What’s left in the job market if you’re not into tech? Turns out there’s a lot. As we determined from our powerful list of nine innovative non-tech start-ups in the San Francisco Bay Area, this city doesn’t just bleed tech. So no, you don’t need to have a STEM degree to succeed in San Francisco (even some of tech’s top honchos don’t have one of those), and you can forget all about that coding course (unless, of course, that’s something you’re into).
The headquarters of some of the biggest non-tech industries are in the City by the Bay, so if you aren’t in tech, you may be in luck. Plus, as an added bonus for living in one of the country’s most expensive cities, the median salary for many of these non-tech positions is often higher than those (already high) median salaries for similar positions in the nation, according to NerdWallet.
FINANCE
With corporate bank headquarters scattered around FiDi and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in town, if you’re in the business of finance, it turns out that the Bay Area is a lucrative place. Banking organizations with offices in the Bay Area need marketing, wholesale and product teams in addition to analysts, so even if you don’t know the difference between a FICA and a 401(k), you can probably find your niche in the finance industry.
Finance Manager: $141,287
Financial Analyst: $71,000
Business Analyst: $76,642
Regional Private Banker $75,540
CORPORATE COUNSEL
The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks “corporate counsel” as having the highest median pay for the city (for those who have five to eight years of experience). Not to be left out, attorneys and lawyers round out the top five in the Bay Area’s top-paying-jobs list.
Corporate Counsel: $156,000
Attorney/Lawyer: $136,000
HR
If you’ve got a knack for organizing and just love people, a career in human resources might be your path. While you work your way up to director, think about potential ways to grow your skill set (such as through courses on Lynda.com or volunteer efforts) since the typical HR director has a bachelor’s degree in human resources or business administration.
Human Resources Director: $101,000
Human Resources Manager: $101,000
AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
We’ve all had to deal with Karl the Fog at some point, and SFO is the most likely of places where he’s ruined travel plans. But if you think about it, flying blindly in a multiple-thousand-pound piece of metal probably isn’t for the faint of heart, which is why the Bay Area’s air-traffic controllers get paid the big bucks. The path to this career choice is unconventional, in part because it doesn’t require a college degree, and most of one’s training happens on the job. So if you’re into aircraft, this could be your calling. (TIME magazinenamed this job as its top-earning position that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree.)
Air-Traffic Controller: $122,530
HEALTHCARE
According to a 2014 study from the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California, the healthcare industry in San Francisco is a $28 billion business. If you’re lucky enough to have the expertise to work in this industry, there’s going to be some serious cash to be had. And since we know that money can’t buy you happiness, here’s an added benefit: according to Glassdoor’s 2015 survey identifying the 25 Best Jobs in America, the position of physician’s assistant topped the list for “job openings, salary and career opportunities.”
Physician’s Assistant (in SF): $115,924
Physical Therapist: $64,806
Registered Nurse (in SF): $91,423
RETAIL
Most fashionistas know that some of the biggest retail brands are based in San Francisco. Banana Republic, Pottery Barn, Levi Strauss & Co., Williams-Sonoma, Rodan + Fields and others all call the bay home. Entry-level positions are aplenty, and we aren’t just talking about sales-floor roles. Find your place as a merchandiser, designer or marketing associate with openings galore.
Senior Merchandiser: $108,232
Merchandiser: $79,212
Merchant: $81,168
Merchandise Assistant: $56,300
Inventory Planning Manager: $98,209
Associate Designer: $70,766
Median job-salary data pulled from Glassdoor.com, Nerdwallet.com and PayScale.com.