High paying jobs in Montana that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Montana 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 Montana run 5.4% below the national average (2024), so a Montana salary is worth about 1.06× 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 Montana.

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

Find high paying jobs in Montana

OccupationMedian, Montana · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$110,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,220 – $125,010680
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$108,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,300 – $146,570300
3Commercial Pilots$103,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,440 – $226,770330
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$101,000
Associate's degree
$80,750 – $121,260230
5Dental Hygienists$98,440
Associate's degree
$83,060 – $104,780860
6Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$98,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,760 – $108,160550
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$92,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,670 – $144,000500
8Locomotive Engineers$90,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,460 – $126,950470
9First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$89,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,050 – $128,540450
10Postmasters and Mail Superintendents$88,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,360 – $102,960170
11Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$82,850
Associate's degree
$40,690 – $106,640190
12First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$82,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,560 – $107,000320
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$81,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $125,3102,690
14Plant and System Operators, All Other$81,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,670 – $89,840170
15Respiratory Therapists$81,190
Associate's degree
$60,800 – $92,890390
16Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$79,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $100,8601,860
17Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$79,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,400 – $80,440200
18Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$79,140
Associate's degree
$50,920 – $97,650190
19Real Estate Sales Agents$79,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,010 – $194,630370
20Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$79,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,120 – $103,320190
21Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$77,750
No formal educational credential
$47,150 – $97,290310
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,070
Associate's degree
$55,750 – $91,650850
23First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,150 – $128,850660
24First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$76,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,960 – $103,1404,350
25Electricians$76,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $89,5102,750
26Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $94,680530
27Construction and Building Inspectors$75,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,840 – $100,850290
28First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$74,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,160 – $78,120240
29Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$73,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,450 – $92,410630
30Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$72,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,550 – $91,1201,330
31Food Service Managers$72,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,730 – $105,000950
32Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$71,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,110 – $104,280180
33Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$70,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,330 – $84,1502,160
34First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,820 – $108,8001,860
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $105,930820
36Lodging Managers$66,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $95,980670
37Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,750
Associate's degree
$48,810 – $84,480600
38Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$65,730
Associate's degree
$44,890 – $91,170210
39First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$64,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $84,460260
40Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,100 – $97,200310
41Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $101,3901,230
42Real Estate Brokers$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,730 – $123,780400
43Drafters, All Other$63,200
Associate's degree
$47,610 – $83,490280
44Tax Preparers$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,300 – $100,060360
45Transportation Inspectors$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $124,850180
46Physical Therapist Assistants$62,650
Associate's degree
$52,310 – $77,990250
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,240 – $91,5804,030
48Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,230 – $74,3301,620
49Insurance Sales Agents$62,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,260 – $120,4302,090
50Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,630 – $81,240400

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

#	Occupation	MedianMontana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,320	$73,220 – $125,010	680
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,180	$66,300 – $146,570	300
3	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,690	$73,440 – $226,770	330
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$101,000	$80,750 – $121,260	230
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,440	$83,060 – $104,780	860
6	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,310	$75,760 – $108,160	550
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,410	$58,670 – $144,000	500
8	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,220	$80,460 – $126,950	470
9	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,380	$68,050 – $128,540	450
10	Postmasters and Mail SuperintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,920	$51,360 – $102,960	170
11	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,850	$40,690 – $106,640	190
12	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,820	$64,560 – $107,000	320
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,440	$51,880 – $125,310	2,690
14	Plant and System Operators, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,340	$60,670 – $89,840	170
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,190	$60,800 – $92,890	390
16	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,960	$48,250 – $100,860	1,860
17	Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,170	$51,400 – $80,440	200
18	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$79,140	$50,920 – $97,650	190
19	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,100	$49,010 – $194,630	370
20	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,070	$51,120 – $103,320	190
21	Service Unit Operators, Oil and GasNo formal educational credential	$77,750	$47,150 – $97,290	310
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,070	$55,750 – $91,650	850
23	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,030	$50,150 – $128,850	660
24	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,910	$56,960 – $103,140	4,350
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,760	$49,130 – $89,510	2,750
26	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,720	$48,110 – $94,680	530
27	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,700	$49,840 – $100,850	290
28	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,630	$59,160 – $78,120	240
29	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,970	$50,450 – $92,410	630
30	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,560	$57,550 – $91,120	1,330
31	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,140	$50,730 – $105,000	950
32	Earth Drillers, Except Oil and GasHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,470	$60,110 – $104,280	180
33	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,050	$55,330 – $84,150	2,160
34	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,760	$45,820 – $108,800	1,860
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,250	$48,730 – $105,930	820
36	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,580	$44,690 – $95,980	670
37	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,750	$48,810 – $84,480	600
38	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,730	$44,890 – $91,170	210
39	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,990	$38,470 – $84,460	260
40	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,170	$47,100 – $97,200	310
41	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,860	$46,080 – $101,390	1,230
42	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$24,730 – $123,780	400
43	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,200	$47,610 – $83,490	280
44	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$44,300 – $100,060	360
45	Transportation InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$37,860 – $124,850	180
46	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,650	$52,310 – $77,990	250
47	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,550	$45,240 – $91,580	4,030
48	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,210	$49,230 – $74,330	1,620
49	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,040	$42,260 – $120,430	2,090
50	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$41,630 – $81,240	400

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

Metro areas in Montana

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

By field in Montana

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Montana that need no degree

More for Montana

Metro areas in Montana

By field in Montana

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree