820 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $75,000 | 2,950 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $71,260 | 3,280 | $74,450 |
| Food Service Managers | $68,670 | 490 | $69,390 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $65,950 | 880 | $78,000 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $64,190 | 2,310 | $76,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,390 | 5,410 | $69,500 |
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 | Tulsa median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $100,350 | 820 | $98,100 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $88,540 | 580 | $76,220 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $80,250 | 540 | $82,280 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $76,740 | 390 | $93,530 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $67,330 | 970 | $80,110 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $64,610 | 440 | $66,150 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $59,910 | 680 | $68,380 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $59,820 | 2,370 | $64,400 |
The most common jobs in Tulsa, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,460 | 12,760 |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,810 | 12,110 |
| General and Operations Managers | $96,150 | 11,840 |
| Registered Nurses | $84,790 | 10,880 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,980 | 9,990 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,560 | 9,800 |
| Cashiers | $29,180 | 9,770 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,270 | 9,400 |
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 Tulsa relative to the nation is petroleum engineers, with a location quotient of 6.91. That means those jobs make up about 6.91 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 370 of them locally, at a median of $130,750. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Tulsa, OK). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk