High paying jobs in Owensboro, KY that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Owensboro, KY 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 Owensboro, KY run 11.4% below the national average (2024), so a Owensboro, KY salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Owensboro, KY

OccupationMedian, Owensboro, KY · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,830 – $186,40040
2First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,600 – $109,400190
3Dental Hygienists$75,490
Associate's degree
$60,670 – $92,44080
4Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $81,520480
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$72,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,010 – $102,44060
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$71,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $100,730210
7Occupational Therapy Assistants$70,840
Associate's degree
$39,140 – $71,64030
8Food Service Managers$70,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,110 – $83,30040
9First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $100,640360
10Construction and Building Inspectors$69,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $97,11040
11Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $91,170180
12Tool and Die Makers$63,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,370 – $70,08080
13Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $65,28060
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,010
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $94,470100
15Physical Therapist Assistants$62,860
Associate's degree
$48,320 – $76,62080
16Computer User Support Specialists$62,490
Some college, no degree
$42,320 – $91,120150
17First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $98,740380
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,950 – $72,740170
19First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $94,410220
20Chemical Technicians$61,580
Associate's degree
$48,720 – $62,70060
21Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$61,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $73,080170
22Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$61,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $64,300980
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,320 – $81,030160
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $121,840390
26Insurance Sales Agents$58,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $127,040160
27Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $75,87070
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $78,14040
29Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,790 – $80,230180
30Electricians$55,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $85,410260
31Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$54,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,560 – $89,68040
32First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$54,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $75,21040
33Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,000 – $80,68030
34Paralegals and Legal Assistants$53,320
Associate's degree
$39,600 – $75,41060
35Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$53,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $96,69060
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$53,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $71,39060
37Carpenters$52,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $75,010210
38Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$52,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $110,14060
39Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $60,170410
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,490 – $76,630840
41Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,010
No formal educational credential
$37,300 – $63,360240
42Library Technicians$49,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,130 – $49,87030
43Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $81,070140
44Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,140 – $63,590320
45Chefs and Head Cooks$47,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,250 – $76,68030
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$47,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $90,020220
47Machinists$47,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $75,24090
48Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,430
Some college, no degree
$31,200 – $67,220560
49Loan Interviewers and Clerks$46,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,430 – $58,110220
50Billing and Posting Clerks$45,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $60,41080

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

#	Occupation	MedianOwensboro, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,320	$60,830 – $186,400	40
2	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$50,600 – $109,400	190
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,490	$60,670 – $92,440	80
4	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,010	$46,050 – $81,520	480
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,010	$55,010 – $102,440	60
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,430	$47,770 – $100,730	210
7	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,840	$39,140 – $71,640	30
8	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,200	$56,110 – $83,300	40
9	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,320	$45,950 – $100,640	360
10	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,050	$39,470 – $97,110	40
11	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,310	$46,040 – $91,170	180
12	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,720	$36,370 – $70,080	80
13	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$47,100 – $65,280	60
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,010	$51,740 – $94,470	100
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,860	$48,320 – $76,620	80
16	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,490	$42,320 – $91,120	150
17	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,340	$41,600 – $98,740	380
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,180	$49,950 – $72,740	170
19	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,110	$37,420 – $94,410	220
20	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,580	$48,720 – $62,700	60
21	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,560	$47,940 – $73,080	170
22	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,250	$42,320 – $64,300	980
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,060	$46,320 – $81,030	160
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	130
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$32,810 – $121,840	390
26	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,950	$30,680 – $127,040	160
27	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,810	$31,680 – $75,870	70
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$42,320 – $78,140	40
29	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,590	$31,790 – $80,230	180
30	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,030	$36,200 – $85,410	260
31	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,990	$41,560 – $89,680	40
32	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,450	$38,600 – $75,210	40
33	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,350	$36,000 – $80,680	30
34	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$53,320	$39,600 – $75,410	60
35	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,300	$34,770 – $96,690	60
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,040	$36,920 – $71,390	60
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,360	$35,340 – $75,010	210
38	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,280	$35,730 – $110,140	60
39	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$40,160 – $60,170	410
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,600	$37,490 – $76,630	840
41	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,010	$37,300 – $63,360	240
42	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,870	$34,130 – $49,870	30
43	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,550	$35,980 – $81,070	140
44	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,390	$34,140 – $63,590	320
45	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,620	$32,250 – $76,680	30
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,590	$36,240 – $90,020	220
47	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,170	$38,410 – $75,240	90
48	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,430	$31,200 – $67,220	560
49	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,130	$40,430 – $58,110	220
50	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,900	$35,360 – $60,410	80

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

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

High paying jobs in Owensboro, KY that need no degree

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