High paying jobs in Mississippi that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Mississippi 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 Mississippi run 13.0% below the national average (2024), so a Mississippi salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Mississippi.

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

Find high paying jobs in Mississippi

OccupationMedian, Mississippi · Employed

1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$104,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,030 – $186,020570
2Power Plant Operators$102,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,770 – $125,690450
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$85,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,780 – $154,4702,410
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,180
Associate's degree
$49,130 – $113,450650
5Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$78,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,030 – $137,590440
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,520
Associate's degree
$59,660 – $92,340700
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$75,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,620 – $98,2002,290
8Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$75,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,190 – $98,100860
9Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,650 – $88,3401,360
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$71,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,200 – $99,180500
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$70,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,850 – $108,3706,930
12First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $107,0608,230
13First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$68,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,370 – $112,5601,860
14Dental Hygienists$67,280
Associate's degree
$58,810 – $83,3201,140
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$66,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $103,7507,040
16Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$64,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,240 – $85,520990
17Computer Network Support Specialists$63,410
Associate's degree
$37,320 – $97,5301,240
18Respiratory Therapists$63,270
Associate's degree
$50,180 – $80,4601,670
19Physical Therapist Assistants$61,770
Associate's degree
$51,720 – $78,8301,150
20Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,650
Associate's degree
$51,920 – $78,320420
21Crane and Tower Operators$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $73,840550
22Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,330 – $91,6101,500
23Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030790
24First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,320 – $95,440440
25Electricians$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,200 – $76,5406,610
26First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $86,9602,060
27Food Service Managers$59,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $89,7001,920
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $110,0807,000
29Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$59,300
Associate's degree
$40,740 – $78,0902,510
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $90,7404,950
31Detectives and Criminal Investigators$58,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,260 – $136,120810
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $90,21013,680
33Millwrights$58,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,250 – $71,5601,280
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $76,8301,690
35First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$58,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $76,3101,030
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,880 – $86,9304,460
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,470
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0403,290
38Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$55,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,810 – $82,3801,240
39Machinists$55,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,570 – $76,6701,920
40Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$55,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $75,4703,360
41Chefs and Head Cooks$54,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,900 – $83,850840
42Paramedics$54,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,690 – $71,7101,150
43Chemical Technicians$54,580
Associate's degree
$36,150 – $81,690480
44Maintenance Workers, Machinery$54,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $72,820450
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $82,0203,140
46Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$53,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,210 – $104,0101,300
47Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $73,7902,010
48Tire Builders$53,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,480 – $55,380710
49Computer User Support Specialists$52,230
Some college, no degree
$35,220 – $82,4903,830
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,710 – $79,55024,160

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

#	Occupation	MedianMississippi	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,220	$47,030 – $186,020	570
2	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,400	$65,770 – $125,690	450
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,770	$51,780 – $154,470	2,410
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,180	$49,130 – $113,450	650
5	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,010	$49,030 – $137,590	440
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,520	$59,660 – $92,340	700
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,890	$45,620 – $98,200	2,290
8	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,180	$66,190 – $98,100	860
9	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$47,650 – $88,340	1,360
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,700	$42,200 – $99,180	500
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,900	$40,850 – $108,370	6,930
12	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,720	$44,990 – $107,060	8,230
13	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,180	$43,370 – $112,560	1,860
14	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$67,280	$58,810 – $83,320	1,140
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,910	$45,930 – $103,750	7,040
16	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,360	$26,240 – $85,520	990
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,410	$37,320 – $97,530	1,240
18	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$63,270	$50,180 – $80,460	1,670
19	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,770	$51,720 – $78,830	1,150
20	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,650	$51,920 – $78,320	420
21	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$34,690 – $73,840	550
22	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,250	$38,330 – $91,610	1,500
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	790
24	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$40,320 – $95,440	440
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$38,200 – $76,540	6,610
26	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$45,590 – $86,960	2,060
27	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,540	$36,400 – $89,700	1,920
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,320	$30,930 – $110,080	7,000
29	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,300	$40,740 – $78,090	2,510
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,290	$39,030 – $90,740	4,950
31	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,640	$41,260 – $136,120	810
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,380	$38,030 – $90,210	13,680
33	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,280	$41,250 – $71,560	1,280
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,180	$39,520 – $76,830	1,690
35	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,010	$39,890 – $76,310	1,030
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,760	$38,880 – $86,930	4,460
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,470	$42,390 – $81,040	3,290
38	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,670	$37,810 – $82,380	1,240
39	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,550	$34,570 – $76,670	1,920
40	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,480	$35,830 – $75,470	3,360
41	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,850	$30,900 – $83,850	840
42	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,630	$39,690 – $71,710	1,150
43	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,580	$36,150 – $81,690	480
44	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,380	$36,120 – $72,820	450
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,360	$37,390 – $82,020	3,140
46	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,620	$29,210 – $104,010	1,300
47	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$36,190 – $73,790	2,010
48	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,050	$44,480 – $55,380	710
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,230	$35,220 – $82,490	3,830
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,820	$35,710 – $79,550	24,160

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

Metro areas in Mississippi

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

By field in Mississippi

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Mississippi that need no degree

More for Mississippi

Metro areas in Mississippi

By field in Mississippi

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree