High paying jobs in Topeka, KS that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Topeka, 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 Topeka, KS run 11.2% below the national average (2024), so a Topeka, KS salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Topeka, KS

OccupationMedian, Topeka, KS · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,520 – $112,030300
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$105,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,050 – $127,920220
3Commercial Pilots$104,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,560 – $207,76040
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$99,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,040 – $168,340100
5First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$96,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,680 – $127,340170
6Millwrights$91,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,120 – $92,90070
7Dental Hygienists$88,220
Associate's degree
$79,880 – $93,050240
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$82,040
Associate's degree
$59,670 – $101,580190
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$81,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $126,210560
10First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$78,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,730 – $101,250120
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $106,870650
12First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,400 – $101,540480
13Respiratory Therapists$77,190
Associate's degree
$51,780 – $84,440120
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $125,490740
15Food Service Managers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $99,25080
16Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$75,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $95,110420
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,140 – $100,83060
18Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,340 – $97,500110
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$70,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,650 – $118,160380
20Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $90,810360
21Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$69,740
Associate's degree
$44,010 – $111,57040
22Bailiffs$69,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,900 – $82,28040
23Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$66,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $82,860290
24Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$66,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,320 – $98,870240
25Electricians$65,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $82,100510
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,610 – $82,060220
27Physical Therapist Assistants$64,250
Associate's degree
$51,170 – $74,900170
28Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,320 – $97,860610
29First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,580 – $87,570450
30Sheet Metal Workers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,150 – $81,900180
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $83,20050
32Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $100,180340
33First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $118,24040
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,030 – $120,840790
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,190 – $79,050130
36Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,360 – $79,660320
37Medical Records Specialists$62,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,240 – $104,530310
38Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $78,500200
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,390 – $78,280840
40Paramedics$62,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,900 – $78,220130
41Insurance Sales Agents$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,250 – $157,540580
42Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,740
Associate's degree
$55,120 – $71,17080
43Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$61,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,010 – $102,15070
44First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$61,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,520 – $88,3901,250
45First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,800 – $85,41080
46Surveying and Mapping Technicians$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,390 – $75,03050
47Construction and Building Inspectors$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,990 – $93,06060
48Correctional Officers and Jailers$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,480 – $76,240520
49Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,490
Associate's degree
$43,950 – $73,010190
50Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $71,86080

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

#	Occupation	MedianTopeka, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,720	$64,520 – $112,030	300
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,910	$64,050 – $127,920	220
3	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,530	$49,560 – $207,760	40
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,220	$83,040 – $168,340	100
5	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,980	$57,680 – $127,340	170
6	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,170	$54,120 – $92,900	70
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$88,220	$79,880 – $93,050	240
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,040	$59,670 – $101,580	190
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,860	$50,960 – $126,210	560
10	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,500	$67,730 – $101,250	120
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,390	$55,690 – $106,870	650
12	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,360	$49,400 – $101,540	480
13	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,190	$51,780 – $84,440	120
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,490	$43,550 – $125,490	740
15	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$47,440 – $99,250	80
16	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,090	$45,760 – $95,110	420
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$38,140 – $100,830	60
18	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,450	$55,340 – $97,500	110
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,710	$48,650 – $118,160	380
20	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,650	$45,440 – $90,810	360
21	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$69,740	$44,010 – $111,570	40
22	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,390	$59,900 – $82,280	40
23	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,500	$47,560 – $82,860	290
24	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,100	$38,320 – $98,870	240
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,520	$47,590 – $82,100	510
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,480	$46,610 – $82,060	220
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,250	$51,170 – $74,900	170
28	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$47,320 – $97,860	610
29	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,600	$41,580 – $87,570	450
30	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$39,150 – $81,900	180
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,310	$46,570 – $83,200	50
32	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,290	$46,780 – $100,180	340
33	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$47,200 – $118,240	40
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,260	$35,030 – $120,840	790
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$46,190 – $79,050	130
36	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$45,360 – $79,660	320
37	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,470	$42,240 – $104,530	310
38	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$46,820 – $78,500	200
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,210	$52,390 – $78,280	840
40	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,050	$42,900 – $78,220	130
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$41,250 – $157,540	580
42	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,740	$55,120 – $71,170	80
43	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,340	$36,010 – $102,150	70
44	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,330	$46,520 – $88,390	1,250
45	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$45,800 – $85,410	80
46	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$40,390 – $75,030	50
47	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$37,990 – $93,060	60
48	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$48,480 – $76,240	520
49	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,490	$43,950 – $73,010	190
50	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $71,860	80

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

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

High paying jobs in Topeka, KS that need no degree

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