High paying jobs in Kankakee, IL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Kankakee, IL 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 Kankakee, IL run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Kankakee, IL salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Kankakee, IL

OccupationMedian, Kankakee, IL · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,710 – $197,15040
2Electricians$105,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,390 – $111,490140
3First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$100,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,270 – $124,440140
4Carpenters$95,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $98,880120
5Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$94,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,520 – $122,72090
6First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$91,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$78,850 – $129,04030
7Respiratory Therapists$84,490
Associate's degree
$67,270 – $101,45060
8Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $120,290110
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,040 – $106,010190
10Dental Hygienists$78,430
Associate's degree
$60,570 – $97,33050
11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,200 – $93,60030
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,620
Associate's degree
$51,850 – $100,30070
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,560 – $99,810300
14Highway Maintenance Workers$73,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $100,790100
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$69,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $102,930140
16Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$67,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $106,25060
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $139,840350
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,830 – $80,630240
19Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$65,130
No formal educational credential
$46,100 – $104,84040
20Physical Therapist Assistants$64,960
Associate's degree
$57,970 – $80,63040
21Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,130 – $97,87050
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,930 – $93,240130
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$61,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $78,89050
24First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,300 – $90,410140
25Food Service Managers$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $157,880100
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $89,980220
27Surgical Technologists$59,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,900 – $69,94040
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $79,61070
29Firefighters$59,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,730 – $95,390120
30Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$58,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $77,460520
31Insurance Sales Agents$58,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $99,99070
32Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $80,270110
33Computer User Support Specialists$57,580
Some college, no degree
$36,000 – $80,93080
34Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,030
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040120
35Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $91,98040
36Medical Records Specialists$56,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,020 – $80,29040
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $84,790100
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,960 – $118,180220
39Construction Laborers$54,830
No formal educational credential
$34,620 – $96,340200
40Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $71,71040
41Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $75,23050
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,660 – $60,590210
43Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $67,790260
44Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$48,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $83,31040
45Machinists$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $76,440100
46Production Workers, All Other$47,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $79,470130
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $58,06050
48Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $71,110230
49Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$47,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,040 – $83,08070
50Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,240
Some college, no degree
$35,140 – $64,490400

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

#	Occupation	MedianKankakee, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,910	$59,710 – $197,150	40
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,500	$59,390 – $111,490	140
3	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,640	$57,270 – $124,440	140
4	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,280	$47,730 – $98,880	120
5	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,270	$60,520 – $122,720	90
6	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,720	$78,850 – $129,040	30
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,490	$67,270 – $101,450	60
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,620	$38,510 – $120,290	110
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,840	$49,040 – $106,010	190
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,430	$60,570 – $97,330	50
11	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,780	$51,200 – $93,600	30
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,620	$51,850 – $100,300	70
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,240	$50,560 – $99,810	300
14	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,080	$39,130 – $100,790	100
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,420	$45,900 – $102,930	140
16	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,450	$48,870 – $106,250	60
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,500	$41,270 – $139,840	350
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,910	$52,830 – $80,630	240
19	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$65,130	$46,100 – $104,840	40
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,960	$57,970 – $80,630	40
21	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,570	$46,130 – $97,870	50
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,410	$50,930 – $93,240	130
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,010	$48,160 – $78,890	50
24	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$38,300 – $90,410	140
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$37,410 – $157,880	100
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$39,630 – $89,980	220
27	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,940	$40,900 – $69,940	40
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$36,120 – $79,610	70
29	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,850	$34,730 – $95,390	120
30	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,400	$35,860 – $77,460	520
31	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,340	$34,530 – $99,990	70
32	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$38,160 – $80,270	110
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,580	$36,000 – $80,930	80
34	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,030	$42,390 – $81,040	120
35	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$46,140 – $91,980	40
36	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,450	$37,020 – $80,290	40
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,580	$36,240 – $84,790	100
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,410	$34,960 – $118,180	220
39	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$54,830	$34,620 – $96,340	200
40	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,860	$38,760 – $71,710	40
41	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$37,440 – $75,230	50
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,930	$38,660 – $60,590	210
43	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$37,780 – $67,790	260
44	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,730	$33,600 – $83,310	40
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$38,400 – $76,440	100
46	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,890	$35,560 – $79,470	130
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$38,100 – $58,060	50
48	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,460	$36,230 – $71,110	230
49	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,450	$37,040 – $83,080	70
50	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,240	$35,140 – $64,490	400

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kankakee, IL. 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 Kankakee, IL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Kankakee, IL that need no degree

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