High paying jobs in Columbus, IN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Columbus, 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 Columbus, IN run 7.0% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, IN salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Columbus, IN

OccupationMedian, Columbus, IN · Employed

1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$85,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,400 – $97,070100
2Dental Hygienists$84,810
Associate's degree
$63,320 – $102,69070
3Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,460
Associate's degree
$38,640 – $123,010130
4Electricians$79,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $92,210290
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,340 – $108,440150
6Real Estate Brokers$75,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,920 – $138,08030
7First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,520 – $94,760690
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $106,270170
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,690 – $77,460150
10Computer Network Support Specialists$71,270
Associate's degree
$46,800 – $107,53060
11Tool and Die Makers$71,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,440 – $92,940180
12Food Service Managers$69,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,640 – $98,69040
13Carpenters$67,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $82,970190
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,740 – $128,210450
15Sheet Metal Workers$65,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,580 – $90,11050
16Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $90,930110
17Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,020
Associate's degree
$40,040 – $77,87090
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $80,680490
19Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $126,480240
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,460 – $71,610170
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $99,150230
22Mechanical Drafters$61,730
Associate's degree
$48,880 – $104,01040
23Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $61,53040
24Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,390 – $97,62050
25Machinists$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,640 – $74,7201,470
26Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,230
Associate's degree
$38,000 – $87,55030
27Physical Therapist Assistants$61,140
Associate's degree
$47,680 – $76,55040
28Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,500 – $84,74050
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,430 – $92,35050
30Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04090
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $91,010210
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,660
No formal educational credential
$38,940 – $78,68040
33First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,280 – $90,280170
34Roofers$59,400
No formal educational credential
$39,330 – $83,68050
35Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,560
No formal educational credential
$39,940 – $75,52040
36Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$58,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $75,050610
37Computer User Support Specialists$58,380
Some college, no degree
$37,900 – $100,590150
38Insurance Sales Agents$58,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $197,34090
39Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$57,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,220 – $82,42040
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,540 – $72,910520
41Automotive Body and Related Repairers$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,160 – $97,04050
42Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$55,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $82,13040
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,130 – $72,78080
44Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $84,02060
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$54,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,590 – $95,38070
46Construction Laborers$53,900
No formal educational credential
$36,370 – $64,860310
47Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $59,900140
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$50,500
Associate's degree
$39,590 – $80,49050
49Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $66,790310
50Medical Records Specialists$49,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,940 – $77,62050

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,930	$49,400 – $97,070	100
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,810	$63,320 – $102,690	70
3	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,460	$38,640 – $123,010	130
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,670	$44,880 – $92,210	290
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,940	$53,340 – $108,440	150
6	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,920	$28,920 – $138,080	30
7	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$48,520 – $94,760	690
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,640	$47,830 – $106,270	170
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,500	$51,690 – $77,460	150
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$71,270	$46,800 – $107,530	60
11	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,180	$43,440 – $92,940	180
12	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,800	$49,640 – $98,690	40
13	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,780	$47,340 – $82,970	190
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,630	$40,740 – $128,210	450
15	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,010	$43,580 – $90,110	50
16	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,970	$45,890 – $90,930	110
17	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,020	$40,040 – $77,870	90
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$47,710 – $80,680	490
19	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$37,530 – $126,480	240
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$49,460 – $71,610	170
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,950	$46,290 – $99,150	230
22	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,730	$48,880 – $104,010	40
23	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,530	$47,590 – $61,530	40
24	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$40,390 – $97,620	50
25	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$48,640 – $74,720	1,470
26	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,230	$38,000 – $87,550	30
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,140	$47,680 – $76,550	40
28	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,080	$41,500 – $84,740	50
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$45,430 – $92,350	50
30	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	90
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$45,910 – $91,010	210
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,660	$38,940 – $78,680	40
33	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$38,280 – $90,280	170
34	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,400	$39,330 – $83,680	50
35	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,560	$39,940 – $75,520	40
36	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,450	$36,090 – $75,050	610
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,380	$37,900 – $100,590	150
38	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,180	$36,980 – $197,340	90
39	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,770	$49,220 – $82,420	40
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,350	$45,540 – $72,910	520
41	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$41,160 – $97,040	50
42	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,820	$39,450 – $82,130	40
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,470	$44,130 – $72,780	80
44	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,160	$39,090 – $84,020	60
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,490	$41,590 – $95,380	70
46	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$53,900	$36,370 – $64,860	310
47	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,060	$39,410 – $59,900	140
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$50,500	$39,590 – $80,490	50
49	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,320	$36,720 – $66,790	310
50	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,270	$37,940 – $77,620	50

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

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

High paying jobs in Columbus, IN that need no degree

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