High paying jobs in Baton Rouge, LA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Baton Rouge, LA 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 Baton Rouge, LA run 9.2% below the national average (2024), so a Baton Rouge, LA salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Baton Rouge, LA

OccupationMedian, Baton Rouge, LA · Employed

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$129,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,940 – $240,280900
2Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$108,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,800 – $108,420660
3Chemical Plant and System Operators$104,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,150 – $122,6001,720
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$102,380
Associate's degree
$59,810 – $130,340290
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,540 – $158,080620
6First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$95,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,100 – $173,3202,270
7Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$93,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,850 – $112,9002,500
8Dental Hygienists$92,700
Associate's degree
$78,500 – $95,980410
9Chemical Technicians$92,120
Associate's degree
$68,490 – $118,700410
10Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$85,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $120,560230
11Maintenance Workers, Machinery$83,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,730 – $92,510360
12Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$81,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $105,160280
13Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$81,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,730 – $96,030520
14Calibration Technologists and Technicians$80,670
Associate's degree
$62,050 – $114,400330
15First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,030 – $145,300320
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,000 – $105,6404,680
17First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,740 – $133,2502,230
18Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$78,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,480 – $92,2703,690
19Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,130
Associate's degree
$61,860 – $96,530250
20Mechanical Drafters$77,720
Associate's degree
$47,730 – $129,190140
21Drafters, All Other$77,020
Associate's degree
$49,520 – $131,200320
22Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,650 – $120,420670
23Millwrights$76,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,290 – $92,170290
24Boilermakers$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,020 – $76,760680
25First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,890 – $102,990580
26Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $81,0602,790
27Respiratory Therapists$74,220
Associate's degree
$60,420 – $98,060320
28Structural Iron and Steel Workers$73,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $78,670390
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,680
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $100,880140
30Construction and Building Inspectors$71,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,540 – $96,200500
31Architectural and Civil Drafters$70,300
Associate's degree
$47,350 – $118,930340
32Machinists$67,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $87,200870
33Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$67,360
Associate's degree
$44,240 – $109,340340
34Crane and Tower Operators$66,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $83,970560
35Physical Therapist Assistants$66,510
Associate's degree
$24,220 – $79,080290
36Food Service Managers$65,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $101,810380
37Electricians$65,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $81,8103,320
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$64,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,340 – $106,600420
39Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $73,470450
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,050 – $121,9703,910
41Postal Service Clerks$64,480
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360180
42Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$64,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,290 – $98,910610
43Athletes and Sports Competitors$63,920
No formal educational credential
$36,490 – $128,330130
44Detectives and Criminal Investigators$63,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $111,410420
45Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,450
Associate's degree
$50,910 – $81,020630
46Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,030
Associate's degree
$19,570 – $84,800130
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,490 – $80,0801,180
48Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$62,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,480 – $101,6801,240
49First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,860 – $98,0801,530
50First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$62,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,970 – $88,740610

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

#	Occupation	MedianBaton Rouge, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,260	$65,940 – $240,280	900
2	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,420	$36,800 – $108,420	660
3	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,410	$73,150 – $122,600	1,720
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,380	$59,810 – $130,340	290
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,000	$60,540 – $158,080	620
6	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,810	$52,100 – $173,320	2,270
7	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,920	$50,850 – $112,900	2,500
8	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,700	$78,500 – $95,980	410
9	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$92,120	$68,490 – $118,700	410
10	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,610	$44,880 – $120,560	230
11	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,170	$49,730 – $92,510	360
12	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,910	$46,490 – $105,160	280
13	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,470	$59,730 – $96,030	520
14	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,670	$62,050 – $114,400	330
15	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,920	$51,030 – $145,300	320
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,870	$58,000 – $105,640	4,680
17	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,770	$50,740 – $133,250	2,230
18	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,170	$49,480 – $92,270	3,690
19	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,130	$61,860 – $96,530	250
20	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,720	$47,730 – $129,190	140
21	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,020	$49,520 – $131,200	320
22	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,010	$49,650 – $120,420	670
23	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,610	$48,290 – $92,170	290
24	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$63,020 – $76,760	680
25	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,450	$55,890 – $102,990	580
26	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,240	$49,920 – $81,060	2,790
27	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,220	$60,420 – $98,060	320
28	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,470	$44,780 – $78,670	390
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,680	$45,760 – $100,880	140
30	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,770	$59,540 – $96,200	500
31	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,300	$47,350 – $118,930	340
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,700	$45,930 – $87,200	870
33	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$67,360	$44,240 – $109,340	340
34	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,680	$48,530 – $83,970	560
35	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,510	$24,220 – $79,080	290
36	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,780	$44,310 – $101,810	380
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,330	$48,760 – $81,810	3,320
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,630	$42,340 – $106,600	420
39	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,600	$47,980 – $73,470	450
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,540	$37,050 – $121,970	3,910
41	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,480	$42,600 – $76,360	180
42	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,360	$39,290 – $98,910	610
43	Athletes and Sports CompetitorsNo formal educational credential	$63,920	$36,490 – $128,330	130
44	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,760	$42,210 – $111,410	420
45	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,450	$50,910 – $81,020	630
46	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,030	$19,570 – $84,800	130
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,940	$38,490 – $80,080	1,180
48	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,800	$44,480 – $101,680	1,240
49	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,140	$39,860 – $98,080	1,530
50	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,100	$50,970 – $88,740	610

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Baton Rouge, LA. 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 Baton Rouge, LA

Other metro areas in LA

By field in Baton Rouge, LA

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Baton Rouge, LA that need no degree

More for Baton Rouge, LA

Other metro areas in LA

By field in Baton Rouge, LA

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree