High paying jobs in Roanoke, VA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Roanoke, VA 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 Roanoke, VA run 6.4% below the national average (2024), so a Roanoke, VA salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Roanoke, VA

OccupationMedian, Roanoke, VA · Employed

1Detectives and Criminal Investigators$114,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,890 – $158,060130
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,120 – $177,630140
3Dental Hygienists$98,550
Associate's degree
$80,020 – $121,990170
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$96,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,180 – $142,180140
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$87,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $147,430360
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,140
Associate's degree
$75,420 – $99,720110
7Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,460 – $127,760330
8Respiratory Therapists$78,820
Associate's degree
$63,460 – $91,160190
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $113,090800
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,740
Associate's degree
$50,130 – $112,340120
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,710
Associate's degree
$51,780 – $93,810340
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,520 – $106,300630
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,450 – $101,5401,000
14Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,870
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $87,81060
15Physical Therapist Assistants$67,140
Associate's degree
$49,010 – $81,350130
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$66,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,200 – $110,640980
17Mechanical Drafters$66,560
Associate's degree
$50,560 – $89,39060
18Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$66,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,950 – $102,56060
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$65,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,250 – $112,560110
20Construction and Building Inspectors$64,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,250 – $99,740230
21Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,36060
22Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$50,210 – $77,490160
23Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,330 – $69,24050
24Massage Therapists$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,700 – $101,87060
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $124,1401,290
26Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,920
Associate's degree
$46,910 – $77,06060
27First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$62,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,340 – $92,78060
28Food Service Managers$62,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,020 – $99,230170
29Computer Network Support Specialists$62,140
Associate's degree
$38,240 – $93,71090
30Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,980 – $96,250230
31First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,420 – $95,6401,460
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,520310
33Surgical Technologists$61,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,200 – $79,080110
34Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,240
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040360
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,040 – $72,530950
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,080
Associate's degree
$48,360 – $79,340120
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,060
Associate's degree
$45,790 – $78,040390
38Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,650 – $65,210110
39Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,620 – $77,780840
40Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,280230
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,730 – $79,510600
42Paramedics$59,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,610 – $67,030100
43Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,170 – $104,4701,110
44Insurance Sales Agents$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $99,820470
45First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$58,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,420 – $93,460180
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,900 – $73,610420
47Electricians$58,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $75,600610
48Chefs and Head Cooks$57,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,820 – $79,890100
49Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,700 – $97,0502,760
50Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$56,370
Associate's degree
$30,400 – $72,54080

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

#	Occupation	MedianRoanoke, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,050	$63,890 – $158,060	130
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,080	$75,120 – $177,630	140
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,550	$80,020 – $121,990	170
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,100	$67,180 – $142,180	140
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,630	$49,450 – $147,430	360
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,140	$75,420 – $99,720	110
7	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,180	$47,460 – $127,760	330
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,820	$63,460 – $91,160	190
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$46,700 – $113,090	800
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,740	$50,130 – $112,340	120
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,710	$51,780 – $93,810	340
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,880	$52,520 – $106,300	630
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,080	$46,450 – $101,540	1,000
14	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,870	$54,990 – $87,810	60
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,140	$49,010 – $81,350	130
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,660	$49,200 – $110,640	980
17	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,560	$50,560 – $89,390	60
18	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,480	$54,950 – $102,560	60
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,040	$43,250 – $112,560	110
20	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,680	$47,250 – $99,740	230
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$54,330 – $76,360	60
22	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$50,210 – $77,490	160
23	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$40,330 – $69,240	50
24	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$35,700 – $101,870	60
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,950	$36,150 – $124,140	1,290
26	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,920	$46,910 – $77,060	60
27	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,550	$44,340 – $92,780	60
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,520	$50,020 – $99,230	170
29	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,140	$38,240 – $93,710	90
30	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,990	$47,980 – $96,250	230
31	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,800	$43,420 – $95,640	1,460
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$44,720 – $77,520	310
33	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,600	$36,200 – $79,080	110
34	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,240	$42,390 – $81,040	360
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,210	$51,040 – $72,530	950
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,080	$48,360 – $79,340	120
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,060	$45,790 – $78,040	390
38	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,000	$40,650 – $65,210	110
39	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,900	$47,620 – $77,780	840
40	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,280	230
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,250	$42,730 – $79,510	600
42	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,020	$43,610 – $67,030	100
43	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,930	$34,170 – $104,470	1,110
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$34,790 – $99,820	470
45	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,300	$48,420 – $93,460	180
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$43,900 – $73,610	420
47	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,200	$38,590 – $75,600	610
48	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,350	$42,820 – $79,890	100
49	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,430	$37,700 – $97,050	2,760
50	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$56,370	$30,400 – $72,540	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Roanoke, VA. 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 Roanoke, VA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Roanoke, VA that need no degree

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