High paying entry level jobs in Abilene, TX

These occupations in Abilene, TX ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Abilene, TX run 9.6% below the national average (2024), so a Abilene, TX salary is worth about 1.11× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Abilene, TX

OccupationMedian, Abilene, TX · Employed

1Dentists, General$156,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,390 – $284,13050
2Pharmacists$133,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,580 – $168,840150
3Nurse Practitioners$129,120
Master's degree
$67,050 – $159,810110
4Physician Assistants$127,550
Master's degree
$102,890 – $157,76060
5Veterinarians$122,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,140 – $175,20040
6Lawyers$122,560
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,480 – $268,380160
7Electrical Engineers$106,340
Bachelor's degree
$69,840 – $161,19050
8Occupational Therapists$104,740
Master's degree
$78,110 – $132,34090
9Software Developers$103,760
Bachelor's degree
$55,110 – $159,200250
10Physical Therapists$102,920
Doctoral or professional degree
$45,210 – $131,280180
11Mechanical Engineers$99,460
Bachelor's degree
$68,460 – $153,34050
12Computer Occupations, All Other$96,890
Bachelor's degree
$44,780 – $136,99080
13Industrial Engineers$96,840
Bachelor's degree
$69,420 – $128,81040
14Dental Hygienists$93,600
Associate's degree
$77,160 – $99,29070
15Business Teachers, Postsecondary$84,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$41,770 – $179,830100
16Financial and Investment Analysts$84,390
Bachelor's degree
$49,330 – $159,87070
17Data Scientists$83,600
Bachelor's degree
$38,490 – $149,14040
18Project Management Specialists$82,230
Bachelor's degree
$48,710 – $129,480400
19Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$81,990
Bachelor's degree
$51,690 – $102,02050
20Computer Systems Analysts$80,960
Bachelor's degree
$58,000 – $120,67080
21Registered Nurses$80,240
Bachelor's degree
$63,890 – $100,7101,680
22Network and Computer Systems Administrators$79,260
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $103,320100
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,760 – $81,51080
24Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,630
Master's degree
$37,590 – $202,80060
25Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$78,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,450 – $142,32040
26Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$76,510
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,250 – $124,80040
27Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$76,330
Bachelor's degree
$52,370 – $105,37060
28Physical Therapist Assistants$76,090
Associate's degree
$38,920 – $95,65060
29Accountants and Auditors$75,410
Bachelor's degree
$51,820 – $126,860550
30Operations Research Analysts$75,310
Bachelor's degree
$47,200 – $130,54040
31English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$73,670
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,060 – $127,23040
32Civil Engineers$73,550
Bachelor's degree
$57,710 – $123,210150
33Business Operations Specialists, All Other$73,450
Bachelor's degree
$44,290 – $105,370350
34Respiratory Therapists$71,260
Associate's degree
$63,170 – $93,86080
35Massage Therapists$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,700 – $101,73060
36Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,520
Associate's degree
$43,580 – $79,660140
37Teachers and Instructors, All Other$64,940
Bachelor's degree
$35,360 – $96,10030
38Logisticians$64,490
Bachelor's degree
$42,490 – $96,47050
39Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$61,940
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,880 – $97,61060
40Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,580 – $80,03060
41Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$60,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$40,930 – $97,21070
42Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $71,340510
43Human Resources Specialists$60,400
Bachelor's degree
$42,730 – $94,450320
44Financial Specialists, All Other$60,260
Bachelor's degree
$46,750 – $96,10050
45Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$60,020
Bachelor's degree
$47,840 – $63,34050
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,990
Bachelor's degree
$45,550 – $73,800610
47Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$59,510
Bachelor's degree
$46,720 – $62,060430
48Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$58,980
Bachelor's degree
$33,580 – $104,150190
49Fundraisers$58,950
Bachelor's degree
$41,550 – $79,51050
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,700
Associate's degree
$34,530 – $76,69080

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAbilene, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$156,040	$81,390 – $284,130	50
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,660	$47,580 – $168,840	150
3	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$129,120	$67,050 – $159,810	110
4	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$127,550	$102,890 – $157,760	60
5	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$122,820	$77,140 – $175,200	40
6	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$122,560	$45,480 – $268,380	160
7	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$106,340	$69,840 – $161,190	50
8	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$104,740	$78,110 – $132,340	90
9	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$103,760	$55,110 – $159,200	250
10	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,920	$45,210 – $131,280	180
11	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,460	$68,460 – $153,340	50
12	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,890	$44,780 – $136,990	80
13	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$96,840	$69,420 – $128,810	40
14	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,600	$77,160 – $99,290	70
15	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$84,670	$41,770 – $179,830	100
16	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$84,390	$49,330 – $159,870	70
17	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$83,600	$38,490 – $149,140	40
18	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,230	$48,710 – $129,480	400
19	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$81,990	$51,690 – $102,020	50
20	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$80,960	$58,000 – $120,670	80
21	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$80,240	$63,890 – $100,710	1,680
22	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$79,260	$52,000 – $103,320	100
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$44,760 – $81,510	80
24	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,630	$37,590 – $202,800	60
25	Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,080	$47,450 – $142,320	40
26	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$76,510	$51,250 – $124,800	40
27	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$76,330	$52,370 – $105,370	60
28	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,090	$38,920 – $95,650	60
29	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$75,410	$51,820 – $126,860	550
30	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$75,310	$47,200 – $130,540	40
31	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$73,670	$46,060 – $127,230	40
32	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$73,550	$57,710 – $123,210	150
33	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$73,450	$44,290 – $105,370	350
34	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$71,260	$63,170 – $93,860	80
35	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$54,700 – $101,730	60
36	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,520	$43,580 – $79,660	140
37	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$64,940	$35,360 – $96,100	30
38	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$64,490	$42,490 – $96,470	50
39	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$61,940	$48,880 – $97,610	60
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$28,580 – $80,030	60
41	Philosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$60,990	$40,930 – $97,210	70
42	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,950	$47,320 – $71,340	510
43	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$60,400	$42,730 – $94,450	320
44	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,260	$46,750 – $96,100	50
45	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,020	$47,840 – $63,340	50
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$59,990	$45,550 – $73,800	610
47	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$59,510	$46,720 – $62,060	430
48	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$58,980	$33,580 – $104,150	190
49	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$58,950	$41,550 – $79,510	50
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,700	$34,530 – $76,690	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Abilene, TX. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Abilene, TX to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Abilene, TX

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