High paying jobs in Rochester, MN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Rochester, MN 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 Rochester, MN run 9.2% below the national average (2024), so a Rochester, MN salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Rochester, MN

OccupationMedian, Rochester, MN · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$111,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,100 – $186,83070
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$106,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,310 – $148,190100
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,900 – $118,96080
4Dental Hygienists$103,440
Associate's degree
$82,570 – $115,740180
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$100,900
Associate's degree
$84,280 – $116,01050
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,770
Associate's degree
$81,890 – $120,220240
7First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$99,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,290 – $123,710500
8Respiratory Therapists$98,700
Associate's degree
$82,190 – $114,580160
9Construction and Building Inspectors$96,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,440 – $113,57050
10First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$94,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,210 – $130,64040
11Brickmasons and Blockmasons$93,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,150 – $114,25050
12Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$84,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $106,700490
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,630
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $104,77050
14Architectural and Civil Drafters$83,780
Associate's degree
$58,670 – $105,14060
15Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$82,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,030 – $99,57040
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,530 – $113,520310
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$82,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,580 – $97,450150
18Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,330
Associate's degree
$77,720 – $106,100720
19Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,120 – $96,48050
20Electricians$79,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $118,080510
21Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,790 – $97,610290
22First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$78,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,410 – $122,03050
23Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$59,620 – $103,310100
24Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,380 – $91,86080
25Surgical Technologists$78,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,080 – $95,310170
26Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$77,570
Associate's degree
$62,390 – $101,100130
27Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,410 – $94,600190
28Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,300 – $96,430390
29Surgical Assistants$76,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,060 – $93,15040
30Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,730
Associate's degree
$51,360 – $103,57090
31First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $101,490370
32Detectives and Criminal Investigators$75,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,040 – $96,79050
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$74,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,140 – $82,75080
34Sheet Metal Workers$73,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,890 – $98,40060
35Physical Therapist Assistants$73,580
Associate's degree
$61,020 – $78,46050
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$72,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,550 – $101,270940
37Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$72,270
No formal educational credential
$48,910 – $97,090110
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $132,360680
39Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,980 – $108,87080
40Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,460 – $94,190200
41Insurance Sales Agents$70,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $153,960190
42Public Safety Telecommunicators$70,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $77,47070
43Billing and Posting Clerks$67,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $72,290500
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,070 – $142,490450
45First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$66,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $111,640290
46Correctional Officers and Jailers$65,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,230 – $82,430210
47Computer User Support Specialists$65,200
Some college, no degree
$47,130 – $94,210420
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,940 – $85,800350
49Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,170 – $74,320570
50Carpenters$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $95,810460

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

#	Occupation	MedianRochester, MN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,700	$69,100 – $186,830	70
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,000	$83,310 – $148,190	100
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,440	$86,900 – $118,960	80
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$103,440	$82,570 – $115,740	180
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$100,900	$84,280 – $116,010	50
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,770	$81,890 – $120,220	240
7	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,530	$59,290 – $123,710	500
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,700	$82,190 – $114,580	160
9	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,840	$77,440 – $113,570	50
10	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,040	$73,210 – $130,640	40
11	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,070	$82,150 – $114,250	50
12	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,880	$48,760 – $106,700	490
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,630	$66,960 – $104,770	50
14	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$83,780	$58,670 – $105,140	60
15	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,730	$61,030 – $99,570	40
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,260	$57,530 – $113,520	310
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,230	$62,580 – $97,450	150
18	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,330	$77,720 – $106,100	720
19	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$56,120 – $96,480	50
20	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,650	$46,090 – $118,080	510
21	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,580	$61,790 – $97,610	290
22	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,800	$64,410 – $122,030	50
23	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$59,620 – $103,310	100
24	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,270	$62,380 – $91,860	80
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,070	$60,080 – $95,310	170
26	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$77,570	$62,390 – $101,100	130
27	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,500	$48,410 – $94,600	190
28	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$61,300 – $96,430	390
29	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,880	$64,060 – $93,150	40
30	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,730	$51,360 – $103,570	90
31	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$55,560 – $101,490	370
32	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,100	$53,040 – $96,790	50
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,330	$46,140 – $82,750	80
34	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,680	$47,890 – $98,400	60
35	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,580	$61,020 – $78,460	50
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,940	$47,550 – $101,270	940
37	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$72,270	$48,910 – $97,090	110
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,210	$46,380 – $132,360	680
39	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$57,980 – $108,870	80
40	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$51,460 – $94,190	200
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,340	$49,240 – $153,960	190
42	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,140	$61,360 – $77,470	70
43	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,390	$50,310 – $72,290	500
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$37,070 – $142,490	450
45	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,650	$46,850 – $111,640	290
46	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,350	$54,230 – $82,430	210
47	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$65,200	$47,130 – $94,210	420
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$50,940 – $85,800	350
49	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,750	$53,170 – $74,320	570
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$45,610 – $95,810	460

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

High paying jobs in Rochester, MN that need no degree

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