High paying jobs in Manhattan, KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, KS run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, KS

OccupationMedian, Manhattan, KS · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $120,38050
2Power Plant Operators$98,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,920 – $116,95070
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$81,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $122,610110
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,750
Associate's degree
$58,710 – $92,80060
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $104,150380
6Architectural and Civil Drafters$77,810
Associate's degree
$49,220 – $89,55040
7Sheet Metal Workers$76,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $98,31040
8First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$75,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,660 – $119,31050
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,150 – $123,650260
10First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $97,280190
11Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$71,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $98,010100
12Food Service Managers$70,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $99,000100
13Construction and Building Inspectors$66,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,830 – $93,64050
14Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$66,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $77,36090
15Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,440
Associate's degree
$49,090 – $103,38040
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $78,52080
17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$64,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,600 – $123,77030
18Postal Service Clerks$63,920
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $71,40030
19Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,440
Associate's degree
$41,270 – $78,52080
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $130,550220
21Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $76,960180
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $105,670370
23Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,380
Associate's degree
$47,020 – $70,47030
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,910 – $90,000350
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,280 – $77,690230
26Electricians$61,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $78,940170
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,590 – $98,330200
28Physical Therapist Assistants$60,210
Associate's degree
$52,540 – $80,87050
29Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,850 – $79,37040
30Automotive Body and Related Repairers$59,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,120 – $109,70050
31Insurance Sales Agents$58,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $142,650140
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $82,860360
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,670 – $82,040150
34First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $85,880170
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
36Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,030
No formal educational credential
$46,450 – $79,140130
37Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $65,17070
38Procurement Clerks$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $61,61030
39First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$56,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,300 – $81,95060
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $72,71070
41Firefighters$53,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,290 – $66,390120
42Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$53,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,950 – $64,94060
43Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $83,670100
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,740 – $76,310280
45Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$51,820
Associate's degree
$39,120 – $59,95090
46Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,420 – $65,440480
47Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,430 – $73,03040
48Machinists$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $67,100100
49Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,180 – $62,69040
50Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$51,610
Associate's degree
$40,570 – $67,300200

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

#	Occupation	MedianManhattan, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,540	$45,600 – $120,380	50
2	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,840	$54,920 – $116,950	70
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,330	$58,530 – $122,610	110
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,750	$58,710 – $92,800	60
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,660	$55,690 – $104,150	380
6	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,810	$49,220 – $89,550	40
7	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,750	$37,680 – $98,310	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,360	$62,660 – $119,310	50
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,230	$49,150 – $123,650	260
10	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,300	$44,710 – $97,280	190
11	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,330	$48,870 – $98,010	100
12	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,860	$49,720 – $99,000	100
13	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,660	$48,830 – $93,640	50
14	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,600	$47,740 – $77,360	90
15	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,440	$49,090 – $103,380	40
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,170	$44,550 – $78,520	80
17	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,930	$44,600 – $123,770	30
18	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,920	$42,600 – $71,400	30
19	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,440	$41,270 – $78,520	80
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$37,230 – $130,550	220
21	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,910	$46,460 – $76,960	180
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$36,720 – $105,670	370
23	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,380	$47,020 – $70,470	30
24	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,530	$43,910 – $90,000	350
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,430	$49,280 – $77,690	230
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,170	$38,100 – $78,940	170
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$43,590 – $98,330	200
28	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,210	$52,540 – $80,870	50
29	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,320	$44,850 – $79,370	40
30	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,260	$43,120 – $109,700	50
31	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,750	$38,540 – $142,650	140
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,080	$41,870 – $82,860	360
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,000	$40,670 – $82,040	150
34	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$38,220 – $85,880	170
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	130
36	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,030	$46,450 – $79,140	130
37	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$48,690 – $65,170	70
38	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$49,440 – $61,610	30
39	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,300	$42,300 – $81,950	60
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,010	$40,370 – $72,710	70
41	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,290	$35,290 – $66,390	120
42	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,290	$44,950 – $64,940	60
43	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,570	$34,780 – $83,670	100
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$42,740 – $76,310	280
45	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$51,820	$39,120 – $59,950	90
46	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,750	$39,420 – $65,440	480
47	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,640	$42,430 – $73,030	40
48	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$35,360 – $67,100	100
49	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$43,180 – $62,690	40
50	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,610	$40,570 – $67,300	200

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

High paying jobs in Manhattan, KS that need no degree

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