High paying jobs in Abilene, TX that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Abilene, TX and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

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

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$118,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,880 – $120,68030
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$100,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$71,870 – $106,33060
3Dental Hygienists$93,600
Associate's degree
$77,160 – $99,29070
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$82,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,180 – $137,240110
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$79,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $99,77080
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,760 – $81,51080
7Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,920 – $78,380210
8Physical Therapist Assistants$76,090
Associate's degree
$38,920 – $95,65060
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $93,990400
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$73,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,180 – $98,16060
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $108,310430
12Respiratory Therapists$71,260
Associate's degree
$63,170 – $93,86080
13Massage Therapists$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,700 – $101,73060
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,520
Associate's degree
$43,580 – $79,660140
15First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$65,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,470 – $127,75080
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$64,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,310 – $97,390390
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $90,110190
18Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36050
19Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,580 – $80,03060
20First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,730 – $96,740340
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $71,340510
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,630 – $122,680430
23First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,830 – $89,980970
24Computer Network Support Specialists$60,060
Associate's degree
$47,910 – $87,03040
25Detectives and Criminal Investigators$59,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,990 – $103,38060
26First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$59,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,890 – $78,73090
27Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$58,830
No formal educational credential
$34,210 – $99,90070
28Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,700
Associate's degree
$34,530 – $76,69080
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $77,200140
30Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $71,47080
31Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,290
Associate's degree
$42,130 – $103,69040
32Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,970
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040180
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,820 – $101,820550
34Construction and Building Inspectors$57,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $86,26060
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,490 – $77,800280
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$56,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,530 – $80,650210
37Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,680 – $93,96090
38Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$56,540
No formal educational credential
$51,960 – $71,07050
39Machinists$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $70,96060
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$56,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $90,980290
41Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,180 – $77,6301,090
42Food Service Managers$54,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $84,290160
43Paramedics$54,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,850 – $80,28080
44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$54,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,970 – $75,920260
45Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $57,330730
46Computer User Support Specialists$52,150
Some college, no degree
$36,490 – $76,420290
47Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $76,250320
48Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $61,37050
49Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$50,650
No formal educational credential
$41,430 – $53,46040
50Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$50,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $68,49070

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	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,210	$57,880 – $120,680	30
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,430	$71,870 – $106,330	60
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,600	$77,160 – $99,290	70
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,200	$59,180 – $137,240	110
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,600	$45,830 – $99,770	80
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$44,760 – $81,510	80
7	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$45,920 – $78,380	210
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,090	$38,920 – $95,650	60
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,070	$48,540 – $93,990	400
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,750	$51,180 – $98,160	60
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,170	$45,600 – $108,310	430
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$71,260	$63,170 – $93,860	80
13	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$54,700 – $101,730	60
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,520	$43,580 – $79,660	140
15	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,400	$44,470 – $127,750	80
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,270	$46,310 – $97,390	390
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,480	$47,690 – $90,110	190
18	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $76,360	50
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$28,580 – $80,030	60
20	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$39,730 – $96,740	340
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,950	$47,320 – $71,340	510
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$34,630 – $122,680	430
23	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$38,830 – $89,980	970
24	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$60,060	$47,910 – $87,030	40
25	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,980	$45,990 – $103,380	60
26	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,890	$59,890 – $78,730	90
27	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$58,830	$34,210 – $99,900	70
28	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,700	$34,530 – $76,690	80
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$44,560 – $77,200	140
30	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$48,880 – $71,470	80
31	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,290	$42,130 – $103,690	40
32	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,970	$42,390 – $81,040	180
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,800	$31,820 – $101,820	550
34	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,600	$42,210 – $86,260	60
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$38,490 – $77,800	280
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,610	$40,530 – $80,650	210
37	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,550	$36,680 – $93,960	90
38	Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$56,540	$51,960 – $71,070	50
39	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$36,440 – $70,960	60
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,080	$36,860 – $90,980	290
41	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,720	$38,180 – $77,630	1,090
42	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,510	$37,530 – $84,290	160
43	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,370	$35,850 – $80,280	80
44	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,330	$34,970 – $75,920	260
45	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,570	$44,710 – $57,330	730
46	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,150	$36,490 – $76,420	290
47	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,790	$35,360 – $76,250	320
48	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,480	$36,960 – $61,370	50
49	Derrick Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$50,650	$41,430 – $53,460	40
50	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,120	$34,750 – $68,490	70

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 jobs in Abilene, TX that need no degree

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