High paying jobs in Bismarck, ND that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck, ND run 9.0% below the national average (2024), so a Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck, ND

OccupationMedian, Bismarck, ND · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$137,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$81,730 – $372,36080
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$104,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,770 – $125,01090
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,000 – $149,49040
4Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$98,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,640 – $132,50040
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$98,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,750 – $122,12070
6Dental Hygienists$91,600
Associate's degree
$83,240 – $99,220130
7Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$89,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,170 – $103,60070
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$88,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,230 – $111,13050
9Respiratory Therapists$84,570
Associate's degree
$66,820 – $104,01050
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,610
Associate's degree
$72,110 – $100,76050
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,220 – $130,240260
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $127,37040
13Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,960 – $114,800230
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,630 – $123,870400
15First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$76,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,820 – $111,99040
16Construction and Building Inspectors$75,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $96,41030
17Food Service Managers$75,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,980 – $103,300240
18Computer Network Support Specialists$75,260
Associate's degree
$55,590 – $98,28070
19Medical Equipment Repairers$74,470
Associate's degree
$50,130 – $99,52050
20First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $104,120310
21Machinists$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $105,91070
22First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,230 – $136,640210
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$70,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,830 – $94,940220
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$69,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $126,190580
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$67,780
Associate's degree
$48,800 – $93,68060
26Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$67,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,330 – $132,44040
27Wind Turbine Service Technicians$66,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,360 – $102,22070
28Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,930
Associate's degree
$51,160 – $83,550120
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,330
Associate's degree
$61,360 – $82,990140
30Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,740 – $98,020200
31Detectives and Criminal Investigators$64,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,120 – $121,850110
32Insurance Sales Agents$64,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,900 – $150,500220
33Lodging Managers$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,840 – $94,68030
34Computer User Support Specialists$64,390
Some college, no degree
$45,070 – $100,940300
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $98,660230
36Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,810 – $91,05070
37Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$63,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $82,55090
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$63,610
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
39Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$63,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,660 – $89,670270
40First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,190 – $81,12040
41Advertising Sales Agents$62,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $98,27040
42Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,640
Associate's degree
$46,640 – $83,20040
43Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $106,720170
44Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $87,290580
45Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,320 – $95,3701,070
46Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $77,180320
47Electricians$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,630 – $92,730480
48Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $77,76050
49Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,800 – $88,190120
50Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $76,44050

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

#	Occupation	MedianBismarck, ND	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$137,510	$81,730 – $372,360	80
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,800	$60,770 – $125,010	90
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,340	$70,000 – $149,490	40
4	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,950	$57,640 – $132,500	40
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,300	$77,750 – $122,120	70
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$91,600	$83,240 – $99,220	130
7	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,260	$59,170 – $103,600	70
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,570	$49,230 – $111,130	50
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,570	$66,820 – $104,010	50
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,610	$72,110 – $100,760	50
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,330	$56,220 – $130,240	260
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,990	$41,600 – $127,370	40
13	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,740	$52,960 – $114,800	230
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,530	$56,630 – $123,870	400
15	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,450	$63,820 – $111,990	40
16	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,530	$46,760 – $96,410	30
17	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,260	$45,980 – $103,300	240
18	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,260	$55,590 – $98,280	70
19	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$74,470	$50,130 – $99,520	50
20	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$45,890 – $104,120	310
21	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$48,460 – $105,910	70
22	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,210	$51,230 – $136,640	210
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,310	$46,830 – $94,940	220
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,760	$44,570 – $126,190	580
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$67,780	$48,800 – $93,680	60
26	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,430	$50,330 – $132,440	40
27	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,700	$51,360 – $102,220	70
28	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,930	$51,160 – $83,550	120
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,330	$61,360 – $82,990	140
30	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,770	$46,740 – $98,020	200
31	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,640	$50,120 – $121,850	110
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,590	$46,900 – $150,500	220
33	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$30,840 – $94,680	30
34	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$64,390	$45,070 – $100,940	300
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$47,730 – $98,660	230
36	Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$39,810 – $91,050	70
37	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,910	$36,400 – $82,550	90
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$63,610	$42,390 – $81,040	130
39	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,230	$56,660 – $89,670	270
40	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$48,190 – $81,120	40
41	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,980	$35,700 – $98,270	40
42	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,640	$46,640 – $83,200	40
43	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,630	$50,960 – $106,720	170
44	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,150	$48,030 – $87,290	580
45	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,000	$48,320 – $95,370	1,070
46	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$48,870 – $77,180	320
47	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$46,630 – $92,730	480
48	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$47,130 – $77,760	50
49	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,890	$50,800 – $88,190	120
50	Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$45,720 – $76,440	50

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

High paying jobs in Bismarck, ND that need no degree

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