High paying jobs in Ohio that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Ohio 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 Ohio run 7.2% below the national average (2024), so a Ohio salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Ohio.

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

Find high paying jobs in Ohio

OccupationMedian, Ohio · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$150,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $219,1402,680
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,160 – $175,1909,480
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$98,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,540 – $131,2505,170
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$93,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,840 – $111,7604,260
5Dental Hygienists$88,990
Associate's degree
$76,260 – $102,9508,630
6Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$87,670
Associate's degree
$74,310 – $101,8601,840
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$84,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,340 – $123,6303,960
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,870
Associate's degree
$65,480 – $101,1903,160
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $159,4605,980
10Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,490 – $132,8502,840
11Respiratory Therapists$79,920
Associate's degree
$65,580 – $97,0306,640
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$79,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,850 – $107,06023,640
13Detectives and Criminal Investigators$79,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,840 – $151,2002,140
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,270
Associate's degree
$38,670 – $101,0302,140
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,040 – $117,12019,410
16Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,500
Associate's degree
$48,820 – $97,7401,800
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,320
Associate's degree
$60,360 – $98,4509,570
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,110 – $103,21023,430
19Sheet Metal Workers$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $94,2404,180
20Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$74,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,200 – $79,4003,430
21Structural Iron and Steel Workers$74,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $88,8602,290
22Construction and Building Inspectors$74,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $100,2903,490
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,850 – $149,87058,740
24Millwrights$73,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $91,7601,930
25First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,320 – $99,96031,980
26Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$71,330
Associate's degree
$38,270 – $104,0702,500
27Brickmasons and Blockmasons$70,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $83,7902,770
28Mechanical Drafters$70,580
Associate's degree
$49,400 – $98,7401,790
29Computer Network Support Specialists$70,080
Associate's degree
$45,980 – $122,4707,480
30Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$69,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $99,33010,940
31Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,950 – $104,87013,650
32Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,490
Associate's degree
$48,020 – $86,0805,340
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $91,54021,950
34Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $98,10016,920
35Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,730
Associate's degree
$45,970 – $94,8901,790
36Electricians$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,750 – $99,28028,950
37First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,740 – $97,17045,070
38Physical Therapist Assistants$63,820
Associate's degree
$51,280 – $84,1307,040
39Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $101,41016,390
40Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,300
Associate's degree
$48,240 – $96,7803,260
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,080 – $83,0206,270
42Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,990
No formal educational credential
$44,130 – $81,3206,060
43Food Service Managers$62,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $95,6708,570
44Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $91,5503,920
45Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,660 – $74,2704,000
46Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,700
Associate's degree
$49,500 – $79,6003,890
47Postal Service Clerks$62,690
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0302,430
48Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,630 – $98,31014,150
49Surgical Technologists$62,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,110 – $80,6403,730
50Tool and Die Makers$62,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,080 – $84,8405,520

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

#	Occupation	MedianOhio	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$150,330	$60,300 – $219,140	2,680
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,550	$62,160 – $175,190	9,480
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,380	$64,540 – $131,250	5,170
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,150	$58,840 – $111,760	4,260
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$88,990	$76,260 – $102,950	8,630
6	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$87,670	$74,310 – $101,860	1,840
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,490	$55,340 – $123,630	3,960
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,870	$65,480 – $101,190	3,160
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,720	$48,030 – $159,460	5,980
10	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,570	$51,490 – $132,850	2,840
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,920	$65,580 – $97,030	6,640
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,580	$57,850 – $107,060	23,640
13	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,300	$56,840 – $151,200	2,140
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,270	$38,670 – $101,030	2,140
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,730	$49,040 – $117,120	19,410
16	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,500	$48,820 – $97,740	1,800
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,320	$60,360 – $98,450	9,570
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$51,110 – $103,210	23,430
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$43,200 – $94,240	4,180
20	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,750	$45,200 – $79,400	3,430
21	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,710	$47,840 – $88,860	2,290
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,490	$50,440 – $100,290	3,490
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,960	$39,850 – $149,870	58,740
24	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,220	$51,880 – $91,760	1,930
25	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,160	$48,320 – $99,960	31,980
26	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$71,330	$38,270 – $104,070	2,500
27	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,950	$46,260 – $83,790	2,770
28	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,580	$49,400 – $98,740	1,790
29	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$70,080	$45,980 – $122,470	7,480
30	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,600	$47,480 – $99,330	10,940
31	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,990	$47,950 – $104,870	13,650
32	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,490	$48,020 – $86,080	5,340
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,130	$47,580 – $91,540	21,950
34	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$46,850 – $98,100	16,920
35	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,730	$45,970 – $94,890	1,790
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$40,750 – $99,280	28,950
37	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,220	$44,740 – $97,170	45,070
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,820	$51,280 – $84,130	7,040
39	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,330	$45,470 – $101,410	16,390
40	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,300	$48,240 – $96,780	3,260
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,200	$49,080 – $83,020	6,270
42	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,990	$44,130 – $81,320	6,060
43	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,980	$43,680 – $95,670	8,570
44	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$47,110 – $91,550	3,920
45	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$40,660 – $74,270	4,000
46	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,700	$49,500 – $79,600	3,890
47	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,690	$42,600 – $75,030	2,430
48	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,510	$38,630 – $98,310	14,150
49	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,420	$48,110 – $80,640	3,730
50	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,280	$42,080 – $84,840	5,520

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

Metro areas in Ohio

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

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Ohio that need no degree

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree