High paying jobs in Cleveland, TN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Cleveland, TN 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 Cleveland, TN run 11.9% below the national average (2024), so a Cleveland, TN salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Cleveland, TN

OccupationMedian, Cleveland, TN · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,670 – $150,28060
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$93,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,510 – $100,50060
3Dental Hygienists$79,880
Associate's degree
$69,770 – $92,70090
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$78,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,570 – $158,27050
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,660 – $115,21040
6First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,220 – $108,630180
7Physical Therapist Assistants$64,290
Associate's degree
$47,200 – $80,43040
8First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $98,830200
9Chefs and Head Cooks$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,730 – $82,72030
10Food Service Managers$60,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,200 – $90,44080
11Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,070 – $75,770360
12Electricians$60,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,080 – $81,320120
13First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,570 – $95,690200
14First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,310 – $95,480600
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,700 – $74,840250
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,720 – $75,02040
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,030 – $97,93050
18Sheet Metal Workers$58,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $78,08070
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$58,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $97,630430
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$57,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,420 – $126,370320
21Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,490 – $89,66070
22Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,490
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040120
23Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$55,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $73,51080
24Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,900
Associate's degree
$41,660 – $81,72030
25Chemical Technicians$52,750
Associate's degree
$41,290 – $61,99040
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$52,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,140 – $61,410270
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$51,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,460 – $99,300160
28Insurance Sales Agents$51,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $119,57080
29Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$50,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,760 – $71,78050
30Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,550 – $95,10070
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$49,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,830 – $75,200170
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,850 – $77,850970
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$49,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $65,43090
34Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,560 – $79,210260
35Computer User Support Specialists$48,670
Some college, no degree
$37,170 – $69,420100
36Paralegals and Legal Assistants$48,640
Associate's degree
$37,950 – $63,13040
37Carpenters$48,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,230 – $64,41080
38Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$48,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $64,600160
39Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $56,38080
40Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,610 – $79,63040
41Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$47,470
No formal educational credential
$38,200 – $54,15060
42Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$46,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $66,670120
43Meter Readers, Utilities$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,860 – $61,00030
44First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$46,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,720 – $67,47030
45Machinists$46,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $61,73050
46First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$45,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,190 – $76,310420
47Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$45,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,110 – $64,620450
48Light Truck Drivers$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,570 – $74,220260
49Medical Records Specialists$45,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,350 – $70,26030
50Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $58,22050

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

#	Occupation	MedianCleveland, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,130	$55,670 – $150,280	60
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,910	$54,510 – $100,500	60
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$79,880	$69,770 – $92,700	90
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,470	$49,570 – $158,270	50
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,550	$50,660 – $115,210	40
6	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,380	$44,220 – $108,630	180
7	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,290	$47,200 – $80,430	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$48,690 – $98,830	200
9	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$40,730 – $82,720	30
10	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,630	$52,200 – $90,440	80
11	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$40,070 – $75,770	360
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,250	$43,080 – $81,320	120
13	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,910	$39,570 – $95,690	200
14	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,190	$38,310 – $95,480	600
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,800	$42,700 – $74,840	250
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,770	$38,720 – $75,020	40
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$42,030 – $97,930	50
18	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,160	$39,130 – $78,080	70
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,120	$35,880 – $97,630	430
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,390	$32,420 – $126,370	320
21	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,960	$44,490 – $89,660	70
22	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,490	$42,390 – $81,040	120
23	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,130	$36,830 – $73,510	80
24	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,900	$41,660 – $81,720	30
25	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$52,750	$41,290 – $61,990	40
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,350	$44,140 – $61,410	270
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,860	$33,460 – $99,300	160
28	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,120	$36,340 – $119,570	80
29	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,770	$34,760 – $71,780	50
30	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$37,550 – $95,100	70
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,680	$30,830 – $75,200	170
32	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,250	$36,850 – $77,850	970
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,050	$38,760 – $65,430	90
34	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,900	$30,560 – $79,210	260
35	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$48,670	$37,170 – $69,420	100
36	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$48,640	$37,950 – $63,130	40
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,480	$39,230 – $64,410	80
38	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,210	$38,600 – $64,600	160
39	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,080	$39,880 – $56,380	80
40	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$31,610 – $79,630	40
41	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$47,470	$38,200 – $54,150	60
42	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,670	$37,940 – $66,670	120
43	Meter Readers, UtilitiesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$34,860 – $61,000	30
44	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,350	$32,720 – $67,470	30
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,120	$35,900 – $61,730	50
46	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,880	$27,190 – $76,310	420
47	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,830	$29,110 – $64,620	450
48	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$27,570 – $74,220	260
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,760	$35,350 – $70,260	30
50	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,560	$34,200 – $58,220	50

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

High paying jobs in Cleveland, TN that need no degree

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