High paying jobs in Columbus, OH that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Columbus, OH 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, OH run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, OH salary is worth about 1.05× 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, OH

OccupationMedian, Columbus, OH · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$175,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $216,2701,410
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$121,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,080 – $154,800960
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$105,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,110 – $186,8002,060
4Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,450 – $111,4205,190
5Dental Hygienists$96,880
Associate's degree
$81,780 – $99,7301,700
6Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$90,530
Associate's degree
$76,550 – $103,280380
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$85,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,100 – $138,360620
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$84,200
Associate's degree
$64,930 – $101,800530
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$83,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $170,3601,040
10Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$83,580
Associate's degree
$51,000 – $118,870730
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$82,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,010 – $113,6105,420
12Respiratory Therapists$81,860
Associate's degree
$68,300 – $98,7001,220
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,820 – $110,3001,260
14Computer Network Support Specialists$81,220
Associate's degree
$50,770 – $147,7401,710
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,030 – $119,0703,630
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,200
Associate's degree
$57,700 – $100,7101,780
17Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$80,000
No formal educational credential
$38,130 – $80,020380
18Detectives and Criminal Investigators$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,840 – $142,020540
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,610 – $99,3903,290
20Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,690 – $96,950760
21Construction and Building Inspectors$76,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,920 – $103,810870
22Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $132,650370
23Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,530
Associate's degree
$50,120 – $96,410540
24Mechanical Drafters$76,480
Associate's degree
$51,350 – $94,910350
25Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$75,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,580 – $108,0803,250
26Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,480 – $162,310870
27First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,690 – $101,9403,790
28Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$73,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,030 – $73,790700
29Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,500 – $124,340430
30Pipelayers$71,560
No formal educational credential
$63,940 – $89,640430
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $92,9102,670
32Physical Therapist Assistants$69,480
Associate's degree
$56,280 – $96,2501,100
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$67,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $89,4201,080
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $136,6508,900
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,260 – $99,0509,480
36Carpenters$66,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $82,6303,620
37Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,450
No formal educational credential
$48,140 – $74,400570
38Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,910
No formal educational credential
$46,620 – $84,0501,000
39Community Health Workers$64,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $75,380610
40Electricians$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $94,4107,210
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,680 – $100,5903,000
42Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$64,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $103,5103,300
43Surgical Technologists$64,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,110 – $84,650750
44Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $94,270950
45Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $78,950730
46Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,480
Associate's degree
$38,020 – $84,670610
47Food Service Managers$63,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,690 – $102,6502,060
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,820 – $103,0003,060
49Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,010 – $76,940490
50Computer User Support Specialists$62,540
Some college, no degree
$41,000 – $103,1104,960

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, OH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$175,690	$60,300 – $216,270	1,410
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,750	$67,080 – $154,800	960
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,360	$64,110 – $186,800	2,060
4	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,890	$60,450 – $111,420	5,190
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,880	$81,780 – $99,730	1,700
6	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$90,530	$76,550 – $103,280	380
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,230	$62,100 – $138,360	620
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$84,200	$64,930 – $101,800	530
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,590	$47,840 – $170,360	1,040
10	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$83,580	$51,000 – $118,870	730
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,360	$61,010 – $113,610	5,420
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,860	$68,300 – $98,700	1,220
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,760	$50,820 – $110,300	1,260
14	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,220	$50,770 – $147,740	1,710
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$50,030 – $119,070	3,630
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,200	$57,700 – $100,710	1,780
17	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$80,000	$38,130 – $80,020	380
18	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$56,840 – $142,020	540
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$50,610 – $99,390	3,290
20	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$46,690 – $96,950	760
21	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,930	$53,920 – $103,810	870
22	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,920	$50,960 – $132,650	370
23	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,530	$50,120 – $96,410	540
24	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,480	$51,350 – $94,910	350
25	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,880	$52,580 – $108,080	3,250
26	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,210	$55,480 – $162,310	870
27	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$49,690 – $101,940	3,790
28	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,790	$45,030 – $73,790	700
29	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,550	$47,500 – $124,340	430
30	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$71,560	$63,940 – $89,640	430
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,410	$49,220 – $92,910	2,670
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,480	$56,280 – $96,250	1,100
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,920	$49,830 – $89,420	1,080
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,410	$39,450 – $136,650	8,900
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,970	$47,260 – $99,050	9,480
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,480	$47,270 – $82,630	3,620
37	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,450	$48,140 – $74,400	570
38	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,910	$46,620 – $84,050	1,000
39	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,810	$44,330 – $75,380	610
40	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$46,090 – $94,410	7,210
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,440	$40,680 – $100,590	3,000
42	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,180	$45,320 – $103,510	3,300
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,120	$50,110 – $84,650	750
44	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$48,690 – $94,270	950
45	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$48,420 – $78,950	730
46	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,480	$38,020 – $84,670	610
47	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,420	$36,690 – $102,650	2,060
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,260	$40,820 – $103,000	3,060
49	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,060	$47,010 – $76,940	490
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,540	$41,000 – $103,110	4,960

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

High paying jobs in Columbus, OH that need no degree

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