High paying jobs in Nebraska that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Nebraska 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 Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average (2024), so a Nebraska salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Nebraska.

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

Find high paying jobs in Nebraska

OccupationMedian, Nebraska · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,920 – $143,290730
2Power Plant Operators$98,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,850 – $125,570360
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,320 – $147,1101,420
4Dental Hygienists$92,580
Associate's degree
$67,600 – $98,0801,280
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,930 – $118,0401,490
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$88,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,020 – $103,980440
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$82,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,700 – $153,7901,870
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,670
Associate's degree
$64,590 – $105,320780
9Respiratory Therapists$81,590
Associate's degree
$64,100 – $96,180840
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$80,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,390 – $101,760370
11First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$80,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,930 – $105,020340
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,120 – $112,6604,610
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,170 – $102,2503,160
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $105,2106,020
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,680 – $95,2103,490
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,860
Associate's degree
$54,410 – $98,3001,670
17First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $100,7706,040
18Tool and Die Makers$69,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,680 – $83,140360
19Lodging Managers$67,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $96,250330
20Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,590
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $99,750370
21Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,570 – $94,6901,860
22Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,490
Associate's degree
$48,000 – $93,540710
23Structural Iron and Steel Workers$65,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $79,040610
24Computer Network Support Specialists$65,450
Associate's degree
$44,490 – $108,8701,490
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,290 – $97,0301,490
26Construction and Building Inspectors$65,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $90,880570
27Sheet Metal Workers$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,140 – $94,980440
28Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,030 – $90,650410
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $83,3202,880
30Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $118,5608,550
31Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,440 – $98,020410
32Surgical Technologists$63,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,870 – $79,350770
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $78,2703,250
34Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,250
Associate's degree
$44,230 – $86,9901,630
35Advertising Sales Agents$62,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $180,5101,190
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,890 – $77,9404,580
37Cargo and Freight Agents$62,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,630 – $82,200390
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $87,8409,930
39Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,380 – $111,8801,530
40Insurance Sales Agents$61,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,500 – $125,9306,160
41Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,550
Associate's degree
$46,580 – $87,260850
42Physical Therapist Assistants$61,370
Associate's degree
$48,100 – $77,690980
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $76,250740
44Brickmasons and Blockmasons$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $72,500350
45Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $77,320650
46Mechanical Drafters$61,170
Associate's degree
$43,150 – $92,160530
47Firefighters$61,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $69,4601,070
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,830 – $98,0304,110
49Brokerage Clerks$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $75,920440
50Computer User Support Specialists$60,830
Some college, no degree
$40,910 – $78,1506,380

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

#	Occupation	MedianNebraska	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,100	$73,920 – $143,290	730
2	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,210	$65,850 – $125,570	360
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,380	$64,320 – $147,110	1,420
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,580	$67,600 – $98,080	1,280
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,150	$52,930 – $118,040	1,490
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,610	$67,020 – $103,980	440
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,980	$51,700 – $153,790	1,870
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,670	$64,590 – $105,320	780
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,590	$64,100 – $96,180	840
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,810	$66,390 – $101,760	370
11	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,490	$60,930 – $105,020	340
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,850	$53,120 – $112,660	4,610
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,830	$50,170 – $102,250	3,160
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$50,440 – $105,210	6,020
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,620	$54,680 – $95,210	3,490
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,860	$54,410 – $98,300	1,670
17	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,200	$48,870 – $100,770	6,040
18	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,150	$49,680 – $83,140	360
19	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,990	$49,990 – $96,250	330
20	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,590	$49,210 – $99,750	370
21	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,210	$48,570 – $94,690	1,860
22	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,490	$48,000 – $93,540	710
23	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,470	$48,160 – $79,040	610
24	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,450	$44,490 – $108,870	1,490
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,150	$42,290 – $97,030	1,490
26	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,000	$45,910 – $90,880	570
27	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$32,140 – $94,980	440
28	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,120	$47,030 – $90,650	410
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,110	$49,130 – $83,320	2,880
30	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,030	$40,830 – $118,560	8,550
31	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,020	$47,440 – $98,020	410
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,880	$49,870 – $79,350	770
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$47,630 – $78,270	3,250
34	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,250	$44,230 – $86,990	1,630
35	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,890	$32,180 – $180,510	1,190
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,660	$50,890 – $77,940	4,580
37	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,500	$40,630 – $82,200	390
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,980	$44,990 – $87,840	9,930
39	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,610	$43,380 – $111,880	1,530
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,590	$37,500 – $125,930	6,160
41	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,550	$46,580 – $87,260	850
42	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,370	$48,100 – $77,690	980
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,220	$44,620 – $76,250	740
44	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$44,670 – $72,500	350
45	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$44,140 – $77,320	650
46	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,170	$43,150 – $92,160	530
47	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,040	$46,660 – $69,460	1,070
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,970	$42,830 – $98,030	4,110
49	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$48,150 – $75,920	440
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,830	$40,910 – $78,150	6,380

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

Metro areas in Nebraska

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

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Nebraska that need no degree

More for Nebraska

Metro areas in Nebraska

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree