High paying jobs in Joplin, MO-KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Joplin, MO-KS 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 Joplin, MO-KS run 14.3% below the national average (2024), so a Joplin, MO-KS salary is worth about 1.17× 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 Joplin, MO-KS

OccupationMedian, Joplin, MO-KS · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$102,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,570 – $158,860120
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,940 – $107,630160
3Dental Hygienists$83,270
Associate's degree
$53,510 – $86,910120
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,990
Associate's degree
$72,220 – $100,67070
5First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$81,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,930 – $131,090420
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $107,540430
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,520 – $138,67060
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$71,970
Associate's degree
$40,950 – $89,400230
9First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$71,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,500 – $96,21090
10Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$70,480
Associate's degree
$66,410 – $93,27040
11Electrical and Electronics Drafters$70,010
Associate's degree
$48,660 – $101,96040
12Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$67,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $73,540120
13Electricians$67,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,810 – $96,890430
14Respiratory Therapists$65,630
Associate's degree
$59,990 – $79,930150
15Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $101,640180
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,620 – $92,150770
17Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $73,160350
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $83,02040
19Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $91,21090
20Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $77,310190
21Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,640210
22Food Service Managers$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $80,38030
23Computer Network Support Specialists$61,750
Associate's degree
$37,530 – $114,19060
24Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $109,30040
25Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $75,380100
26Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,560 – $81,770130
27Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,330
Associate's degree
$48,560 – $91,08070
28Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36060
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,240
Associate's degree
$44,130 – $76,21050
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,620 – $89,010400
31Construction and Building Inspectors$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $96,29050
32Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,010 – $72,950400
33Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $91,080100
34Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,690
Associate's degree
$32,100 – $77,28040
35Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,690
Associate's degree
$39,950 – $79,96040
36Physical Therapist Assistants$58,240
Associate's degree
$47,960 – $89,70080
37Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,290 – $58,170160
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$57,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,920 – $109,220670
39Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$57,110
Associate's degree
$44,360 – $103,72060
40Real Estate Brokers$57,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $87,97060
41First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,130 – $88,050590
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$56,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,040 – $76,300320
43Surgical Technologists$56,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $77,390100
44Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$56,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $76,830360
45Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$56,370
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $76,610100
46Tool and Die Makers$55,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,960 – $74,14040
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,560 – $81,980210
48Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$54,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,740 – $98,09040
49Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$53,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $78,800150
50Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$53,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,050 – $78,090160

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

#	Occupation	MedianJoplin, MO-KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,460	$52,570 – $158,860	120
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,670	$73,940 – $107,630	160
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,270	$53,510 – $86,910	120
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,990	$72,220 – $100,670	70
5	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,350	$48,930 – $131,090	420
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$49,940 – $107,540	430
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,260	$45,520 – $138,670	60
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,970	$40,950 – $89,400	230
9	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,630	$49,500 – $96,210	90
10	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$70,480	$66,410 – $93,270	40
11	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,010	$48,660 – $101,960	40
12	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,790	$40,510 – $73,540	120
13	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,720	$36,810 – $96,890	430
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$65,630	$59,990 – $79,930	150
15	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,370	$42,210 – $101,640	180
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,830	$46,620 – $92,150	770
17	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,720	$46,280 – $73,160	350
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,640	$40,080 – $83,020	40
19	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$46,280 – $91,210	90
20	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$40,410 – $77,310	190
21	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$42,390 – $81,640	210
22	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$49,720 – $80,380	30
23	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,750	$37,530 – $114,190	60
24	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$45,830 – $109,300	40
25	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$47,050 – $75,380	100
26	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,910	$43,560 – $81,770	130
27	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,330	$48,560 – $91,080	70
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$42,600 – $76,360	60
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,240	$44,130 – $76,210	50
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,900	$43,620 – $89,010	400
31	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$44,420 – $96,290	50
32	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,920	$48,010 – $72,950	400
33	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,710	$38,810 – $91,080	100
34	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,690	$32,100 – $77,280	40
35	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,690	$39,950 – $79,960	40
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,240	$47,960 – $89,700	80
37	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,170	$35,290 – $58,170	160
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,270	$30,920 – $109,220	670
39	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$57,110	$44,360 – $103,720	60
40	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,020	$36,140 – $87,970	60
41	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$32,130 – $88,050	590
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,790	$38,040 – $76,300	320
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,750	$44,200 – $77,390	100
44	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,580	$38,440 – $76,830	360
45	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$56,370	$36,480 – $76,610	100
46	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,930	$41,960 – $74,140	40
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,360	$38,560 – $81,980	210
48	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,720	$37,740 – $98,090	40
49	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,840	$37,180 – $78,800	150
50	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,590	$35,050 – $78,090	160

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Joplin, MO-KS. 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 Joplin, MO-KS

Other metro areas in MO

By field in Joplin, MO-KS

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Joplin, MO-KS that need no degree

More for Joplin, MO-KS

Other metro areas in MO

By field in Joplin, MO-KS

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree