High paying jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL run 13.9% below the national average (2024), so a Cape Girardeau, MO-IL salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

OccupationMedian, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,330 – $104,74050
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$96,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,890 – $171,06050
3First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$88,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,470 – $115,670180
4Dental Hygienists$83,690
Associate's degree
$52,600 – $95,04080
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,430
Associate's degree
$59,680 – $100,57040
6First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,290 – $116,210180
7First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,090 – $120,49050
8Computer Network Support Specialists$72,950
Associate's degree
$40,440 – $118,80040
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$72,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,600 – $131,32040
10Respiratory Therapists$66,910
Associate's degree
$58,590 – $83,03090
11Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $78,55080
12First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,010 – $97,760230
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,220
Associate's degree
$50,470 – $84,190100
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $104,070120
15Carpenters$63,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,160 – $90,980180
16Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,330
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
17Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,010
Associate's degree
$56,530 – $74,16060
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $84,27060
19Physical Therapist Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$50,960 – $73,26090
20Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,980 – $89,880130
21Millwrights$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $98,34030
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,700 – $74,250410
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,650 – $111,420310
24Electricians$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $99,400150
25Insurance Sales Agents$58,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $125,420120
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $85,720320
27First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $92,660120
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,180
No formal educational credential
$42,680 – $74,92070
29Construction Laborers$58,140
No formal educational credential
$36,780 – $77,090220
30Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,010
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $71,35090
31Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$57,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,450 – $96,81040
32Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$57,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,520 – $79,54060
33Sheet Metal Workers$57,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $111,01050
34Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $75,140220
35Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $74,940150
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$55,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,000 – $80,71050
37Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$53,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,870 – $76,95090
38Computer User Support Specialists$53,230
Some college, no degree
$36,780 – $94,880130
39Advertising Sales Agents$51,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,920 – $93,43050
40Paramedics$51,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,120 – $63,03030
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$51,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $93,96090
42Medical Records Specialists$51,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,450 – $76,77070
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $73,12060
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,900 – $77,050730
45Surgical Technologists$49,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $67,62060
46Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $83,27060
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $76,440490
48Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,600 – $75,860310
49Printing Press Operators$48,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,630 – $75,49070
50Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $59,280170

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

#	Occupation	MedianCape Girardeau, MO-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,650	$66,330 – $104,740	50
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,320	$55,890 – $171,060	50
3	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,150	$58,470 – $115,670	180
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,690	$52,600 – $95,040	80
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,430	$59,680 – $100,570	40
6	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,830	$51,290 – $116,210	180
7	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,530	$60,090 – $120,490	50
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,950	$40,440 – $118,800	40
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,660	$46,600 – $131,320	40
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,910	$58,590 – $83,030	90
11	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,530	$46,040 – $78,550	80
12	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,990	$43,010 – $97,760	230
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,220	$50,470 – $84,190	100
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,180	$40,100 – $104,070	120
15	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,740	$43,160 – $90,980	180
16	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$42,390 – $81,040	130
17	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,010	$56,530 – $74,160	60
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$46,550 – $84,270	60
19	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$50,960 – $73,260	90
20	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$38,980 – $89,880	130
21	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$47,130 – $98,340	30
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,100	$45,700 – $74,250	410
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,830	$34,650 – $111,420	310
24	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$44,550 – $99,400	150
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,730	$38,510 – $125,420	120
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$40,110 – $85,720	320
27	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,430	$40,690 – $92,660	120
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,180	$42,680 – $74,920	70
29	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,140	$36,780 – $77,090	220
30	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,010	$37,940 – $71,350	90
31	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,690	$33,450 – $96,810	40
32	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,640	$50,520 – $79,540	60
33	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,190	$46,330 – $111,010	50
34	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$38,750 – $75,140	220
35	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,010	$43,970 – $74,940	150
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,520	$33,000 – $80,710	50
37	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,420	$34,870 – $76,950	90
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$53,230	$36,780 – $94,880	130
39	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,920	$30,920 – $93,430	50
40	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,650	$43,120 – $63,030	30
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,260	$37,850 – $93,960	90
42	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,090	$36,450 – $76,770	70
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,960	$40,000 – $73,120	60
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,200	$36,900 – $77,050	730
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,880	$38,100 – $67,620	60
46	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$34,540 – $83,270	60
47	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,830	$33,570 – $76,440	490
48	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,690	$32,600 – $75,860	310
49	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,610	$33,630 – $75,490	70
50	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,580	$37,970 – $59,280	170

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL. 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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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL that need no degree

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