High paying jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Fort Smith, AR-OK 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK run 14.1% below the national average (2024), so a Fort Smith, AR-OK salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK

OccupationMedian, Fort Smith, AR-OK · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,140
Associate's degree
$74,420 – $102,19080
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$94,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,800 – $116,58070
3Dental Hygienists$84,480
Associate's degree
$57,440 – $98,300150
4Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$83,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $100,83050
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$83,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $158,660130
6Occupational Therapy Assistants$80,660
Associate's degree
$65,970 – $99,78040
7Respiratory Therapists$78,080
Associate's degree
$60,680 – $79,070100
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,860 – $98,070100
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,270
Associate's degree
$47,470 – $108,28050
10Gas Plant Operators$74,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,240 – $105,51050
11First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$71,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,920 – $101,690140
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$69,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $97,950510
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,410
Associate's degree
$38,080 – $80,310190
14Postal Service Mail Carriers$63,380
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040210
15Physical Therapist Assistants$63,210
Associate's degree
$37,500 – $79,550140
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,750 – $77,23030
17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$62,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,450 – $127,370130
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,550 – $92,7201,100
19Surgical Technologists$61,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,390 – $102,400170
20Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,390 – $71,31060
21Insurance Sales Agents$60,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $124,060190
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,810 – $75,430100
23Architectural and Civil Drafters$59,820
Associate's degree
$44,140 – $76,72050
24Construction and Building Inspectors$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $94,63050
25Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
26Computer Network Support Specialists$58,810
Associate's degree
$40,000 – $100,03070
27Community Health Workers$58,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $77,88040
28First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,360 – $91,880400
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,730 – $74,670750
30First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$57,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,120 – $80,630430
31First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$57,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,040 – $87,800960
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$56,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $57,980380
33Printing Press Operators$56,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,750 – $80,340180
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$55,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,950 – $61,140960
35Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,030 – $60,800150
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$54,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,730 – $75,93030
37Electricians$52,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,770 – $73,870370
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$52,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,950 – $65,660380
39First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$51,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $71,80040
40Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$51,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,760 – $62,690400
41Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$51,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,070 – $74,240150
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$50,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,670 – $119,610870
43Machinists$50,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,240 – $63,770230
44First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$50,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,550 – $78,85070
45Food Service Managers$50,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,690 – $75,560180
46Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$50,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $74,080100
47Millwrights$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,560 – $61,83050
48Lodging Managers$49,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,620 – $74,02030
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$48,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $78,680200
50Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$48,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,730 – $62,520250

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

#	Occupation	MedianFort Smith, AR-OK	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,140	$74,420 – $102,190	80
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,800	$58,800 – $116,580	70
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,480	$57,440 – $98,300	150
4	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,960	$35,930 – $100,830	50
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,370	$46,260 – $158,660	130
6	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,660	$65,970 – $99,780	40
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,080	$60,680 – $79,070	100
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$51,860 – $98,070	100
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,270	$47,470 – $108,280	50
10	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,230	$61,240 – $105,510	50
11	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,730	$43,920 – $101,690	140
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,720	$44,830 – $97,950	510
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,410	$38,080 – $80,310	190
14	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$63,380	$42,390 – $81,040	210
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,210	$37,500 – $79,550	140
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,170	$43,750 – $77,230	30
17	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,290	$45,450 – $127,370	130
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,260	$42,550 – $92,720	1,100
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,890	$40,390 – $102,400	170
20	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$35,390 – $71,310	60
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,800	$35,480 – $124,060	190
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,250	$36,810 – $75,430	100
23	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,820	$44,140 – $76,720	50
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$43,200 – $94,630	50
25	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	60
26	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$58,810	$40,000 – $100,030	70
27	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,690	$38,070 – $77,880	40
28	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,390	$39,360 – $91,880	400
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,960	$42,730 – $74,670	750
30	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,850	$43,120 – $80,630	430
31	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,130	$40,040 – $87,800	960
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,520	$37,700 – $57,980	380
33	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,350	$31,750 – $80,340	180
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,880	$47,950 – $61,140	960
35	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,380	$49,030 – $60,800	150
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,500	$46,730 – $75,930	30
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,500	$33,770 – $73,870	370
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,480	$38,950 – $65,660	380
39	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,790	$35,900 – $71,800	40
40	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,070	$36,760 – $62,690	400
41	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,030	$31,070 – $74,240	150
42	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,920	$29,670 – $119,610	870
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,560	$39,240 – $63,770	230
44	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,550	$50,550 – $78,850	70
45	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,390	$35,690 – $75,560	180
46	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,220	$38,690 – $74,080	100
47	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$34,560 – $61,830	50
48	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,990	$36,620 – $74,020	30
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,560	$35,870 – $78,680	200
50	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,350	$36,730 – $62,520	250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Fort Smith, AR-OK. 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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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Fort Smith, AR-OK to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Fort Smith, AR-OK that need no degree

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