High paying jobs in Illinois that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Illinois 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 Illinois run 0.0% below the national average (2024), so a Illinois salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Illinois.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Illinois

OccupationMedian, Illinois · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$135,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,750 – $162,6404,900
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$123,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,690 – $153,8203,240
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$120,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,310 – $207,57011,030
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,820 – $129,2303,090
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$105,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,500 – $132,59019,340
6First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$105,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,990 – $160,7902,860
7Structural Iron and Steel Workers$101,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,830 – $124,4502,740
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,660
Associate's degree
$78,350 – $122,6803,270
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,420 – $119,56029,180
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$99,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,250 – $126,43016,750
11Electricians$99,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $123,66023,120
12Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,770 – $123,33012,290
13Dental Hygienists$96,670
Associate's degree
$74,280 – $118,4108,970
14Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$95,380
Associate's degree
$77,410 – $109,5502,760
15Locomotive Engineers$93,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,190 – $152,4202,340
16Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,960 – $157,0603,270
17Brickmasons and Blockmasons$89,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $109,6702,490
18First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$88,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,150 – $162,4905,280
19Sheet Metal Workers$86,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $117,9103,260
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$56,960 – $120,9001,980
21Respiratory Therapists$84,090
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $100,1004,880
22First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,740 – $129,21017,710
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,460 – $130,9503,370
24Surgical Assistants$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,220 – $83,7402,300
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,930
Associate's degree
$59,350 – $104,2107,650
26Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$79,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,290 – $134,4402,790
27Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,520 – $102,77012,190
28Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,190
Associate's degree
$49,130 – $119,9904,190
29Carpenters$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $117,66019,570
30Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $106,06018,400
31Construction and Building Inspectors$78,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $119,6502,560
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$78,170
No formal educational credential
$49,050 – $107,6705,890
33Roofers$77,900
No formal educational credential
$46,600 – $106,5305,300
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,690 – $117,5509,740
35Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $118,81014,210
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,230 – $102,59012,100
37First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,280 – $103,41029,640
38Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$75,050
No formal educational credential
$38,790 – $88,6404,910
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,880 – $89,81017,440
40Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$74,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $143,20011,180
41Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,750 – $104,85014,900
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,130 – $134,03051,310
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,990 – $94,2903,470
44Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,090
Associate's degree
$48,480 – $99,2002,260
45Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$70,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,810 – $100,1402,460
46Transportation Security Screeners$70,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,070 – $75,1901,970
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$69,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $103,77042,400
48Computer Network Support Specialists$68,530
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $104,9506,960
49Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$67,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,240 – $103,6903,500
50Medical Equipment Repairers$67,380
Associate's degree
$42,190 – $99,8802,620

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

#	Occupation	MedianIllinois	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,080	$81,750 – $162,640	4,900
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$123,500	$73,690 – $153,820	3,240
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,250	$68,310 – $207,570	11,030
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,120	$72,820 – $129,230	3,090
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,750	$62,500 – $132,590	19,340
6	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,450	$83,990 – $160,790	2,860
7	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,850	$64,830 – $124,450	2,740
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,660	$78,350 – $122,680	3,270
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,520	$58,420 – $119,560	29,180
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,950	$50,250 – $126,430	16,750
11	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,560	$49,240 – $123,660	23,120
12	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,740	$49,770 – $123,330	12,290
13	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,670	$74,280 – $118,410	8,970
14	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$95,380	$77,410 – $109,550	2,760
15	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,320	$76,190 – $152,420	2,340
16	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,190	$53,960 – $157,060	3,270
17	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,980	$47,200 – $109,670	2,490
18	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,820	$51,150 – $162,490	5,280
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,630	$42,220 – $117,910	3,260
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$56,960 – $120,900	1,980
21	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,090	$64,480 – $100,100	4,880
22	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,180	$52,740 – $129,210	17,710
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,680	$46,460 – $130,950	3,370
24	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$64,220 – $83,740	2,300
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,930	$59,350 – $104,210	7,650
26	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,820	$63,290 – $134,440	2,790
27	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,190	$50,520 – $102,770	12,190
28	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,190	$49,130 – $119,990	4,190
29	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$39,890 – $117,660	19,570
30	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$38,900 – $106,060	18,400
31	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,340	$47,600 – $119,650	2,560
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$78,170	$49,050 – $107,670	5,890
33	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$77,900	$46,600 – $106,530	5,300
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,410	$46,690 – $117,550	9,740
35	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,010	$48,620 – $118,810	14,210
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,200	$49,230 – $102,590	12,100
37	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,200	$47,280 – $103,410	29,640
38	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$75,050	$38,790 – $88,640	4,910
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,000	$58,880 – $89,810	17,440
40	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,980	$44,570 – $143,200	11,180
41	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,390	$50,750 – $104,850	14,900
42	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,510	$44,130 – $134,030	51,310
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,370	$42,990 – $94,290	3,470
44	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,090	$48,480 – $99,200	2,260
45	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,700	$33,810 – $100,140	2,460
46	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,570	$45,070 – $75,190	1,970
47	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,010	$46,780 – $103,770	42,400
48	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$68,530	$47,510 – $104,950	6,960
49	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,810	$42,240 – $103,690	3,500
50	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,380	$42,190 – $99,880	2,620

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

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Illinois that need no degree

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree