High paying jobs in Iowa City, IA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA run 8.5% below the national average (2024), so a Iowa City, IA salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Iowa City, IA

OccupationMedian, Iowa City, IA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$105,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,950 – $127,78090
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,690 – $111,63040
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,890 – $163,02050
4Dental Hygienists$92,020
Associate's degree
$79,440 – $98,470120
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,940
Associate's degree
$72,480 – $108,59090
6First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,220 – $231,930100
7Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$79,220
Associate's degree
$57,140 – $107,74030
8Construction and Building Inspectors$78,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,010 – $89,02060
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,270 – $92,680320
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $99,780360
11Food Service Managers$75,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $98,810140
12Respiratory Therapists$75,110
Associate's degree
$66,010 – $86,510150
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,180 – $110,040290
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,840 – $103,74080
15Insurance Sales Agents$71,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,730 – $117,340190
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,950
Associate's degree
$45,120 – $87,36040
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,130
Associate's degree
$47,620 – $78,24040
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,060 – $97,430280
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $128,210600
20Computer Network Support Specialists$66,680
Associate's degree
$55,820 – $91,200150
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,910 – $104,380600
22Paralegals and Legal Assistants$66,400
Associate's degree
$48,680 – $105,010330
23Medical Records Specialists$66,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,040 – $80,060330
24Paramedics$66,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,720 – $78,140150
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,820
Associate's degree
$54,360 – $105,570240
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,890
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040150
27Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,770 – $78,810150
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,550 – $86,07070
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,210 – $78,620230
30Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$63,690
Associate's degree
$43,130 – $81,080110
31First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$63,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,600 – $93,28030
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $88,990110
33Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,810 – $76,430110
34Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,920
Associate's degree
$38,350 – $77,930110
35Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,540 – $80,87070
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $77,060430
37Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$62,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,660 – $88,180130
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $119,320330
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$61,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $126,1102,360
40Computer User Support Specialists$61,750
Some college, no degree
$34,900 – $84,930370
41Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,180 – $97,930190
42Library Technicians$61,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,890 – $69,19090
43Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,890 – $78,71080
44Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,490 – $102,96040
45Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $79,080210
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $76,290120
47Highway Maintenance Workers$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,090 – $75,300150
48Architectural and Civil Drafters$59,990
Associate's degree
$42,890 – $95,94070
49Agricultural Technicians$59,820
Associate's degree
$31,200 – $77,00070
50Electricians$59,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $83,910370

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

#	Occupation	MedianIowa City, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,570	$81,950 – $127,780	90
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,000	$67,690 – $111,630	40
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,620	$69,890 – $163,020	50
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,020	$79,440 – $98,470	120
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,940	$72,480 – $108,590	90
6	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$47,220 – $231,930	100
7	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$79,220	$57,140 – $107,740	30
8	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,030	$51,010 – $89,020	60
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,190	$63,270 – $92,680	320
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,380	$50,960 – $99,780	360
11	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,150	$46,170 – $98,810	140
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,110	$66,010 – $86,510	150
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,880	$49,180 – $110,040	290
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,330	$50,840 – $103,740	80
15	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,440	$31,730 – $117,340	190
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,950	$45,120 – $87,360	40
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,130	$47,620 – $78,240	40
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,960	$48,060 – $97,430	280
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,440	$39,270 – $128,210	600
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,680	$55,820 – $91,200	150
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,430	$43,910 – $104,380	600
22	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,400	$48,680 – $105,010	330
23	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,340	$47,040 – $80,060	330
24	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,090	$51,720 – $78,140	150
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,820	$54,360 – $105,570	240
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,890	$42,390 – $81,040	150
27	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,440	$44,770 – $78,810	150
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,740	$51,550 – $86,070	70
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,690	$51,210 – $78,620	230
30	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$63,690	$43,130 – $81,080	110
31	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,600	$63,600 – $93,280	30
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$46,810 – $88,990	110
33	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,450	$37,810 – $76,430	110
34	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,920	$38,350 – $77,930	110
35	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,870	$39,540 – $80,870	70
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,740	$48,420 – $77,060	430
37	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,690	$42,660 – $88,180	130
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$35,640 – $119,320	330
39	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,960	$47,640 – $126,110	2,360
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,750	$34,900 – $84,930	370
41	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$45,180 – $97,930	190
42	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,300	$28,890 – $69,190	90
43	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$46,890 – $78,710	80
44	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$45,490 – $102,960	40
45	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,530	$49,990 – $79,080	210
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,150	$45,320 – $76,290	120
47	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$48,090 – $75,300	150
48	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,990	$42,890 – $95,940	70
49	Agricultural TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,820	$31,200 – $77,000	70
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,510	$39,350 – $83,910	370

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Iowa City, IA that need no degree

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