High paying jobs in Lawrence, KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Lawrence, 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 Lawrence, KS run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Lawrence, KS salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Lawrence, KS

OccupationMedian, Lawrence, KS · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$128,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$85,560 – $157,32050
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$110,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,490 – $119,53030
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$102,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,410 – $159,840100
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$93,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,240 – $99,01030
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$90,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,380 – $137,51030
6First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,480 – $96,930250
7First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,730 – $102,760200
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $123,510160
9Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$78,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $143,140360
10Construction and Building Inspectors$76,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,380 – $94,83030
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $128,200320
12Postal Service Mail Carriers$70,530
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $89,190100
13Food Service Managers$70,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $104,01090
14Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$67,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,210 – $89,990140
15First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $94,430360
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,000 – $93,860160
17Maintenance Workers, Machinery$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,840 – $74,93060
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,180 – $86,960200
19Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,020
Associate's degree
$36,450 – $91,71070
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,300 – $77,230150
21Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $109,820110
22First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$61,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,630 – $85,98040
23Electricians$61,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $76,910140
24Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $74,12080
25Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,970 – $80,57080
26Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,380
Associate's degree
$44,570 – $82,58030
27Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$60,230
No formal educational credential
$42,920 – $83,640100
28Insurance Sales Agents$60,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $137,290130
29Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $92,860120
30Carpenters$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,180 – $95,450280
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,230 – $82,570130
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,840 – $106,610130
33Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,240 – $75,290420
34Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $66,350170
35First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $80,340130
36Loan Interviewers and Clerks$57,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $73,22070
37Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $77,53030
38Computer User Support Specialists$56,760
Some college, no degree
$44,480 – $74,340270
39Highway Maintenance Workers$53,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $75,19040
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$52,530
Associate's degree
$37,720 – $62,890110
41Firefighters$51,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,110 – $70,70070
42Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $75,48030
43Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$50,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $73,41050
44First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$50,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $75,71070
45Machinists$50,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $63,56060
46Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$50,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,990 – $64,420210
47First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$50,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $85,37040
48Computer Network Support Specialists$49,570
Associate's degree
$45,340 – $75,98030
49Library Technicians$49,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,260 – $65,01050
50Massage Therapists$48,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,030 – $65,10040

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

#	Occupation	MedianLawrence, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$128,760	$85,560 – $157,320	50
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,180	$64,490 – $119,530	30
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,210	$67,410 – $159,840	100
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,020	$45,240 – $99,010	30
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,170	$49,380 – $137,510	30
6	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,800	$48,480 – $96,930	250
7	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,920	$58,730 – $102,760	200
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$50,000 – $123,510	160
9	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,410	$37,750 – $143,140	360
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,080	$58,380 – $94,830	30
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,560	$44,990 – $128,200	320
12	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$70,530	$42,390 – $89,190	100
13	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,290	$45,390 – $104,010	90
14	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,090	$49,210 – $89,990	140
15	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,470	$48,130 – $94,430	360
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,010	$55,000 – $93,860	160
17	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$52,840 – $74,930	60
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$53,180 – $86,960	200
19	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,020	$36,450 – $91,710	70
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$52,300 – $77,230	150
21	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$44,880 – $109,820	110
22	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,080	$44,630 – $85,980	40
23	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,070	$37,140 – $76,910	140
24	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,530	$45,470 – $74,120	80
25	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,380	$47,970 – $80,570	80
26	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,380	$44,570 – $82,580	30
27	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$60,230	$42,920 – $83,640	100
28	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,120	$38,540 – $137,290	130
29	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,080	$41,870 – $92,860	120
30	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$47,180 – $95,450	280
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,390	$48,230 – $82,570	130
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$36,840 – $106,610	130
33	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,050	$40,240 – $75,290	420
34	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$37,360 – $66,350	170
35	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,200	$39,520 – $80,340	130
36	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,890	$45,560 – $73,220	70
37	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,590	$47,020 – $77,530	30
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$56,760	$44,480 – $74,340	270
39	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,880	$45,100 – $75,190	40
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$52,530	$37,720 – $62,890	110
41	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,930	$34,110 – $70,700	70
42	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,280	$44,990 – $75,480	30
43	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,650	$47,750 – $73,410	50
44	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,610	$38,230 – $75,710	70
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,460	$38,230 – $63,560	60
46	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,430	$38,990 – $64,420	210
47	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,310	$37,140 – $85,370	40
48	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$49,570	$45,340 – $75,980	30
49	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,400	$43,260 – $65,010	50
50	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,880	$38,030 – $65,100	40

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

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

High paying jobs in Lawrence, KS that need no degree

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