High paying jobs in Dubuque, IA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA run 12.7% below the national average (2024), so a Dubuque, IA salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Dubuque, IA

OccupationMedian, Dubuque, IA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$116,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,970 – $185,19090
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$113,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,580 – $125,53060
3Dental Hygienists$81,410
Associate's degree
$78,320 – $92,480110
4Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,110
Associate's degree
$32,060 – $105,35060
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $154,98090
6Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,860
Associate's degree
$59,720 – $86,39060
7Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,370
Associate's degree
$45,090 – $90,57040
8First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,960 – $99,230280
9First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,720 – $105,960480
10Food Service Managers$76,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,100 – $89,24090
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,530
Associate's degree
$60,000 – $80,780100
12Respiratory Therapists$74,190
Associate's degree
$64,260 – $78,04040
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $107,890240
14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,520 – $86,210170
15Insurance Sales Agents$71,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,510 – $160,820280
16Computer Network Support Specialists$69,060
Associate's degree
$49,510 – $91,10070
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$68,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,290 – $81,69040
18Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,760
Associate's degree
$48,150 – $101,00060
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,260 – $86,410160
20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,160 – $65,96060
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,840 – $93,400440
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,270 – $79,050100
23Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,180 – $76,200200
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,120 – $122,350640
25Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $107,630160
26Tool and Die Makers$63,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,900 – $78,83070
27Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$62,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $93,640230
28Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,660 – $91,490160
29Electricians$62,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,590 – $90,460210
30Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040110
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $103,080210
32Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $77,40080
33Highway Maintenance Workers$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,100 – $62,92060
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,690 – $84,380130
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $101,900120
36Tax Preparers$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,520 – $83,54050
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$61,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,600 – $77,770290
38Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,780 – $95,89040
39Surgical Technologists$60,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,680 – $75,25040
40Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,720 – $87,360110
41Carpenters$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,920 – $77,920260
42First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,890 – $86,700290
43Computer User Support Specialists$59,190
Some college, no degree
$44,290 – $92,110230
44Machinists$58,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,820 – $66,380180
45Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $109,82060
46Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,790 – $76,5301,310
47Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,400
No formal educational credential
$45,130 – $72,800110
48Correctional Officers and Jailers$57,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,970 – $90,37040
49Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $78,060170
50Mechanical Drafters$57,440
Associate's degree
$46,160 – $74,20050

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

#	Occupation	MedianDubuque, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,010	$58,970 – $185,190	90
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,920	$79,580 – $125,530	60
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,410	$78,320 – $92,480	110
4	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,110	$32,060 – $105,350	60
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,850	$47,150 – $154,980	90
6	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,860	$59,720 – $86,390	60
7	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,370	$45,090 – $90,570	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,320	$57,960 – $99,230	280
9	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,130	$50,720 – $105,960	480
10	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,910	$46,100 – $89,240	90
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,530	$60,000 – $80,780	100
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,190	$64,260 – $78,040	40
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,880	$49,990 – $107,890	240
14	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,170	$63,520 – $86,210	170
15	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,840	$37,510 – $160,820	280
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,060	$49,510 – $91,100	70
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,980	$47,290 – $81,690	40
18	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,760	$48,150 – $101,000	60
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,480	$53,260 – $86,410	160
20	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$52,160 – $65,960	60
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,070	$43,840 – $93,400	440
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,040	$50,270 – $79,050	100
23	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,750	$51,180 – $76,200	200
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$40,120 – $122,350	640
25	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,370	$47,600 – $107,630	160
26	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,290	$49,900 – $78,830	70
27	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,930	$48,690 – $93,640	230
28	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,250	$48,660 – $91,490	160
29	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,110	$42,590 – $90,460	210
30	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	110
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,970	$35,780 – $103,080	210
32	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$46,980 – $77,400	80
33	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$53,100 – $62,920	60
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,410	$37,690 – $84,380	130
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$39,520 – $101,900	120
36	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$33,520 – $83,540	50
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,030	$37,600 – $77,770	290
38	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$47,780 – $95,890	40
39	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,500	$48,680 – $75,250	40
40	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$46,720 – $87,360	110
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$39,920 – $77,920	260
42	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,620	$40,890 – $86,700	290
43	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,190	$44,290 – $92,110	230
44	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,890	$47,820 – $66,380	180
45	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,890	$36,820 – $109,820	60
46	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,470	$41,790 – $76,530	1,310
47	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,400	$45,130 – $72,800	110
48	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,680	$47,970 – $90,370	40
49	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$45,720 – $78,060	170
50	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,440	$46,160 – $74,200	50

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

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

High paying jobs in Dubuque, IA that need no degree

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