High paying jobs in Paducah, KY-IL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Paducah, KY-IL 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 Paducah, KY-IL run 13.9% below the national average (2024), so a Paducah, KY-IL salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Paducah, KY-IL

OccupationMedian, Paducah, KY-IL · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$109,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,170 – $181,44060
2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$87,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,340 – $135,390290
3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$82,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $95,380380
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,480
Associate's degree
$48,400 – $114,92030
5Dental Hygienists$79,610
Associate's degree
$60,630 – $97,40090
6Sheet Metal Workers$79,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $85,63070
7Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$78,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $102,330190
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,470 – $101,89070
9Construction and Building Inspectors$78,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $99,21040
10Respiratory Therapists$76,100
Associate's degree
$57,650 – $93,15080
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $121,690220
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,200
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $99,700120
13First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $113,49040
14Electricians$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $89,490400
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$72,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $104,840350
16Food Service Managers$67,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$16,330 – $103,53050
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$66,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $76,04070
18Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,640 – $80,89080
19First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $122,41050
20Crane and Tower Operators$63,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,740 – $83,45030
21Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,790 – $99,94060
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,750 – $65,270300
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $83,160270
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,400 – $118,530420
25Machinists$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $98,890100
26Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $76,36040
27Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,740120
28Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $68,500160
29Conveyor Operators and Tenders$59,140
No formal educational credential
$49,460 – $81,33050
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,680 – $120,100210
31Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,110
Associate's degree
$35,670 – $75,88090
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $83,810460
33Physical Therapist Assistants$58,720
Associate's degree
$35,080 – $77,72060
34Insurance Sales Agents$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $105,270120
35Computer User Support Specialists$57,570
Some college, no degree
$37,440 – $83,620160
36Surgical Technologists$57,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,210 – $77,54060
37First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$57,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,360 – $91,110440
38Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $73,59040
39Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,500 – $80,78040
40Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $81,30090
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,970 – $78,11090
42Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$56,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,480 – $75,82090
43Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,330
Associate's degree
$44,710 – $78,02050
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,490 – $122,860270
45Paramedics$53,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $70,68060
46Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$53,320
No formal educational credential
$37,440 – $70,41040
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$52,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $76,14070
48Carpenters$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $73,320310
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $93,76090
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,990 – $74,490660

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

#	Occupation	MedianPaducah, KY-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,890	$56,170 – $181,440	60
2	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,030	$56,340 – $135,390	290
3	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,120	$46,340 – $95,380	380
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,480	$48,400 – $114,920	30
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$79,610	$60,630 – $97,400	90
6	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,020	$38,620 – $85,630	70
7	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,900	$45,760 – $102,330	190
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$47,470 – $101,890	70
9	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,360	$35,860 – $99,210	40
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,100	$57,650 – $93,150	80
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,020	$48,980 – $121,690	220
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,200	$52,000 – $99,700	120
13	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,740	$46,340 – $113,490	40
14	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$38,910 – $89,490	400
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,840	$49,450 – $104,840	350
16	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,140	$16,330 – $103,530	50
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,250	$46,470 – $76,040	70
18	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,240	$43,640 – $80,890	80
19	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$47,640 – $122,410	50
20	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,070	$45,740 – $83,450	30
21	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,890	$48,790 – $99,940	60
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,060	$50,750 – $65,270	300
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$47,560 – $83,160	270
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,340	$34,400 – $118,530	420
25	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$38,250 – $98,890	100
26	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$36,360 – $76,360	40
27	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $83,740	120
28	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,730	$36,990 – $68,500	160
29	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$59,140	$49,460 – $81,330	50
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$40,680 – $120,100	210
31	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,110	$35,670 – $75,880	90
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,000	$47,610 – $83,810	460
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,720	$35,080 – $77,720	60
34	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$31,200 – $105,270	120
35	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,570	$37,440 – $83,620	160
36	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,570	$41,210 – $77,540	60
37	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,510	$41,360 – $91,110	440
38	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,350	$48,620 – $73,590	40
39	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$40,500 – $80,780	40
40	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,980	$38,500 – $81,300	90
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,610	$44,970 – $78,110	90
42	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,350	$40,480 – $75,820	90
43	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,330	$44,710 – $78,020	50
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,780	$35,490 – $122,860	270
45	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,980	$38,900 – $70,680	60
46	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$53,320	$37,440 – $70,410	40
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,160	$34,440 – $76,140	70
48	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$36,340 – $73,320	310
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$37,410 – $93,760	90
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,520	$38,990 – $74,490	660

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Paducah, KY-IL. 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 Paducah, KY-IL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Paducah, KY-IL that need no degree

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