High paying jobs in Lafayette, LA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Lafayette, LA 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 Lafayette, LA run 12.8% below the national average (2024), so a Lafayette, LA salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Lafayette, LA

OccupationMedian, Lafayette, LA · Employed

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$116,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,620 – $173,040270
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$88,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,100 – $138,650210
3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$87,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,310 – $109,770240
4Construction and Building Inspectors$83,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,420 – $126,430100
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,010
Associate's degree
$63,340 – $96,640120
6Dental Hygienists$81,900
Associate's degree
$49,450 – $96,310200
7Commercial Pilots$79,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,780 – $162,850210
8Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,810 – $91,490240
9Respiratory Therapists$76,210
Associate's degree
$61,460 – $87,070290
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$73,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,600 – $98,560120
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,320
Associate's degree
$50,910 – $101,12060
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$71,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,360 – $119,4701,230
13Boilermakers$70,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,630 – $76,990110
14First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,470 – $101,420820
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$68,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $111,940830
16Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$67,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $100,240190
17Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$66,050
Associate's degree
$38,860 – $91,830120
18First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$66,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $135,230170
19Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$64,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $139,380530
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $80,770920
21Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,900
Associate's degree
$52,540 – $79,78060
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,900 – $120,8102,430
23Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03090
24Paramedics$61,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $79,510370
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$61,770
Associate's degree
$35,690 – $76,590330
26Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $96,760150
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,320 – $86,31090
28Physical Therapist Assistants$60,760
Associate's degree
$23,080 – $83,820180
29Insurance Sales Agents$60,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,800 – $98,920760
30Computer Network Support Specialists$60,370
Associate's degree
$40,950 – $90,830110
31Drafters, All Other$60,270
Associate's degree
$44,220 – $107,340130
32Machinists$59,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $80,970980
33Electricians$59,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $79,490730
34Crane and Tower Operators$58,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,290 – $77,370100
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,620 – $108,620760
36First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$58,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $89,770130
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $74,790680
38Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $76,0301,860
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040440
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,150 – $81,010630
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,28090
42Industrial Machinery Mechanics$55,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $76,440750
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $75,900270
44Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$53,890
No formal educational credential
$34,130 – $72,80090
45Surgical Technologists$53,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,810 – $70,610220
46Extraction Workers, All Other$53,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,870 – $101,190390
47Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$52,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,050 – $111,160230
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$52,130
Associate's degree
$36,460 – $74,720470
49Sheet Metal Workers$52,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,760 – $89,250100
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$51,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,510 – $74,720450

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

#	Occupation	MedianLafayette, LA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$116,200	$63,620 – $173,040	270
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,990	$49,100 – $138,650	210
3	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,630	$60,310 – $109,770	240
4	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,780	$41,420 – $126,430	100
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,010	$63,340 – $96,640	120
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,900	$49,450 – $96,310	200
7	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,430	$46,780 – $162,850	210
8	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,580	$49,810 – $91,490	240
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,210	$61,460 – $87,070	290
10	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,830	$44,600 – $98,560	120
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,320	$50,910 – $101,120	60
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,980	$45,360 – $119,470	1,230
13	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,720	$64,630 – $76,990	110
14	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,720	$43,470 – $101,420	820
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,620	$42,630 – $111,940	830
16	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,250	$47,370 – $100,240	190
17	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$66,050	$38,860 – $91,830	120
18	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,010	$46,070 – $135,230	170
19	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,950	$34,780 – $139,380	530
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,930	$41,270 – $80,770	920
21	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,900	$52,540 – $79,780	60
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,800	$33,900 – $120,810	2,430
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	90
24	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,880	$43,900 – $79,510	370
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,770	$35,690 – $76,590	330
26	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$37,380 – $96,760	150
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$39,320 – $86,310	90
28	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,760	$23,080 – $83,820	180
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,490	$35,800 – $98,920	760
30	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$60,370	$40,950 – $90,830	110
31	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,270	$44,220 – $107,340	130
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,830	$39,470 – $80,970	980
33	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,820	$37,270 – $79,490	730
34	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,780	$44,290 – $77,370	100
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$35,620 – $108,620	760
36	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,070	$46,700 – $89,770	130
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,930	$35,880 – $74,790	680
38	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,750	$39,110 – $76,030	1,860
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	440
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,430	$37,150 – $81,010	630
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$47,440 – $75,280	90
42	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,290	$37,060 – $76,440	750
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,290	$38,230 – $75,900	270
44	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$53,890	$34,130 – $72,800	90
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,770	$38,810 – $70,610	220
46	Extraction Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,210	$38,870 – $101,190	390
47	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,570	$34,050 – $111,160	230
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$52,130	$36,460 – $74,720	470
49	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,090	$33,760 – $89,250	100
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,970	$34,510 – $74,720	450

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

High paying jobs in Lafayette, LA that need no degree

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