High paying jobs in Iowa that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Iowa 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 run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Iowa salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Iowa.

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

Find high paying jobs in Iowa

OccupationMedian, Iowa · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,310 – $109,9801,390
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,340 – $164,9801,850
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$98,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,150 – $126,4701,370
4Locomotive Engineers$89,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,770 – $95,7101,000
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$89,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $167,9202,530
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,480
Associate's degree
$72,480 – $101,970740
7Dental Hygienists$84,010
Associate's degree
$78,320 – $95,8102,440
8Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,400 – $103,890820
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,660 – $105,9609,660
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,670 – $111,2206,450
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$76,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,490 – $112,140600
12Wind Turbine Service Technicians$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,630 – $100,410900
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Associate's degree
$47,020 – $107,660880
14Respiratory Therapists$74,760
Associate's degree
$62,860 – $86,510910
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $100,00010,130
16Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,360 – $101,5205,130
17Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$72,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $72,670660
18Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,360 – $102,9003,930
19Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,540
Associate's degree
$46,520 – $90,7601,130
20Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,360 – $93,8901,130
21Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,670
Associate's degree
$52,430 – $125,300500
22Construction and Building Inspectors$71,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,470 – $90,3801,140
23Crane and Tower Operators$67,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $83,650650
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,960 – $124,59016,990
25Food Service Managers$66,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $100,1701,760
26Sheet Metal Workers$66,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $91,4501,650
27Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,930
Associate's degree
$54,360 – $86,5202,550
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $83,6201,780
29Tool and Die Makers$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $80,170760
30Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,640 – $79,340900
31Computer Network Support Specialists$64,600
Associate's degree
$47,330 – $93,7601,920
32Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,410
Associate's degree
$51,550 – $86,390710
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $97,71010,190
34Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $82,7806,050
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $85,0702,820
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,220
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $102,060980
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,510 – $97,5005,730
38Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$63,700
Associate's degree
$34,540 – $94,950640
39Mechanical Drafters$63,330
Associate's degree
$46,760 – $95,370630
40Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,550 – $77,7105,510
41Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $64,7801,420
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $119,0606,530
43Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $83,6004,150
44Millwrights$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $79,710690
45Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $78,7801,040
46Physical Therapist Assistants$61,030
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $74,9501,060
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $76,0402,370
48Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $85,760820
49Electricians$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,770 – $89,48010,310
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,040 – $86,2803,840

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

#	Occupation	MedianIowa	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,200	$65,310 – $109,980	1,390
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$61,340 – $164,980	1,850
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,840	$76,150 – $126,470	1,370
4	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,970	$74,770 – $95,710	1,000
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,640	$47,960 – $167,920	2,530
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,480	$72,480 – $101,970	740
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,010	$78,320 – $95,810	2,440
8	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,830	$50,400 – $103,890	820
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$56,660 – $105,960	9,660
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,340	$49,670 – $111,220	6,450
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,010	$62,490 – $112,140	600
12	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$57,630 – $100,410	900
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,840	$47,020 – $107,660	880
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,760	$62,860 – $86,510	910
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,750	$48,210 – $100,000	10,130
16	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,470	$59,360 – $101,520	5,130
17	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,670	$48,580 – $72,670	660
18	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$50,360 – $102,900	3,930
19	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,540	$46,520 – $90,760	1,130
20	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,250	$60,360 – $93,890	1,130
21	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,670	$52,430 – $125,300	500
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,630	$47,470 – $90,380	1,140
23	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,600	$47,480 – $83,650	650
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,760	$39,960 – $124,590	16,990
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,700	$45,610 – $100,170	1,760
26	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,460	$43,770 – $91,450	1,650
27	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,930	$54,360 – $86,520	2,550
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,710	$45,600 – $83,620	1,780
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$51,540 – $80,170	760
30	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$49,640 – $79,340	900
31	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,600	$47,330 – $93,760	1,920
32	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,410	$51,550 – $86,390	710
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,400	$43,680 – $97,710	10,190
34	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,400	$47,770 – $82,780	6,050
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,290	$47,880 – $85,070	2,820
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,220	$45,760 – $102,060	980
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$45,510 – $97,500	5,730
38	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$63,700	$34,540 – $94,950	640
39	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,330	$46,760 – $95,370	630
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,630	$50,550 – $77,710	5,510
41	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$44,840 – $64,780	1,420
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$35,700 – $119,060	6,530
43	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,340	$45,230 – $83,600	4,150
44	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$47,050 – $79,710	690
45	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$45,320 – $78,780	1,040
46	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,030	$45,760 – $74,950	1,060
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,990	$46,880 – $76,040	2,370
48	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$40,410 – $85,760	820
49	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$39,770 – $89,480	10,310
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,680	$43,040 – $86,280	3,840

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

Metro areas in Iowa

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

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Iowa that need no degree

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree