High paying jobs in Minnesota that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Minnesota 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 Minnesota run 1.4% below the national average (2024), so a Minnesota salary is worth about 1.01× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Minnesota.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Minnesota

OccupationMedian, Minnesota · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$118,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,050 – $136,4302,870
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$118,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$71,610 – $200,4504,030
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$104,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,390 – $122,1102,190
4Dental Hygienists$103,970
Associate's degree
$82,110 – $120,2704,110
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,850
Associate's degree
$84,020 – $120,2201,710
6Respiratory Therapists$98,710
Associate's degree
$79,060 – $110,0501,250
7First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,360 – $128,38013,580
8Brickmasons and Blockmasons$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,420 – $100,9801,040
9Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $121,05010,720
10Power Plant Operators$94,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,540 – $125,900970
11Locomotive Engineers$93,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,780 – $93,830990
12Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$90,760
Associate's degree
$66,520 – $115,4801,040
13Construction and Building Inspectors$88,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,610 – $112,4201,390
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$88,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $137,3302,130
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$87,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,210 – $127,4109,110
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$83,400
Associate's degree
$67,080 – $106,1004,910
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,670 – $106,1609,160
18Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,100 – $133,0202,390
19Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$80,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,590 – $100,6101,240
20Surgical Technologists$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,820 – $98,4701,770
21Detectives and Criminal Investigators$80,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,710 – $115,2101,970
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,450 – $98,6902,890
23Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $101,9308,590
24First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$78,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,150 – $131,4501,120
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$61,860 – $95,6402,030
26Insurance Sales Agents$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $161,03010,010
27First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$78,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,660 – $104,08013,380
28Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$78,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,870 – $101,7607,970
29Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,110 – $106,2705,530
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,280
Associate's degree
$55,740 – $101,2501,540
31Electricians$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $118,82014,350
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,680 – $136,84031,230
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $106,10021,690
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$76,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $100,0304,200
35Paramedics$76,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,320 – $93,9101,690
36Computer Network Support Specialists$76,000
Associate's degree
$52,940 – $104,9702,930
37Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$75,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,620 – $98,6101,440
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$75,570
Associate's degree
$47,730 – $102,9207,400
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,810 – $146,20019,220
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,040 – $89,6301,900
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,130 – $87,2502,290
42Roofers$74,490
No formal educational credential
$46,020 – $99,1701,890
43Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$74,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,200 – $89,9701,250
44Medical Equipment Repairers$73,940
Associate's degree
$42,610 – $103,2402,080
45Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$73,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $96,0201,130
46Surveying and Mapping Technicians$73,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,560 – $95,0501,060
47Mechanical Drafters$73,090
Associate's degree
$52,380 – $100,0801,220
48Sheet Metal Workers$72,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,520 – $116,9902,980
49Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $97,6006,510
50Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$71,520
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $106,650950

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

#	Occupation	MedianMinnesota	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,750	$79,050 – $136,430	2,870
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$118,180	$71,610 – $200,450	4,030
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,180	$78,390 – $122,110	2,190
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$103,970	$82,110 – $120,270	4,110
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,850	$84,020 – $120,220	1,710
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,710	$79,060 – $110,050	1,250
7	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,610	$59,360 – $128,380	13,580
8	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$65,420 – $100,980	1,040
9	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,410	$48,720 – $121,050	10,720
10	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,390	$72,540 – $125,900	970
11	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,700	$79,780 – $93,830	990
12	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$90,760	$66,520 – $115,480	1,040
13	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,670	$61,610 – $112,420	1,390
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,510	$49,810 – $137,330	2,130
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,160	$57,210 – $127,410	9,110
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,400	$67,080 – $106,100	4,910
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,360	$60,670 – $106,160	9,160
18	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,980	$52,100 – $133,020	2,390
19	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,220	$60,590 – $100,610	1,240
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$62,820 – $98,470	1,770
21	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,000	$59,710 – $115,210	1,970
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,370	$54,450 – $98,690	2,890
23	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,130	$55,960 – $101,930	8,590
24	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,800	$49,150 – $131,450	1,120
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$61,860 – $95,640	2,030
26	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$49,350 – $161,030	10,010
27	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,550	$56,660 – $104,080	13,380
28	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,470	$58,870 – $101,760	7,970
29	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,350	$58,110 – $106,270	5,530
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,280	$55,740 – $101,250	1,540
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$47,480 – $118,820	14,350
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,750	$46,680 – $136,840	31,230
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,440	$49,920 – $106,100	21,690
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,350	$48,220 – $100,030	4,200
35	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,300	$60,320 – $93,910	1,690
36	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,000	$52,940 – $104,970	2,930
37	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,850	$61,620 – $98,610	1,440
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,570	$47,730 – $102,920	7,400
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$40,810 – $146,200	19,220
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,150	$45,040 – $89,630	1,900
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$52,130 – $87,250	2,290
42	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$74,490	$46,020 – $99,170	1,890
43	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,190	$51,200 – $89,970	1,250
44	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$73,940	$42,610 – $103,240	2,080
45	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,710	$49,580 – $96,020	1,130
46	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,190	$51,560 – $95,050	1,060
47	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$73,090	$52,380 – $100,080	1,220
48	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,970	$47,520 – $116,990	2,980
49	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,960	$52,040 – $97,600	6,510
50	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,520	$48,970 – $106,650	950

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

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Minnesota that need no degree

More for Minnesota

Metro areas in Minnesota

By field in Minnesota

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree