High paying jobs in Bowling Green, KY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Bowling Green, KY 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 Bowling Green, KY run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Bowling Green, KY 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 Bowling Green, KY

OccupationMedian, Bowling Green, KY · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,140 – $163,22080
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$90,310
Associate's degree
$61,410 – $114,95040
3Detectives and Criminal Investigators$79,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,080 – $162,45040
4Millwrights$77,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $92,29050
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$77,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $105,92060
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,080
Associate's degree
$52,950 – $93,000120
7Dental Hygienists$75,690
Associate's degree
$60,650 – $94,940120
8Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,600 – $83,700700
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,970 – $109,310370
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,140 – $96,100140
11First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $104,980690
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $98,110370
13First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$70,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,780 – $111,02070
14Tool and Die Makers$69,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,000 – $83,220180
15Respiratory Therapists$68,490
Associate's degree
$60,940 – $92,39090
16Food Service Managers$66,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,740 – $112,57070
17Chemical Technicians$64,620
Associate's degree
$42,700 – $101,19040
18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,950 – $90,32060
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $93,660160
20Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,060
Associate's degree
$44,940 – $78,83070
21Postal Service Clerks$63,670
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $76,36040
22Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$63,420
Associate's degree
$36,220 – $97,61050
23Physical Therapist Assistants$62,740
Associate's degree
$36,410 – $74,580130
24Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,690
Associate's degree
$57,680 – $75,95040
25First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,700 – $94,990650
26Computer Network Support Specialists$61,200
Associate's degree
$37,830 – $100,84070
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,360 – $66,320250
28Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,440 – $103,380190
29Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $75,200360
30Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $95,63080
31Insurance Sales Agents$60,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,360 – $125,210260
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $82,400300
33Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,710
Associate's degree
$56,330 – $72,23060
34Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,170
Associate's degree
$41,150 – $73,690160
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,800 – $126,730700
36Maintenance Workers, Machinery$59,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $146,93060
37Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,140 – $91,39070
38Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $76,96090
39Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$58,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,230 – $86,76030
40Surgical Technologists$58,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,460 – $76,01060
41Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $60,510220
42First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,990 – $83,200340
43Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$56,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $61,590160
44Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040210
45Electricians$55,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $93,250480
46Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$55,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $71,100110
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,240 – $74,260230
48Chefs and Head Cooks$54,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,110 – $87,24050
49Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,710 – $59,820400
50Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $69,56090

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

#	Occupation	MedianBowling Green, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,160	$56,140 – $163,220	80
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$90,310	$61,410 – $114,950	40
3	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,360	$43,080 – $162,450	40
4	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,480	$49,990 – $92,290	50
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,430	$44,710 – $105,920	60
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,080	$52,950 – $93,000	120
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,690	$60,650 – $94,940	120
8	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,410	$48,600 – $83,700	700
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,890	$47,970 – $109,310	370
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,660	$59,140 – $96,100	140
11	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,540	$48,160 – $104,980	690
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,090	$44,840 – $98,110	370
13	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,140	$50,780 – $111,020	70
14	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,790	$49,000 – $83,220	180
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,490	$60,940 – $92,390	90
16	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,380	$28,740 – $112,570	70
17	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,620	$42,700 – $101,190	40
18	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,290	$44,950 – $90,320	60
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,260	$46,060 – $93,660	160
20	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,060	$44,940 – $78,830	70
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,670	$36,360 – $76,360	40
22	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$63,420	$36,220 – $97,610	50
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,740	$36,410 – $74,580	130
24	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,690	$57,680 – $75,950	40
25	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,250	$40,700 – $94,990	650
26	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,200	$37,830 – $100,840	70
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,830	$50,360 – $66,320	250
28	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,830	$41,440 – $103,380	190
29	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,550	$38,620 – $75,200	360
30	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$48,460 – $95,630	80
31	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,400	$29,360 – $125,210	260
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$45,900 – $82,400	300
33	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,710	$56,330 – $72,230	60
34	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,170	$41,150 – $73,690	160
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$32,800 – $126,730	700
36	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,100	$45,890 – $146,930	60
37	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,010	$40,140 – $91,390	70
38	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,960	$47,840 – $76,960	90
39	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,800	$56,230 – $86,760	30
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,770	$48,460 – $76,010	60
41	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,620	$46,710 – $60,510	220
42	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,600	$38,990 – $83,200	340
43	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,390	$38,590 – $61,590	160
44	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	210
45	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,740	$36,190 – $93,250	480
46	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,480	$37,320 – $71,100	110
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,230	$39,240 – $74,260	230
48	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,080	$26,110 – $87,240	50
49	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,630	$42,710 – $59,820	400
50	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,540	$36,230 – $69,560	90

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Bowling Green, KY. 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 Bowling Green, KY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Bowling Green, KY that need no degree

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