High paying jobs in Appleton, WI that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Appleton, WI 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 Appleton, WI run 7.6% below the national average (2024), so a Appleton, WI salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Appleton, WI

OccupationMedian, Appleton, WI · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$107,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $115,490160
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$101,700
Associate's degree
$83,100 – $117,67080
3First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$98,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,870 – $122,2201,060
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$95,300 – $121,430120
5Dental Hygienists$96,350
Associate's degree
$80,820 – $101,250240
6Structural Iron and Steel Workers$93,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,700 – $93,96080
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$92,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,970 – $102,59050
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,060 – $163,650220
9Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$91,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,910 – $119,880890
10Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$91,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,550 – $152,460210
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$89,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,690 – $117,87060
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,830 – $125,000570
13Insulation Workers, Mechanical$85,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,340 – $94,68060
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$85,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,290 – $90,12040
15Millwrights$84,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,580 – $93,660100
16Respiratory Therapists$84,300
Associate's degree
$79,400 – $101,72060
17Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,520 – $99,330480
18Sheet Metal Workers$81,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $101,750400
19Brickmasons and Blockmasons$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $97,56090
20Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,040
Associate's degree
$52,420 – $80,38090
21Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $99,220270
22Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$78,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $94,16040
23Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,860
Associate's degree
$63,650 – $96,120190
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,700 – $91,550340
25Insurance Sales Agents$77,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,490 – $177,910550
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,160 – $102,1901,240
27Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$75,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $94,08080
28Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$74,040
Associate's degree
$52,460 – $102,35040
29Tool and Die Makers$73,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,880 – $90,75080
30Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,200
Associate's degree
$50,030 – $94,32090
31Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$69,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,330 – $111,21040
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$69,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $100,730960
33Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$68,990
No formal educational credential
$49,150 – $98,130330
34Construction and Building Inspectors$68,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,500 – $92,94050
35Surgical Technologists$67,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,910 – $81,350100
36Electricians$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $97,130810
37Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$66,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,710 – $69,18040
38Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,600 – $84,5801,020
39Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$65,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,900 – $83,310130
40Correctional Officers and Jailers$65,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,390 – $88,320120
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,040 – $78,340370
42Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$64,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,970 – $78,69090
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,620 – $94,07090
44Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$64,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,940 – $75,860120
45Massage Therapists$64,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,280 – $119,55060
46Mechanical Drafters$64,320
Associate's degree
$52,350 – $97,94080
47Physical Therapist Assistants$64,240
Associate's degree
$57,610 – $81,99050
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,320 – $80,150270
49Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $124,1101,640
50Medical Records Specialists$63,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,520 – $69,210100

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

#	Occupation	MedianAppleton, WI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,370	$50,510 – $115,490	160
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$101,700	$83,100 – $117,670	80
3	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,970	$60,870 – $122,220	1,060
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,020	$95,300 – $121,430	120
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,350	$80,820 – $101,250	240
6	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,960	$60,700 – $93,960	80
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,030	$77,970 – $102,590	50
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,830	$56,060 – $163,650	220
9	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,750	$52,910 – $119,880	890
10	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,060	$55,550 – $152,460	210
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,900	$50,690 – $117,870	60
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,930	$55,830 – $125,000	570
13	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,580	$58,340 – $94,680	60
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,290	$51,290 – $90,120	40
15	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,740	$61,580 – $93,660	100
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,300	$79,400 – $101,720	60
17	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,010	$57,520 – $99,330	480
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,400	$45,930 – $101,750	400
19	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$39,270 – $97,560	90
20	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,040	$52,420 – $80,380	90
21	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,450	$49,810 – $99,220	270
22	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,260	$47,780 – $94,160	40
23	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,860	$63,650 – $96,120	190
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,620	$59,700 – $91,550	340
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,250	$49,490 – $177,910	550
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,240	$55,160 – $102,190	1,240
27	Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,250	$38,340 – $94,080	80
28	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,040	$52,460 – $102,350	40
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,010	$46,880 – $90,750	80
30	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,200	$50,030 – $94,320	90
31	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,500	$51,330 – $111,210	40
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,340	$47,640 – $100,730	960
33	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$68,990	$49,150 – $98,130	330
34	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,480	$43,500 – $92,940	50
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,220	$56,910 – $81,350	100
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$44,620 – $97,130	810
37	Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,630	$45,710 – $69,180	40
38	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,980	$50,600 – $84,580	1,020
39	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,600	$47,900 – $83,310	130
40	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,540	$56,390 – $88,320	120
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,300	$50,040 – $78,340	370
42	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,820	$60,970 – $78,690	90
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,750	$51,620 – $94,070	90
44	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,720	$52,940 – $75,860	120
45	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,360	$20,280 – $119,550	60
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,320	$52,350 – $97,940	80
47	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,240	$57,610 – $81,990	50
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$44,320 – $80,150	270
49	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,840	$38,250 – $124,110	1,640
50	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,510	$46,520 – $69,210	100

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Appleton, WI. 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 Appleton, WI to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Appleton, WI that need no degree

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