High paying jobs in Grand Island, NE that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Grand Island, NE 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 Grand Island, NE run 13.3% below the national average (2024), so a Grand Island, NE 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 Grand Island, NE

OccupationMedian, Grand Island, NE · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,270 – $161,95080
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$98,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,330 – $154,48040
3Dental Hygienists$85,660
Associate's degree
$81,650 – $94,42060
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$84,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $103,17090
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,690 – $115,81070
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $115,21030
7Insurance Sales Agents$74,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,710 – $122,080160
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,090 – $99,700210
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,260 – $88,280190
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,860
Associate's degree
$42,490 – $83,01080
11Machinists$67,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $67,43090
12First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$66,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,170 – $83,620410
13Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,570 – $97,210110
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,830 – $105,580420
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$63,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $84,390210
16Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,070 – $79,73040
17Correctional Officers and Jailers$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,250 – $74,30090
18First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $76,790160
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,570 – $76,890170
20Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,700 – $66,29070
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,640 – $72,950200
22Physical Therapist Assistants$60,880
Associate's degree
$53,320 – $69,11060
23Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,150 – $94,810970
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $88,100290
25Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$59,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,010 – $70,53040
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,310 – $78,03070
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $78,830160
28Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,880 – $80,01040
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,710 – $76,00080
30Food Service Managers$57,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $80,57060
31Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $75,05060
32Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,130 – $56,45090
33Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,450 – $80,87040
34Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$55,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $80,930150
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,200 – $75,000460
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,490
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04090
37Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $63,090370
38Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$55,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,110 – $68,610120
39Highway Maintenance Workers$53,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $78,900100
40Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$53,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,360 – $77,100260
41Electricians$52,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,910 – $78,510260
42Procurement Clerks$52,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,900 – $66,36040
43Medical Records Specialists$51,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,010 – $79,47050
44Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $58,84070
45Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,730
No formal educational credential
$36,750 – $51,410280
46First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$50,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,420 – $69,20050
47Automotive Body and Related Repairers$50,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $62,45040
48Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$50,320
No formal educational credential
$30,660 – $50,320460
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $76,43070
50Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,240 – $62,000470

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

#	Occupation	MedianGrand Island, NE	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,340	$63,270 – $161,950	80
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,880	$75,330 – $154,480	40
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$85,660	$81,650 – $94,420	60
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,450	$36,850 – $103,170	90
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,410	$56,690 – $115,810	70
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,550	$48,460 – $115,210	30
7	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,500	$39,710 – $122,080	160
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,180	$48,090 – $99,700	210
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,710	$58,260 – $88,280	190
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,860	$42,490 – $83,010	80
11	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,430	$48,720 – $67,430	90
12	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,820	$56,170 – $83,620	410
13	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,690	$40,570 – $97,210	110
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,420	$43,830 – $105,580	420
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,590	$48,540 – $84,390	210
16	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$48,070 – $79,730	40
17	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$50,250 – $74,300	90
18	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,360	$38,130 – $76,790	160
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$49,570 – $76,890	170
20	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$40,700 – $66,290	70
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,090	$48,640 – $72,950	200
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,880	$53,320 – $69,110	60
23	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,810	$43,150 – $94,810	970
24	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$44,100 – $88,100	290
25	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,620	$46,010 – $70,530	40
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,590	$44,310 – $78,030	70
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,490	$38,290 – $78,830	160
28	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,000	$45,880 – $80,010	40
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,070	$38,710 – $76,000	80
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,240	$44,780 – $80,570	60
31	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,040	$46,640 – $75,050	60
32	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,450	$50,130 – $56,450	90
33	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,450	$44,450 – $80,870	40
34	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,850	$39,480 – $80,930	150
35	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,740	$35,200 – $75,000	460
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,490	$42,390 – $81,040	90
37	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$40,690 – $63,090	370
38	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,020	$42,110 – $68,610	120
39	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,830	$43,970 – $78,900	100
40	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,250	$35,360 – $77,100	260
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,470	$37,910 – $78,510	260
42	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,270	$42,900 – $66,360	40
43	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,650	$38,010 – $79,470	50
44	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,960	$39,600 – $58,840	70
45	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,730	$36,750 – $51,410	280
46	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,530	$36,420 – $69,200	50
47	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,440	$38,080 – $62,450	40
48	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$50,320	$30,660 – $50,320	460
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,230	$38,760 – $76,430	70
50	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,740	$42,240 – $62,000	470

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Grand Island, NE. 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 Grand Island, NE to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Grand Island, NE that need no degree

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