High paying jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a Memphis, TN-MS-AR salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR

OccupationMedian, Memphis, TN-MS-AR · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$122,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,900 – $206,830200
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,680 – $179,9401,570
3Private Detectives and Investigators$99,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $101,030310
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,700 – $116,770340
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$92,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $169,7402,140
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,930
Associate's degree
$66,290 – $100,880390
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$82,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,690 – $84,010530
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $141,180900
9Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$80,790
Associate's degree
$67,630 – $97,460270
10First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$79,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,790 – $105,690940
11Detectives and Criminal Investigators$78,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,900 – $149,280280
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $106,330450
13Dental Hygienists$78,580
Associate's degree
$72,150 – $119,720650
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $119,3002,600
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,500 – $109,2802,500
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,850
Associate's degree
$34,040 – $94,930240
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $79,4803,630
18First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $105,8608,710
19Computer Network Support Specialists$70,720
Associate's degree
$46,930 – $115,630310
20First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$67,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $75,820270
21Paramedics$66,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $77,880810
22Respiratory Therapists$66,460
Associate's degree
$56,430 – $88,060670
23Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,320
Associate's degree
$54,100 – $94,000890
24Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,320
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $97,520220
25Chefs and Head Cooks$66,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $98,080540
26First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,550 – $109,3802,910
27Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,090
Associate's degree
$45,680 – $82,590210
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,420 – $82,9401,690
29Food Service Managers$64,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $103,990760
30Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,500220
31Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,570 – $97,790340
32Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,250 – $93,270870
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,320 – $94,710440
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $96,15019,460
35Firefighters$62,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,290 – $70,4601,660
36Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $79,840460
37Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030220
38First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $98,1405,470
39Physical Therapist Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$47,270 – $80,270490
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,070 – $124,7904,290
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $96,1101,240
42Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $112,370810
43Surgical Technologists$61,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,390 – $77,630630
44Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,070
Associate's degree
$46,110 – $99,380300
45Electricians$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $84,8902,770
46Sheet Metal Workers$60,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,580 – $81,850310
47Construction and Building Inspectors$59,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,870 – $89,420570
48Computer User Support Specialists$59,460
Some college, no degree
$40,930 – $82,8001,770
49Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$59,330
Associate's degree
$48,530 – $118,640210
50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $80,410690

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

#	Occupation	MedianMemphis, TN-MS-AR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$122,420	$55,900 – $206,830	200
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,170	$62,680 – $179,940	1,570
3	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,680	$37,450 – $101,030	310
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,150	$61,700 – $116,770	340
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,180	$52,900 – $169,740	2,140
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,930	$66,290 – $100,880	390
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,320	$47,690 – $84,010	530
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,120	$47,960 – $141,180	900
9	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$80,790	$67,630 – $97,460	270
10	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,050	$56,790 – $105,690	940
11	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,920	$51,900 – $149,280	280
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$49,450 – $106,330	450
13	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,580	$72,150 – $119,720	650
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,780	$47,050 – $119,300	2,600
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,850	$49,500 – $109,280	2,500
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,850	$34,040 – $94,930	240
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$47,060 – $79,480	3,630
18	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,310	$44,560 – $105,860	8,710
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$70,720	$46,930 – $115,630	310
20	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,120	$46,500 – $75,820	270
21	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,830	$47,320 – $77,880	810
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,460	$56,430 – $88,060	670
23	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,320	$54,100 – $94,000	890
24	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,320	$39,410 – $97,520	220
25	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,230	$42,630 – $98,080	540
26	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,990	$42,550 – $109,380	2,910
27	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,090	$45,680 – $82,590	210
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$45,420 – $82,940	1,690
29	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,510	$47,880 – $103,990	760
30	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,470	$50,340 – $78,500	220
31	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$41,570 – $97,790	340
32	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$49,250 – $93,270	870
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,160	$39,320 – $94,710	440
34	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$44,200 – $96,150	19,460
35	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,910	$36,290 – $70,460	1,660
36	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$48,420 – $79,840	460
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	220
38	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$47,000 – $98,140	5,470
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$47,270 – $80,270	490
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$34,070 – $124,790	4,290
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$46,070 – $96,110	1,240
42	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$39,030 – $112,370	810
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,150	$49,390 – $77,630	630
44	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,070	$46,110 – $99,380	300
45	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$38,670 – $84,890	2,770
46	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,780	$39,580 – $81,850	310
47	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,750	$42,870 – $89,420	570
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,460	$40,930 – $82,800	1,770
49	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$59,330	$48,530 – $118,640	210
50	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$38,920 – $80,410	690

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR that need no degree

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