High paying jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Cedar Rapids, IA 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 Cedar Rapids, IA run 11.0% below the national average (2024), so a Cedar Rapids, IA salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Cedar Rapids, IA

OccupationMedian, Cedar Rapids, IA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$120,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$92,200 – $122,650130
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,830 – $180,480180
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,970 – $109,980100
4First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$86,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,910 – $109,6301,120
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,480
Associate's degree
$79,260 – $106,22070
6First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$84,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $167,890290
7Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$83,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $100,430260
8Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$83,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $94,590780
9Dental Hygienists$82,270
Associate's degree
$78,350 – $93,010200
10Sheet Metal Workers$82,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $91,450190
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $118,770630
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$79,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,560 – $97,430450
13Food Batchmakers$77,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,040 – $81,060480
14Structural Iron and Steel Workers$75,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,730 – $77,41080
15Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,340
Associate's degree
$47,540 – $92,520120
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,980 – $100,710530
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,550
Associate's degree
$47,670 – $96,940130
18Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$72,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,240 – $81,060230
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,720 – $109,890780
20First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$72,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,630 – $103,94070
21Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $97,470320
22Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$72,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,800 – $106,100100
23Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$70,280
Associate's degree
$45,150 – $91,70060
24Construction and Building Inspectors$68,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $85,300150
25Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$67,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $81,1601,080
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,750 – $121,570790
27Respiratory Therapists$66,830
Associate's degree
$62,600 – $80,96070
28Postal Service Clerks$66,750
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03070
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,240 – $91,420280
30Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$66,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,160 – $69,47060
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,780 – $128,8701,910
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,880
Associate's degree
$53,240 – $83,060230
33Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$64,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $64,780340
34Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $75,720110
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $95,9701,020
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$63,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,430 – $86,720490
37Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$62,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,940 – $93,890210
38Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,790 – $77,320130
39Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,460 – $77,37060
40Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,660
Associate's degree
$43,680 – $97,650100
41Advertising Sales Agents$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $121,530100
42Food Service Managers$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,850 – $90,160130
43Insurance Sales Agents$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $125,760610
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,390 – $75,660380
45Firefighters$61,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,350 – $73,090170
46Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $68,39070
47Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $67,20060
48Millwrights$60,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,500 – $78,22060
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,770 – $87,900380
50Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,560 – $75,03050

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

#	Occupation	MedianCedar Rapids, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,030	$92,200 – $122,650	130
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,570	$60,830 – $180,480	180
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,080	$75,970 – $109,980	100
4	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,880	$59,910 – $109,630	1,120
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,480	$79,260 – $106,220	70
6	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,940	$46,170 – $167,890	290
7	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,470	$38,920 – $100,430	260
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,210	$47,830 – $94,590	780
9	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,270	$78,350 – $93,010	200
10	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,090	$45,060 – $91,450	190
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,560	$48,220 – $118,770	630
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,280	$62,560 – $97,430	450
13	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,920	$36,040 – $81,060	480
14	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,380	$53,730 – $77,410	80
15	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,340	$47,540 – $92,520	120
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,800	$47,980 – $100,710	530
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,550	$47,670 – $96,940	130
18	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,920	$46,240 – $81,060	230
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$51,720 – $109,890	780
20	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,630	$72,630 – $103,940	70
21	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,470	$49,580 – $97,470	320
22	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,140	$47,800 – $106,100	100
23	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$70,280	$45,150 – $91,700	60
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,210	$48,540 – $85,300	150
25	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,700	$37,940 – $81,160	1,080
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,360	$35,750 – $121,570	790
27	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,830	$62,600 – $80,960	70
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$66,750	$42,600 – $75,030	70
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,570	$51,240 – $91,420	280
30	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,010	$44,160 – $69,470	60
31	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,490	$39,780 – $128,870	1,910
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,880	$53,240 – $83,060	230
33	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,670	$58,990 – $64,780	340
34	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$43,200 – $75,720	110
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,730	$43,680 – $95,970	1,020
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,310	$49,430 – $86,720	490
37	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,940	$62,940 – $93,890	210
38	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,800	$45,790 – $77,320	130
39	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$45,460 – $77,370	60
40	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,660	$43,680 – $97,650	100
41	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$35,980 – $121,530	100
42	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$45,850 – $90,160	130
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$44,210 – $125,760	610
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,840	$51,390 – $75,660	380
45	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,370	$49,350 – $73,090	170
46	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$38,690 – $68,390	70
47	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$45,640 – $67,200	60
48	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,900	$50,500 – $78,220	60
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,680	$43,770 – $87,900	380
50	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$48,560 – $75,030	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Cedar Rapids, IA. 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 Cedar Rapids, IA

Other metro areas in IA

By field in Cedar Rapids, IA

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Cedar Rapids, IA that need no degree

More for Cedar Rapids, IA

Other metro areas in IA

By field in Cedar Rapids, IA

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree