High paying jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in St. Louis, MO-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 St. Louis, MO-IL run 4.9% below the national average (2024), so a St. Louis, MO-IL salary is worth about 1.05× 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. Louis, MO-IL

OccupationMedian, St. Louis, MO-IL · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,500 – $181,2602,090
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,950 – $120,430910
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$99,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,300 – $127,0501,370
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,990
Associate's degree
$79,320 – $107,330730
5Dental Hygienists$97,650
Associate's degree
$78,760 – $99,4002,150
6First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$96,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,710 – $120,7006,680
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$93,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,610 – $126,510780
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,210 – $162,2001,320
9Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$83,330
Associate's degree
$66,170 – $99,120480
10Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$82,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,210 – $100,8104,190
11Structural Iron and Steel Workers$81,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,380 – $97,970670
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$80,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,080 – $157,580660
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $124,7204,930
14Insulation Workers, Mechanical$79,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,420 – $92,990560
15Respiratory Therapists$79,210
Associate's degree
$62,230 – $95,7301,260
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $106,890890
17Brickmasons and Blockmasons$77,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,360 – $88,3501,070
18Electricians$77,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,890 – $104,8005,920
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $121,2304,060
20Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$76,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $97,610480
21Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,680 – $104,1102,610
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,390
Associate's degree
$59,600 – $97,2902,190
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,020 – $108,2403,170
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $103,4205,920
25Computer Network Support Specialists$75,060
Associate's degree
$46,390 – $131,6102,080
26Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $92,4905,950
27Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,900
Associate's degree
$46,350 – $108,410480
28Maintenance Workers, Machinery$71,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,260 – $94,700840
29Carpenters$70,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $99,5507,210
30Firefighters$68,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,220 – $102,0102,680
31First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$68,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $102,8609,840
32Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,850
Associate's degree
$49,690 – $114,470520
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$67,450
Associate's degree
$50,990 – $84,100780
34Millwrights$66,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $94,650420
35Sheet Metal Workers$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,790 – $107,5701,050
36Physical Therapist Assistants$65,820
Associate's degree
$53,070 – $79,4001,100
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,910 – $93,8701,340
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,610 – $79,5905,180
39Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,670
No formal educational credential
$47,240 – $98,4202,550
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,970 – $128,29010,710
41Construction Laborers$64,500
No formal educational credential
$40,100 – $96,2808,670
42Chefs and Head Cooks$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,930 – $95,0201,030
43Food Service Managers$64,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,730 – $104,6601,260
44Advertising Sales Agents$64,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,370 – $154,720770
45Automotive Body and Related Repairers$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,560 – $81,7301,950
46Construction and Building Inspectors$63,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,140 – $94,390870
47Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,380 – $98,1403,990
48Real Estate Brokers$63,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,200 – $120,890650
49Paramedics$63,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,480 – $83,7301,890
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$63,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,870 – $100,1802,980

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

#	Occupation	MedianSt. Louis, MO-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,070	$62,500 – $181,260	2,090
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,960	$63,950 – $120,430	910
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,270	$76,300 – $127,050	1,370
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,990	$79,320 – $107,330	730
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,650	$78,760 – $99,400	2,150
6	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,620	$61,710 – $120,700	6,680
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,380	$58,610 – $126,510	780
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,490	$49,210 – $162,200	1,320
9	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$83,330	$66,170 – $99,120	480
10	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,270	$47,210 – $100,810	4,190
11	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,640	$50,380 – $97,970	670
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,930	$54,080 – $157,580	660
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,410	$52,040 – $124,720	4,930
14	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,240	$49,420 – $92,990	560
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,210	$62,230 – $95,730	1,260
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,600	$47,980 – $106,890	890
17	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,490	$48,360 – $88,350	1,070
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,170	$46,890 – $104,800	5,920
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,000	$47,040 – $121,230	4,060
20	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,800	$45,890 – $97,610	480
21	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,780	$51,680 – $104,110	2,610
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,390	$59,600 – $97,290	2,190
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,840	$49,020 – $108,240	3,170
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,210	$47,480 – $103,420	5,920
25	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,060	$46,390 – $131,610	2,080
26	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,240	$48,540 – $92,490	5,950
27	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,900	$46,350 – $108,410	480
28	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,840	$51,260 – $94,700	840
29	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,990	$45,000 – $99,550	7,210
30	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,970	$39,220 – $102,010	2,680
31	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,590	$46,470 – $102,860	9,840
32	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,850	$49,690 – $114,470	520
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,450	$50,990 – $84,100	780
34	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,480	$46,880 – $94,650	420
35	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$40,790 – $107,570	1,050
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,820	$53,070 – $79,400	1,100
37	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,640	$46,910 – $93,870	1,340
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,120	$56,610 – $79,590	5,180
39	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$47,240 – $98,420	2,550
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,590	$36,970 – $128,290	10,710
41	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$64,500	$40,100 – $96,280	8,670
42	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$42,930 – $95,020	1,030
43	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,460	$45,730 – $104,660	1,260
44	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,070	$43,370 – $154,720	770
45	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$39,560 – $81,730	1,950
46	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,840	$48,140 – $94,390	870
47	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$47,380 – $98,140	3,990
48	Real Estate BrokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,210	$44,200 – $120,890	650
49	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,050	$45,480 – $83,730	1,890
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,000	$45,870 – $100,180	2,980

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

High paying jobs in St. Louis, MO-IL that need no degree

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