High paying jobs in Missoula, MT that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Missoula, MT 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 Missoula, MT run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Missoula, MT salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Missoula, MT

OccupationMedian, Missoula, MT · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$113,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,940 – $144,89050
2First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$107,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$88,210 – $107,00050
3Commercial Pilots$104,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$85,540 – $174,11040
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$99,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,420 – $158,06040
5Dental Hygienists$98,050
Associate's degree
$80,650 – $102,740130
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$83,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,760 – $101,03040
7Respiratory Therapists$82,580
Associate's degree
$63,810 – $86,73070
8Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$79,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $98,390290
9Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,730 – $98,220110
10Electricians$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $81,150280
11First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$79,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $127,040100
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,240 – $140,75030
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,860 – $96,410170
14Firefighters$76,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,120 – $82,270130
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,070 – $107,100230
16Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,880 – $83,61070
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$74,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,760 – $96,040490
18Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,740
Associate's degree
$58,270 – $94,840120
19Drafters, All Other$72,520
Associate's degree
$43,420 – $83,41030
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,360 – $92,820140
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,760
Associate's degree
$50,650 – $83,95070
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$66,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $81,42060
23Food Service Managers$66,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,780 – $106,780140
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040100
25Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $79,210310
26Surgical Technologists$64,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,410 – $92,34070
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,980 – $75,180170
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,310 – $93,000490
29Cargo and Freight Agents$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,540 – $75,99060
30Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$62,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,300 – $98,260210
31Roofers$62,310
No formal educational credential
$42,870 – $69,90060
32Lodging Managers$62,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $85,32080
33Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,550
No formal educational credential
$48,790 – $72,370100
34Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,530
Associate's degree
$48,530 – $77,34060
35First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$61,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $85,000190
36Sheet Metal Workers$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $84,220120
37Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $75,620140
38Highway Maintenance Workers$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,510 – $74,840110
39Insurance Sales Agents$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $107,190230
40Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $73,32060
41Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $102,770450
42First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $86,520240
43Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $75,99040
44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,500 – $75,860180
45Machinists$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,950 – $75,42050
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $121,540260
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,880 – $77,560350
48Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,03070
49Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,360 – $84,83060
50Forest and Conservation Technicians$58,990
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $80,330330

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

#	Occupation	MedianMissoula, MT	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$113,990	$73,940 – $144,890	50
2	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$107,000	$88,210 – $107,000	50
3	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,260	$85,540 – $174,110	40
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,560	$62,420 – $158,060	40
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,050	$80,650 – $102,740	130
6	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,230	$51,760 – $101,030	40
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,580	$63,810 – $86,730	70
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,750	$48,150 – $98,390	290
9	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$62,730 – $98,220	110
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$49,240 – $81,150	280
11	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,130	$49,450 – $127,040	100
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,790	$51,240 – $140,750	30
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,610	$59,860 – $96,410	170
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,620	$45,120 – $82,270	130
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,010	$50,070 – $107,100	230
16	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,860	$47,880 – $83,610	70
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,620	$53,760 – $96,040	490
18	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,740	$58,270 – $94,840	120
19	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$72,520	$43,420 – $83,410	30
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,610	$55,360 – $92,820	140
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,760	$50,650 – $83,950	70
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,550	$49,320 – $81,420	60
23	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,300	$51,780 – $106,780	140
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$43,120 – $81,040	100
25	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,050	$47,040 – $79,210	310
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,030	$36,410 – $92,340	70
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,130	$50,980 – $75,180	170
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,090	$46,310 – $93,000	490
29	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$46,540 – $75,990	60
30	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,850	$46,300 – $98,260	210
31	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$62,310	$42,870 – $69,900	60
32	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,190	$45,390 – $85,320	80
33	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,550	$48,790 – $72,370	100
34	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,530	$48,530 – $77,340	60
35	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,460	$42,940 – $85,000	190
36	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$45,130 – $84,220	120
37	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$45,970 – $75,620	140
38	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$60,510 – $74,840	110
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$45,160 – $107,190	230
40	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$45,640 – $73,320	60
41	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,000	$37,860 – $102,770	450
42	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$43,970 – $86,520	240
43	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$44,780 – $75,990	40
44	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,240	$44,500 – $75,860	180
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$41,950 – $75,420	50
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$36,680 – $121,540	260
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,650	$40,880 – $77,560	350
48	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,030	70
49	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,290	$49,360 – $84,830	60
50	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,990	$43,660 – $80,330	330

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

Other metro areas in MT

By field in Missoula, MT

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Missoula, MT that need no degree

More for Missoula, MT

Other metro areas in MT

By field in Missoula, MT

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree