High paying jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in St. Joseph, MO-KS 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS run 13.6% below the national average (2024), so a St. Joseph, MO-KS 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS

OccupationMedian, St. Joseph, MO-KS · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$104,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,000 – $176,06070
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,190 – $128,75090
3Electricians$97,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $116,850350
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,240
Associate's degree
$74,630 – $116,18040
5First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$90,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,020 – $127,430280
6Dental Hygienists$87,370
Associate's degree
$55,500 – $97,77080
7First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,860 – $124,350290
8Sheet Metal Workers$83,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $110,580130
9First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,990 – $148,86030
10First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$79,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,820 – $102,84090
11First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,560 – $103,230580
12Maintenance Workers, Machinery$76,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,420 – $82,420120
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,710 – $97,510110
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $121,37060
15Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$74,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $101,41070
16Respiratory Therapists$73,860
Associate's degree
$59,980 – $91,45050
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,080
Associate's degree
$59,470 – $92,440130
18Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,660 – $116,580200
19Machinists$66,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $73,69080
20Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$66,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $66,060610
21First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$66,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,080 – $97,580200
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $103,100320
23Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $92,490390
24Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,770 – $88,980130
25Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,630 – $85,880170
26Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,920 – $90,07070
27Physical Therapist Assistants$61,510
Associate's degree
$57,580 – $80,28050
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,090 – $90,670360
29Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $74,51040
30Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $64,21030
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,840 – $71,030290
32Insurance Sales Agents$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $81,660130
33Carpenters$60,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,880 – $89,350220
34First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$60,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,480 – $75,55070
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040120
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,660 – $106,71050
37Real Estate Brokers$58,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,970 – $104,10030
38Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,480
No formal educational credential
$39,540 – $77,64070
39Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,460 – $95,020110
40Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,930 – $79,170270
41Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$57,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $72,620830
42Postal Service Clerks$57,090
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $72,95040
43Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $100,40050
44Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,210 – $78,11060
45Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,490 – $76,870850
46Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $66,840160
47Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$55,070
Associate's degree
$38,300 – $80,26040
48Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$54,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,500 – $80,770100
49Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$54,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,020 – $71,3901,360
50Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$54,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $105,75070

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

#	Occupation	MedianSt. Joseph, MO-KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,540	$64,000 – $176,060	70
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,340	$72,190 – $128,750	90
3	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,350	$47,560 – $116,850	350
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,240	$74,630 – $116,180	40
5	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,030	$57,020 – $127,430	280
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$87,370	$55,500 – $97,770	80
7	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,120	$45,860 – $124,350	290
8	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,060	$35,640 – $110,580	130
9	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,110	$45,990 – $148,860	30
10	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,200	$62,820 – $102,840	90
11	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,370	$55,560 – $103,230	580
12	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,530	$59,420 – $82,420	120
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$52,710 – $97,510	110
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,440	$47,640 – $121,370	60
15	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,760	$46,940 – $101,410	70
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,860	$59,980 – $91,450	50
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,080	$59,470 – $92,440	130
18	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,290	$47,660 – $116,580	200
19	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,390	$38,190 – $73,690	80
20	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,060	$47,040 – $66,060	610
21	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,010	$44,080 – $97,580	200
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,450	$37,940 – $103,100	320
23	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,820	$41,870 – $92,490	390
24	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,720	$38,770 – $88,980	130
25	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,910	$42,630 – $85,880	170
26	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$47,920 – $90,070	70
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,510	$57,580 – $80,280	50
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,070	$41,090 – $90,670	360
29	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$40,590 – $74,510	40
30	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$47,910 – $64,210	30
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,720	$47,840 – $71,030	290
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$28,600 – $81,660	130
33	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,150	$37,880 – $89,350	220
34	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,120	$42,480 – $75,550	70
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$43,120 – $81,040	120
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,390	$44,660 – $106,710	50
37	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,760	$32,970 – $104,100	30
38	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,480	$39,540 – $77,640	70
39	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,440	$40,460 – $95,020	110
40	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,170	$41,930 – $79,170	270
41	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,420	$36,130 – $72,620	830
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$57,090	$42,600 – $72,950	40
43	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,970	$39,520 – $100,400	50
44	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,850	$33,210 – $78,110	60
45	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,330	$38,490 – $76,870	850
46	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,190	$35,900 – $66,840	160
47	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$55,070	$38,300 – $80,260	40
48	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,760	$39,500 – $80,770	100
49	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,400	$30,020 – $71,390	1,360
50	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,070	$37,350 – $105,750	70

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS. 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS

Other metro areas in MO

By field in St. Joseph, MO-KS

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in St. Joseph, MO-KS to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS that need no degree

More for St. Joseph, MO-KS

Other metro areas in MO

By field in St. Joseph, MO-KS

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree