High paying jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

OccupationMedian, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$135,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$106,430 – $162,6403,800
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$126,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,340 – $159,9402,600
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$124,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,540 – $210,9108,570
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$123,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,820 – $131,7601,830
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$111,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,450 – $135,24013,420
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$107,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,450 – $123,13022,680
7Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$103,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,960 – $127,20012,750
8Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$103,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,060 – $124,1607,930
9Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,080
Associate's degree
$82,660 – $123,9902,280
10Electricians$102,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,890 – $124,07017,720
11Structural Iron and Steel Workers$102,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,620 – $124,5302,120
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$102,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,300 – $171,7902,290
13Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$100,730
Associate's degree
$80,850 – $109,5501,930
14Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$100,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,060 – $130,9502,090
15Dental Hygienists$100,260
Associate's degree
$74,280 – $118,4106,470
16Sheet Metal Workers$95,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $122,3302,430
17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,570 – $167,3504,130
18Brickmasons and Blockmasons$89,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $109,8702,140
19Respiratory Therapists$87,060
Associate's degree
$74,560 – $100,1003,620
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,230 – $120,9001,590
21First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,850 – $133,97011,630
22Correctional Officers and Jailers$84,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,000 – $95,9904,940
23Firefighters$82,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,080 – $112,93014,560
24Construction and Building Inspectors$82,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $127,2101,840
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$82,140
Associate's degree
$60,130 – $106,1505,650
26Roofers$82,090
No formal educational credential
$48,770 – $106,7803,900
27Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,360
Associate's degree
$51,940 – $126,5202,250
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$81,020
No formal educational credential
$50,730 – $108,8903,890
29Carpenters$80,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,220 – $118,45014,220
30Surgical Assistants$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,220 – $80,2102,090
31Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,820 – $102,7501,620
32Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $110,8301,770
33Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,590 – $123,4609,080
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,200 – $96,53011,420
35Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $147,3509,300
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,460 – $117,9407,210
37Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$77,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,440 – $107,43010,620
38Paramedics$77,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,000 – $106,8102,560
39Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$77,470
No formal educational credential
$39,780 – $89,0903,330
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $104,89020,970
41Highway Maintenance Workers$76,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,110 – $102,5304,110
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,250 – $102,5908,710
43Advertising Sales Agents$75,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $161,4102,830
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,240 – $137,00038,490
45Millwrights$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $114,5901,490
46Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,860 – $104,5702,570
47Computer Network Support Specialists$73,340
Associate's degree
$49,670 – $109,8804,740
48Physical Therapist Assistants$72,230
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $82,8803,520
49First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $106,06033,180
50Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,570 – $154,54055,730

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

#	Occupation	MedianChicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,080	$106,430 – $162,640	3,800
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$126,200	$75,340 – $159,940	2,600
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$124,120	$73,540 – $210,910	8,570
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,430	$72,820 – $131,760	1,830
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,260	$66,450 – $135,240	13,420
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,810	$63,450 – $123,130	22,680
7	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,380	$53,960 – $127,200	12,750
8	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,100	$58,060 – $124,160	7,930
9	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,080	$82,660 – $123,990	2,280
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,350	$49,890 – $124,070	17,720
11	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,350	$64,620 – $124,530	2,120
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,260	$57,300 – $171,790	2,290
13	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$100,730	$80,850 – $109,550	1,930
14	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,610	$50,060 – $130,950	2,090
15	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,260	$74,280 – $118,410	6,470
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,310	$42,220 – $122,330	2,430
17	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,070	$51,570 – $167,350	4,130
18	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,980	$46,960 – $109,870	2,140
19	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$87,060	$74,560 – $100,100	3,620
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,230 – $120,900	1,590
21	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,420	$56,850 – $133,970	11,630
22	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,550	$61,000 – $95,990	4,940
23	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,820	$42,080 – $112,930	14,560
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,640	$48,310 – $127,210	1,840
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,140	$60,130 – $106,150	5,650
26	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$82,090	$48,770 – $106,780	3,900
27	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,360	$51,940 – $126,520	2,250
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$81,020	$50,730 – $108,890	3,890
29	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,440	$41,220 – $118,450	14,220
30	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$64,220 – $80,210	2,090
31	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,590	$33,820 – $102,750	1,620
32	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,290	$50,690 – $110,830	1,770
33	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$49,590 – $123,460	9,080
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,070	$62,200 – $96,530	11,420
35	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,980	$47,600 – $147,350	9,300
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,960	$47,460 – $117,940	7,210
37	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,770	$54,440 – $107,430	10,620
38	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,670	$50,000 – $106,810	2,560
39	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$77,470	$39,780 – $89,090	3,330
40	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,500	$47,370 – $104,890	20,970
41	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,220	$42,110 – $102,530	4,110
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$49,250 – $102,590	8,710
43	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,590	$31,200 – $161,410	2,830
44	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,350	$46,240 – $137,000	38,490
45	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$48,230 – $114,590	1,490
46	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$45,860 – $104,570	2,570
47	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,340	$49,670 – $109,880	4,740
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,230	$41,600 – $82,880	3,520
49	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,730	$47,650 – $106,060	33,180
50	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,710	$39,570 – $154,540	55,730

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Other metro areas in IL

By field in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN that need no degree

More for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Other metro areas in IL

By field in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree