High paying jobs in Arkansas that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Arkansas 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 Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average (2024), so a Arkansas salary is worth about 1.15× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Arkansas.

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

Find high paying jobs in Arkansas

OccupationMedian, Arkansas · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$94,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,290 – $171,500460
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$89,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,620 – $174,9901,440
3Dental Hygienists$86,760
Associate's degree
$62,170 – $97,7301,740
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,500
Associate's degree
$64,280 – $102,190640
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,150 – $115,1201,510
6Occupational Therapy Assistants$78,940
Associate's degree
$50,710 – $98,960730
7Locomotive Engineers$78,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,050 – $78,930620
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $103,4202,660
9Respiratory Therapists$73,870
Associate's degree
$59,550 – $93,4801,400
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$71,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $110,1607,590
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$65,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,900 – $78,690720
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$64,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,930 – $146,8101,800
13Physical Therapist Assistants$64,520
Associate's degree
$31,540 – $85,2801,620
14Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,800 – $87,5601,160
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,640
Associate's degree
$46,810 – $94,1802,210
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,180 – $106,60011,000
17Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,420
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $81,490980
18First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$62,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,440 – $95,5802,100
19First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$61,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,710 – $87,010920
20Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $89,680440
21First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,150 – $89,0206,590
22Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $99,1501,690
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,790 – $77,0001,190
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,180 – $81,0206,270
25Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0403,030
26Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030970
27Computer Network Support Specialists$59,460
Associate's degree
$42,340 – $102,4501,470
28Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280570
29First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $86,58013,630
30Surgical Technologists$57,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,750 – $75,4601,640
31First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$56,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $87,9205,120
32Insurance Sales Agents$56,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,300 – $122,5304,580
33Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,670 – $65,02010,010
34Millwrights$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $76,1401,140
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,630 – $132,20012,740
36Food Service Managers$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,690 – $79,3002,720
37Brickmasons and Blockmasons$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $62,370450
38Detectives and Criminal Investigators$54,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,380 – $144,890560
39First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$54,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $102,770970
40Maintenance Workers, Machinery$53,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,410 – $73,750770
41Construction and Building Inspectors$52,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $81,340800
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$52,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $69,2604,090
43Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $82,1102,070
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,770 – $81,11032,220
45Machinists$51,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $78,4002,150
46Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$50,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $76,490510
47Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$50,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $107,2105,750
48Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $85,6002,390
49Paramedics$50,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,840 – $72,8801,170
50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,180 – $69,2502,180

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

#	Occupation	MedianArkansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,410	$43,290 – $171,500	460
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,200	$52,620 – $174,990	1,440
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,760	$62,170 – $97,730	1,740
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,500	$64,280 – $102,190	640
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,450	$51,150 – $115,120	1,510
6	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,940	$50,710 – $98,960	730
7	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,930	$65,050 – $78,930	620
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$46,490 – $103,420	2,660
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,870	$59,550 – $93,480	1,400
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,460	$44,140 – $110,160	7,590
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,420	$39,900 – $78,690	720
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,980	$44,930 – $146,810	1,800
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,520	$31,540 – $85,280	1,620
14	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$41,800 – $87,560	1,160
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,640	$46,810 – $94,180	2,210
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,090	$43,180 – $106,600	11,000
17	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,420	$49,880 – $81,490	980
18	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,290	$43,440 – $95,580	2,100
19	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,890	$43,710 – $87,010	920
20	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$38,190 – $89,680	440
21	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$45,150 – $89,020	6,590
22	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$36,160 – $99,150	1,690
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,530	$42,790 – $77,000	1,190
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$39,180 – $81,020	6,270
25	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,700	$42,390 – $81,040	3,030
26	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	970
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$59,460	$42,340 – $102,450	1,470
28	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	570
29	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$38,600 – $86,580	13,630
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,400	$38,750 – $75,460	1,640
31	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,810	$37,380 – $87,920	5,120
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,720	$34,300 – $122,530	4,580
33	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,620	$44,670 – $65,020	10,010
34	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$36,640 – $76,140	1,140
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$29,630 – $132,200	12,740
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$37,690 – $79,300	2,720
37	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$39,170 – $62,370	450
38	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,500	$41,380 – $144,890	560
39	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,000	$33,570 – $102,770	970
40	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,250	$41,410 – $73,750	770
41	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,700	$39,450 – $81,340	800
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,330	$38,620 – $69,260	4,090
43	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$37,830 – $82,110	2,070
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,550	$36,770 – $81,110	32,220
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,140	$37,760 – $78,400	2,150
46	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,840	$40,100 – $76,490	510
47	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,570	$30,930 – $107,210	5,750
48	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$38,130 – $85,600	2,390
49	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,310	$38,840 – $72,880	1,170
50	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,280	$35,180 – $69,250	2,180

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Arkansas. 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.

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Arkansas that need no degree

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree