Texas · BLS, May 2025 wages

$30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Texas

Name: $30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Texas, 2025
Creator: Degreeless Jobs
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

97 occupations in Texas pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is air traffic controllers at $81.77 an hour.

By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS

All 97, sorted by hourly median

State medians for employed workers. The 25th to 75th range is annual. Occupations reported on an annual basis only are not included.

Occupations in Texas with a median of $30 an hour or more that typically require less than a bachelor's degree
Occupation	Hourly median	Annual median	25th to 75th	Employed	Typical entry education
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$81.77	$170,080	$107,990 to $202,590	2,060	Associate's degree
Ship engineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61.45	$127,810	$103,930 to $132,740	660	Postsecondary nondegree award
Nuclear techniciansAssociate's degree	$59.64	$124,060	$110,680 to $126,960	110	Associate's degree
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53.55	$111,390	$70,780 to $145,560	3,400	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53.36	$111,000	$91,160 to $124,750	5,540	High school diploma or equivalent
Court reporters and simultaneous captionersPostsecondary nondegree award	$52.92	$110,080	$77,910 to $130,560	1,270	Postsecondary nondegree award
Gambling managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51.29	$106,670	$74,120 to $132,090	60	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$50.85	$105,770	$101,130 to $128,080	1,000	Associate's degree
Power distributors and dispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49.46	$102,890	$87,010 to $106,750	970	High school diploma or equivalent
Chemical plant and system operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49.40	$102,750	$73,850 to $117,430	2,360	High school diploma or equivalent
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49.28	$102,510	$66,430 to $117,340	2,100	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$49.26	$102,470	$80,070 to $116,360	2,360	Postsecondary nondegree award
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49.11	$102,140	$74,180 to $109,650	2,030	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48.77	$101,440	$74,500 to $129,570	2,290	High school diploma or equivalent
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$48.64	$101,170	$93,440 to $111,790	1,060	Associate's degree
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48.41	$100,700	$79,390 to $135,960	28,710	High school diploma or equivalent
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$47.71	$99,240	$85,280 to $107,320	16,380	Associate's degree
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46.90	$97,550	$91,460 to $103,520	820	High school diploma or equivalent
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$46.53	$96,780	$83,860 to $105,980	2,930	Associate's degree
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$44.51	$92,580	$78,610 to $100,700	6,960	Associate's degree
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.51	$90,510	$64,660 to $109,300	18,870	High school diploma or equivalent
Hydrologic techniciansAssociate's degree	$42.50	$88,400	$59,530 to $115,210	270	Associate's degree
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$41.60	$86,520	$86,180 to $107,930	580	Postsecondary nondegree award
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41.34	$85,990	$62,750 to $108,540	610	High school diploma or equivalent
Signal and track switch repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.88	$85,020	$76,180 to $85,360	650	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$40.60	$84,440	$69,130 to $99,490	16,850	Postsecondary nondegree award
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.43	$84,100	$75,210 to $100,440	10,510	High school diploma or equivalent
Fire inspectors and investigatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$39.61	$82,390	$69,370 to $94,710	1,030	Postsecondary nondegree award
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.48	$82,120	$67,980 to $91,610	1,350	High school diploma or equivalent
Avionics techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$39.40	$81,950	$63,950 to $98,600	1,710	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersPostsecondary nondegree award	$39.28	$81,710	$74,350 to $96,290	8,660	Postsecondary nondegree award
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$39.19	$81,500	$75,250 to $89,780	5,610	Associate's degree
Electrical and electronics draftersAssociate's degree	$38.76	$80,620	$61,580 to $96,730	1,840	Associate's degree
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.42	$79,910	$77,640 to $94,360	2,550	High school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$38.24	$79,540	$69,670 to $93,680	12,130	Associate's degree
Mechanical draftersAssociate's degree	$38.16	$79,380	$61,710 to $93,600	4,630	Associate's degree
Insurance appraisers, auto damagePostsecondary nondegree award	$38.08	$79,200	$56,680 to $100,220	910	Postsecondary nondegree award
Locomotive engineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.98	$79,000	$65,340 to $79,310	3,780	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.95	$78,940	$60,150 to $99,110	17,280	High school diploma or equivalent
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.89	$78,800	$59,780 to $97,990	29,220	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$37.80	$78,630	$63,210 to $93,830	20,250	Associate's degree
Transit and railroad policeHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.73	$78,480	$61,030 to $111,280	80	High school diploma or equivalent
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$37.67	$78,350	$61,950 to $93,900	950	Associate's degree
Physical therapist assistantsAssociate's degree	$37.50	$78,000	$62,870 to $87,330	10,510	Associate's degree
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairersAssociate's degree	$37.46	$77,910	$48,790 to $95,630	830	Associate's degree
Rotary drill operators, oil and gasNo formal educational credential	$37.43	$77,840	$60,770 to $86,630	5,980	No formal educational credential
Health information technologists and medical registrarsAssociate's degree	$36.93	$76,820	$52,710 to $101,170	2,880	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.90	$76,760	$59,210 to $98,610	75,340	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.84	$76,640	$59,400 to $86,520	3,010	High school diploma or equivalent
