High paying jobs in Mankato, MN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Mankato, MN 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 Mankato, MN run 9.0% below the national average (2024), so a Mankato, MN salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Mankato, MN

OccupationMedian, Mankato, MN · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$122,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,350 – $170,63050
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$107,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$88,300 – $124,55030
3Dental Hygienists$100,260
Associate's degree
$78,810 – $103,89080
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,960 – $115,85040
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,660 – $106,160150
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$83,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,350 – $119,290260
7Electricians$83,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,140 – $100,770260
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,020 – $121,880190
9Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$81,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,200 – $94,86070
10Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$64,100 – $95,64050
11Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$78,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,090 – $81,86040
12Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,010 – $91,730150
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,630 – $97,940330
14Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,900 – $100,270120
15Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,250 – $98,18080
16Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$74,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $114,890130
17Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,150
Associate's degree
$47,170 – $86,61090
18Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$72,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,680 – $87,53060
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,770
Associate's degree
$48,820 – $79,86040
20First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,540 – $97,550360
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,050 – $90,13040
22Computer Network Support Specialists$71,140
Associate's degree
$51,170 – $94,01050
23First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$70,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,040 – $114,83040
24Public Safety Telecommunicators$70,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,940 – $73,88030
25Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$69,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,030 – $79,61060
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$69,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,380 – $125,300530
27Mechanical Drafters$67,250
Associate's degree
$49,130 – $76,82050
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,030 – $81,39090
29Insurance Sales Agents$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $107,110120
30Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $78,510130
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,510 – $77,940360
32First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,830 – $92,08050
33Highway Maintenance Workers$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,280 – $70,68080
34First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $92,560170
35Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$62,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,240 – $77,66060
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $88,470180
37Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,590
No formal educational credential
$47,510 – $74,77040
38Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,440
No formal educational credential
$49,100 – $62,63070
39Carpenters$61,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $78,220230
40Computer User Support Specialists$61,150
Some college, no degree
$44,760 – $89,470170
41Machinists$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,370 – $79,080160
42Dental Assistants$61,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,120 – $72,330120
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,360 – $109,270220
44Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,03040
45Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,640 – $93,650740
46Advertising Sales Agents$60,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,670 – $129,86030
47Chefs and Head Cooks$60,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $80,43030
48Sheet Metal Workers$59,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,720 – $106,87050
49Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,490
Associate's degree
$46,550 – $82,330100
50Construction Laborers$59,350
No formal educational credential
$43,930 – $78,580340

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

#	Occupation	MedianMankato, MN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,830	$67,350 – $170,630	50
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,310	$88,300 – $124,550	30
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,260	$78,810 – $103,890	80
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,170	$79,960 – $115,850	40
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,670	$43,660 – $106,160	150
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,430	$60,350 – $119,290	260
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,120	$50,140 – $100,770	260
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,570	$54,020 – $121,880	190
9	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,990	$56,200 – $94,860	70
10	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$64,100 – $95,640	50
11	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,610	$58,090 – $81,860	40
12	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,560	$51,010 – $91,730	150
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,270	$56,630 – $97,940	330
14	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,670	$47,900 – $100,270	120
15	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,880	$56,250 – $98,180	80
16	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,450	$48,870 – $114,890	130
17	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,150	$47,170 – $86,610	90
18	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,100	$43,680 – $87,530	60
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,770	$48,820 – $79,860	40
20	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,310	$49,540 – $97,550	360
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$56,050 – $90,130	40
22	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$71,140	$51,170 – $94,010	50
23	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,580	$51,040 – $114,830	40
24	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,190	$59,940 – $73,880	30
25	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,830	$49,030 – $79,610	60
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,100	$43,380 – $125,300	530
27	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$67,250	$49,130 – $76,820	50
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,830	$53,030 – $81,390	90
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$48,530 – $107,110	120
30	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$45,750 – $78,510	130
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,400	$53,510 – $77,940	360
32	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$43,830 – $92,080	50
33	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$37,280 – $70,680	80
34	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,450	$48,460 – $92,560	170
35	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,770	$52,240 – $77,660	60
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,170	$48,220 – $88,470	180
37	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,590	$47,510 – $74,770	40
38	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,440	$49,100 – $62,630	70
39	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,150	$45,900 – $78,220	230
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,150	$44,760 – $89,470	170
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$46,370 – $79,080	160
42	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,010	$47,120 – $72,330	120
43	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,850	$37,360 – $109,270	220
44	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$47,440 – $75,030	40
45	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,070	$45,640 – $93,650	740
46	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,050	$30,670 – $129,860	30
47	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,050	$46,810 – $80,430	30
48	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,840	$46,720 – $106,870	50
49	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,490	$46,550 – $82,330	100
50	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$59,350	$43,930 – $78,580	340

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

High paying jobs in Mankato, MN that need no degree

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