High paying jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN run 6.9% below the national average (2024), so a Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

OccupationMedian, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$193,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$91,070 – $355,390430
2Maintenance Workers, Machinery$157,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,800 – $157,960970
3Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$130,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,220 – $212,820800
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,030 – $166,5401,050
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,700
Associate's degree
$71,530 – $123,160370
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$95,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,260 – $127,940480
7Dental Hygienists$81,390
Associate's degree
$63,870 – $99,250780
8First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,730 – $100,9803,240
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,750 – $126,0403,210
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $140,020760
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $106,120650
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,860
Associate's degree
$57,970 – $103,6301,200
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$76,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,610 – $158,690470
14Respiratory Therapists$76,560
Associate's degree
$62,100 – $92,510840
15Millwrights$76,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $88,650490
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,740 – $92,360790
17Tool and Die Makers$75,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,330 – $85,900610
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $105,8104,180
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $94,9202,780
20Computer Network Support Specialists$73,160
Associate's degree
$49,260 – $126,400660
21Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$73,060
Associate's degree
$40,040 – $121,590290
22Mechanical Drafters$73,030
Associate's degree
$47,520 – $99,380230
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,510 – $100,4001,910
24Food Service Managers$72,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,760 – $100,010710
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $136,1205,860
26Structural Iron and Steel Workers$69,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,400 – $88,050310
27Massage Therapists$68,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,080 – $95,290380
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$67,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $102,1406,470
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,340 – $74,2702,850
30Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030240
31Construction and Building Inspectors$63,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $100,250380
32Surgical Technologists$63,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,310 – $90,550540
33Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$63,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,410 – $91,380920
34Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,600 – $95,410890
35Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$63,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,980 – $77,9702,270
36Medical Equipment Repairers$62,990
Associate's degree
$35,310 – $79,330440
37Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,900
Associate's degree
$42,380 – $86,190280
38Sailors and Marine Oilers$62,650
No formal educational credential
$34,470 – $102,210560
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $85,6503,170
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $85,290740
41Electricians$62,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $85,2604,340
42Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $90,3101,920
43Physical Therapist Assistants$61,830
Associate's degree
$28,790 – $80,600750
44Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,720 – $94,190560
45Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,090 – $75,940490
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $82,3701,480
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,270
Associate's degree
$38,890 – $81,0001,460
48Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$61,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,200 – $87,940240
49Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $61,5901,130
50Brickmasons and Blockmasons$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,610 – $77,960280

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

#	Occupation	MedianLouisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$193,940	$91,070 – $355,390	430
2	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$157,260	$54,800 – $157,960	970
3	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$130,380	$59,220 – $212,820	800
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,040	$59,030 – $166,540	1,050
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,700	$71,530 – $123,160	370
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,610	$74,260 – $127,940	480
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,390	$63,870 – $99,250	780
8	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,190	$54,730 – $100,980	3,240
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$49,750 – $126,040	3,210
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,940	$49,160 – $140,020	760
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$47,510 – $106,120	650
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,860	$57,970 – $103,630	1,200
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,800	$37,610 – $158,690	470
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,560	$62,100 – $92,510	840
15	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,300	$48,690 – $88,650	490
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,610	$48,740 – $92,360	790
17	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,250	$47,330 – $85,900	610
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,010	$48,200 – $105,810	4,180
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,680	$48,250 – $94,920	2,780
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,160	$49,260 – $126,400	660
21	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,060	$40,040 – $121,590	290
22	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$73,030	$47,520 – $99,380	230
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,510	$54,510 – $100,400	1,910
24	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,500	$43,760 – $100,010	710
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,800	$37,700 – $136,120	5,860
26	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,280	$51,400 – $88,050	310
27	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,230	$46,080 – $95,290	380
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,450	$44,830 – $102,140	6,470
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,460	$53,340 – $74,270	2,850
30	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	240
31	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,600	$37,140 – $100,250	380
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,590	$49,310 – $90,550	540
33	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,490	$44,410 – $91,380	920
34	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$46,600 – $95,410	890
35	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,220	$46,980 – $77,970	2,270
36	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$62,990	$35,310 – $79,330	440
37	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,900	$42,380 – $86,190	280
38	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$62,650	$34,470 – $102,210	560
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$47,730 – $85,650	3,170
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,450	$47,000 – $85,290	740
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,440	$37,700 – $85,260	4,340
42	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,890	$48,150 – $90,310	1,920
43	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,830	$28,790 – $80,600	750
44	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,620	$41,720 – $94,190	560
45	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,570	$47,090 – $75,940	490
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,310	$43,680 – $82,370	1,480
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,270	$38,890 – $81,000	1,460
48	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,140	$40,200 – $87,940	240
49	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$47,420 – $61,590	1,130
50	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$38,610 – $77,960	280

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN. 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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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN that need no degree

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