High paying jobs in Great Falls, MT that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Great Falls, MT 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 Great Falls, MT run 3.2% below the national average (2024), so a Great Falls, MT salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Great Falls, MT

OccupationMedian, Great Falls, MT · Employed

1Detectives and Criminal Investigators$136,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,200 – $167,11040
2Dental Hygienists$94,460
Associate's degree
$79,640 – $95,96090
3Industrial Machinery Mechanics$82,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,700 – $92,52090
4First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$81,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,680 – $93,64040
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,690 – $101,380130
6First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $124,950170
7First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,600 – $98,540250
8Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,010 – $98,150240
9Electricians$76,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,800 – $94,670170
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,250 – $103,14040
11Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,550 – $91,03080
12Construction and Building Inspectors$71,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $97,47030
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$71,270
Associate's degree
$61,360 – $79,34060
14Food Service Managers$69,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $100,83080
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $125,860130
16Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $79,12040
17Highway Maintenance Workers$62,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,270 – $62,70040
18First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $85,680290
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $87,090170
20Physical Therapist Assistants$61,900
Associate's degree
$48,530 – $77,11030
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,790
Associate's degree
$41,540 – $82,07040
22Lodging Managers$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,000 – $91,14050
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,740 – $80,87050
24Cargo and Freight Agents$60,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,400 – $69,01050
25Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,600 – $81,230150
26First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,320 – $92,34030
27Insurance Sales Agents$60,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $113,090220
28Firefighters$60,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,270 – $72,52070
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,900 – $72,750130
30Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,010
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,03030
31Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,170 – $59,96060
32Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$59,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,790 – $99,36040
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $96,020240
34Machinists$59,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,730 – $99,57040
35Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,580 – $87,090210
36Carpenters$58,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,320 – $74,590370
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,300
No formal educational credential
$48,940 – $81,04090
38Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,260
No formal educational credential
$37,710 – $65,73070
39Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,680
No formal educational credential
$45,960 – $76,29050
40Sheet Metal Workers$57,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,630 – $81,79070
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,940 – $82,720160
42Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,090
Associate's degree
$39,260 – $91,13070
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$56,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $107,96030
44Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,540 – $99,570120
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,050 – $75,10070
46Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,790 – $68,68030
47Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$54,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $94,29060
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,280 – $63,790510
49Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$53,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,690 – $105,690100
50Computer User Support Specialists$52,790
Some college, no degree
$32,180 – $75,870110

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

#	Occupation	MedianGreat Falls, MT	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,120	$67,200 – $167,110	40
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,460	$79,640 – $95,960	90
3	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,620	$49,700 – $92,520	90
4	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,410	$63,680 – $93,640	40
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,870	$56,690 – $101,380	130
6	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,410	$47,640 – $124,950	170
7	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,900	$55,600 – $98,540	250
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,100	$48,010 – $98,150	240
9	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,960	$48,800 – $94,670	170
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$54,250 – $103,140	40
11	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,750	$48,550 – $91,030	80
12	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,280	$61,110 – $97,470	30
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,270	$61,360 – $79,340	60
14	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,130	$48,310 – $100,830	80
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,120	$44,550 – $125,860	130
16	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$45,600 – $79,120	40
17	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,700	$46,270 – $62,700	40
18	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,090	$44,980 – $85,680	290
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,090	$49,830 – $87,090	170
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,900	$48,530 – $77,110	30
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,790	$41,540 – $82,070	40
22	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$44,000 – $91,140	50
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,930	$48,740 – $80,870	50
24	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,810	$43,400 – $69,010	50
25	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,670	$41,600 – $81,230	150
26	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,430	$36,320 – $92,340	30
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,350	$47,720 – $113,090	220
28	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,080	$47,270 – $72,520	70
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,020	$49,900 – $72,750	130
30	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,010	$45,530 – $75,030	30
31	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,960	$51,170 – $59,960	60
32	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,900	$36,790 – $99,360	40
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,410	$36,090 – $96,020	240
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,340	$36,730 – $99,570	40
35	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,110	$40,580 – $87,090	210
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,790	$44,320 – $74,590	370
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,300	$48,940 – $81,040	90
38	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,260	$37,710 – $65,730	70
39	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,680	$45,960 – $76,290	50
40	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,480	$43,630 – $81,790	70
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,420	$39,940 – $82,720	160
42	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,090	$39,260 – $91,130	70
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,900	$37,750 – $107,960	30
44	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,720	$47,540 – $99,570	120
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,420	$42,050 – $75,100	70
46	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,280	$44,790 – $68,680	30
47	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,920	$38,340 – $94,290	60
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,460	$44,280 – $63,790	510
49	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,870	$33,690 – $105,690	100
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,790	$32,180 – $75,870	110

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Great Falls, MT. 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 Great Falls, MT to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Great Falls, MT that need no degree

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