Mechanical engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$36.83	$76,610	$59,580 to $102,990	2,140	Associate's degree
Media and communication equipment workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.73	$76,400	$44,370 to $104,830	540	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.73	$76,400	$56,180 to $93,770	1,450	High school diploma or equivalent
Police and sheriff's patrol officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.49	$75,900	$61,240 to $93,800	63,100	High school diploma or equivalent
Wellhead pumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.47	$75,860	$59,490 to $84,070	10,250	High school diploma or equivalent
BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.42	$75,750	$64,870 to $80,090	2,340	High school diploma or equivalent
Telecommunications line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.42	$75,740	$58,930 to $96,050	9,700	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.86	$74,590	$56,060 to $100,030	20,690	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.83	$74,520	$58,830 to $89,680	90,010	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$35.81	$74,480	$59,280 to $96,720	13,540	Postsecondary nondegree award
Calibration technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.62	$74,100	$57,110 to $99,880	5,020	Associate's degree
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.60	$74,050	$52,310 to $88,710	8,960	Associate's degree
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$35.51	$73,860	$52,120 to $98,280	7,110	Associate's degree
DancersNo formal educational credential	$35.31	—	—	190	No formal educational credential
Crane and tower operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.23	$73,280	$57,020 to $79,880	6,010	High school diploma or equivalent
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.61	$71,990	$58,790 to $87,040	34,520	High school diploma or equivalent
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators and locomotive firersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.41	$71,580	$46,810 to $71,860	1,650	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.72	$70,140	$51,990 to $90,160	58,930	High school diploma or equivalent
Musicians and singersNo formal educational credential	$33.59	—	—	1,430	No formal educational credential
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$33.44	$69,550	$58,230 to $81,210	1,930	Postsecondary nondegree award
Railroad conductors and yardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.16	$68,980	$59,310 to $71,070	4,640	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation security screenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.00	$68,640	$62,820 to $73,070	4,300	High school diploma or equivalent
Funeral home managersAssociate's degree	$32.57	$67,740	$52,020 to $91,750	1,230	Associate's degree
Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.37	$67,330	$58,180 to $70,280	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Computer network support specialistsAssociate's degree	$32.11	$66,780	$54,080 to $92,240	9,930	Associate's degree
Pile driver operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.80	$66,140	$61,310 to $68,880	280	High school diploma or equivalent
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.72	$65,970	$47,820 to $98,970	95,670	High school diploma or equivalent
Model makers, metal and plasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.69	$65,920	$47,260 to $98,220	230	High school diploma or equivalent
Dredge operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.53	$65,580	$62,540 to $72,960	—	High school diploma or equivalent
Surgical technologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.35	$65,220	$50,100 to $80,790	10,160	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.22	$64,940	$51,160 to $82,700	160,600	High school diploma or equivalent
Surgical assistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.22	$64,930	$43,370 to $94,730	2,840	Postsecondary nondegree award
Construction and building inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.16	$64,810	$50,560 to $80,370	18,230	High school diploma or equivalent
Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.84	$64,150	$34,540 to $84,570	580	High school diploma or equivalent
Artists and related workers, all otherNo formal educational credential	$30.80	$64,060	$37,040 to $80,830	260	No formal educational credential
Stationary engineers and boiler operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.68	$63,810	$57,510 to $75,810	890	High school diploma or equivalent
Real estate brokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.48	$63,390	$42,550 to $85,660	2,040	High school diploma or equivalent
Architectural and civil draftersAssociate's degree	$30.44	$63,320	$50,810 to $81,050	11,710	Associate's degree
Legal support workers, all otherAssociate's degree	$30.36	$63,140	$56,330 to $89,920	2,900	Associate's degree
Brokerage clerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.32	$63,060	$52,140 to $67,090	1,300	High school diploma or equivalent
Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.25	$62,930	$47,530 to $66,840	1,180	High school diploma or equivalent
Logging equipment operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.24	$62,890	$46,400 to $64,070	500	High school diploma or equivalent
MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.11	$62,630	$48,560 to $75,670	3,540	High school diploma or equivalent
Postal service clerksNo formal educational credential	$30.10	$62,610	$56,390 to $74,030	4,900	No formal educational credential
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.09	$62,590	$59,890 to $70,250	4,200	High school diploma or equivalent
Chemical techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.09	$62,580	$49,580 to $85,910	6,090	Associate's degree
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all otherPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.01	$62,420	$47,760 to $89,700	1,460	Postsecondary nondegree award
Gambling change persons and booth cashiersNo formal educational credential	$30.00	$62,400	$30,430 to $78,730	910	No formal educational credential

Sources and method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates. Typical entry education from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). An occupation is listed when its typical entry education is below a bachelor’s degree and its Texas median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 97, sorted by hourly median

Other states

Sources and method