High paying jobs in Rockford, IL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a Rockford, IL salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Rockford, IL

OccupationMedian, Rockford, IL · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$109,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,100 – $184,570210
2Detectives and Criminal Investigators$104,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,190 – $157,060130
3First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$102,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,580 – $126,620490
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$100,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,200 – $114,730190
5Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,670 – $117,050260
6First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$96,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,140 – $136,86070
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,020
Associate's degree
$78,190 – $109,130110
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$94,860
Associate's degree
$64,330 – $121,670100
9Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,930 – $120,140440
10Electricians$93,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $125,090370
11Dental Hygienists$86,120
Associate's degree
$78,410 – $97,590370
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,470 – $128,940570
13Sheet Metal Workers$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $109,010150
14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,920 – $107,710500
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$77,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,580 – $89,64090
16Respiratory Therapists$77,640
Associate's degree
$62,680 – $98,970160
17Firefighters$77,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,430 – $88,910410
18Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,500
Associate's degree
$49,340 – $98,420260
19Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$75,320
No formal educational credential
$47,830 – $104,210140
20Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,960 – $117,550190
21Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$75,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $91,56050
22Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $115,560160
23First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,840 – $99,2001,050
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $101,60080
25Carpenters$72,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $104,360810
26Painters, Construction and Maintenance$72,700
No formal educational credential
$42,220 – $98,740130
27Construction and Building Inspectors$72,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,480 – $81,74050
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $99,500320
29Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,190
Associate's degree
$46,370 – $88,07070
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$70,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,170 – $82,460440
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,300 – $134,0301,320
32Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,190
Associate's degree
$49,020 – $95,31050
33Advertising Sales Agents$67,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,740 – $162,160110
34Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,910
Associate's degree
$56,230 – $86,66090
35Millwrights$66,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $83,68060
36Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,450
Associate's degree
$36,930 – $102,380110
37First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$66,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,230 – $126,81080
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $101,880750
39Roofers$65,100
No formal educational credential
$42,790 – $105,680180
40Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,510 – $89,81060
41Physical Therapist Assistants$64,040
Associate's degree
$40,340 – $78,19090
42Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,440
Associate's degree
$47,080 – $110,18060
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,660 – $102,46070
44Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,040 – $97,050160
45Computer Network Support Specialists$62,020
Associate's degree
$44,530 – $91,660120
46Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $77,810160
47Food Service Managers$61,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $124,990230
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $95,970310
49Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $134,150140
50Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$60,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $63,77070

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

#	Occupation	MedianRockford, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,710	$73,100 – $184,570	210
2	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,150	$55,190 – $157,060	130
3	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,140	$58,580 – $126,620	490
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,290	$60,200 – $114,730	190
5	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,250	$57,670 – $117,050	260
6	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,910	$86,140 – $136,860	70
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,020	$78,190 – $109,130	110
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$94,860	$64,330 – $121,670	100
9	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,230	$50,930 – $120,140	440
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,280	$58,690 – $125,090	370
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,120	$78,410 – $97,590	370
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,480	$56,470 – $128,940	570
13	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$44,700 – $109,010	150
14	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$60,920 – $107,710	500
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,830	$53,580 – $89,640	90
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$62,680 – $98,970	160
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,150	$34,430 – $88,910	410
18	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,500	$49,340 – $98,420	260
19	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$75,320	$47,830 – $104,210	140
20	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,070	$46,960 – $117,550	190
21	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,010	$38,630 – $91,560	50
22	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,660	$39,190 – $115,560	160
23	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,280	$48,840 – $99,200	1,050
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,960	$44,570 – $101,600	80
25	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,770	$46,470 – $104,360	810
26	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$72,700	$42,220 – $98,740	130
27	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,330	$48,480 – $81,740	50
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,000	$49,830 – $99,500	320
29	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,190	$46,370 – $88,070	70
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,090	$52,170 – $82,460	440
31	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,970	$39,300 – $134,030	1,320
32	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,190	$49,020 – $95,310	50
33	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,030	$32,740 – $162,160	110
34	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,910	$56,230 – $86,660	90
35	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,560	$39,520 – $83,680	60
36	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,450	$36,930 – $102,380	110
37	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,020	$50,230 – $126,810	80
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,740	$41,600 – $101,880	750
39	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$65,100	$42,790 – $105,680	180
40	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$48,510 – $89,810	60
41	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$40,340 – $78,190	90
42	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,440	$47,080 – $110,180	60
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,460	$37,660 – $102,460	70
44	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,100	$49,040 – $97,050	160
45	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,020	$44,530 – $91,660	120
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$47,730 – $77,810	160
47	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,600	$36,090 – $124,990	230
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,020	$39,030 – $95,970	310
49	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,900	$40,600 – $134,150	140
50	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,900	$36,220 – $63,770	70

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

More for Rockford, IL

Other metro areas in IL

By field in Rockford, IL

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Rockford, IL that need no degree

More for Rockford, IL

Other metro areas in IL

By field in Rockford, IL

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree