High paying jobs in Wausau, WI that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Wausau, WI 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 Wausau, WI run 7.3% below the national average (2024), so a Wausau, WI salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Wausau, WI

OccupationMedian, Wausau, WI · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$93,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $131,330110
2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$90,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $96,020200
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$90,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,420 – $119,95040
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$88,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,320 – $97,12030
5Dental Hygienists$87,470
Associate's degree
$77,670 – $99,830150
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$86,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,380 – $103,440260
7First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$84,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,560 – $103,76050
8Millwrights$83,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,820 – $91,05050
9Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$82,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,030 – $136,680110
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,090 – $121,660200
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,990 – $116,350390
12Electricians$78,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,530 – $86,790480
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,130 – $98,800250
14Sheet Metal Workers$77,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $91,970170
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,060 – $110,710240
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,340
Associate's degree
$62,350 – $95,220140
17First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,560 – $103,9401,000
18Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$72,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,110 – $75,93040
19Surgical Technologists$69,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,480 – $86,84090
20Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$69,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,190 – $80,020190
21Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$68,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,960 – $118,04030
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$67,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,820 – $77,66060
23Chefs and Head Cooks$65,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,040 – $85,00030
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $97,740570
25Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,490
Associate's degree
$47,680 – $84,00070
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,580 – $120,160970
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,220 – $81,020560
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $92,80080
29Tool and Die Makers$63,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,170 – $77,13060
30Insurance Sales Agents$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,100 – $137,370160
31Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$62,110
Associate's degree
$46,720 – $102,50050
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,020
No formal educational credential
$48,640 – $83,300110
33Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$61,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,560 – $80,870430
34First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,560 – $83,970260
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,450 – $73,930150
36Physical Therapist Assistants$60,250
Associate's degree
$52,790 – $77,65040
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$59,850
Associate's degree
$49,400 – $93,95070
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,670 – $72,72050
40Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $69,73060
41Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,210 – $79,53050
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $102,700350
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,370 – $76,890280
44Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,420 – $60,100150
45Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$59,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,660 – $73,02040
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,370 – $91,560140
47First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$59,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $71,58070
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,360 – $74,2601,460
49Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,600 – $78,73050
50Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$58,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,930 – $64,10080

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

#	Occupation	MedianWausau, WI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,450	$49,990 – $131,330	110
2	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,900	$49,830 – $96,020	200
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,470	$68,420 – $119,950	40
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,780	$81,320 – $97,120	30
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$87,470	$77,670 – $99,830	150
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,750	$50,380 – $103,440	260
7	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,880	$38,560 – $103,760	50
8	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,480	$70,820 – $91,050	50
9	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,500	$54,030 – $136,680	110
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,430	$58,090 – $121,660	200
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$57,990 – $116,350	390
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,680	$41,530 – $86,790	480
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,150	$59,130 – $98,800	250
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,330	$42,540 – $91,970	170
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,980	$52,060 – $110,710	240
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,340	$62,350 – $95,220	140
17	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,790	$51,560 – $103,940	1,000
18	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,540	$60,110 – $75,930	40
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,430	$54,480 – $86,840	90
20	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,080	$48,190 – $80,020	190
21	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,380	$51,960 – $118,040	30
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,930	$45,820 – $77,660	60
23	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,910	$41,040 – $85,000	30
24	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,230	$47,130 – $97,740	570
25	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,490	$47,680 – $84,000	70
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,100	$39,580 – $120,160	970
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,040	$50,220 – $81,020	560
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$47,420 – $92,800	80
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,570	$47,170 – $77,130	60
30	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$37,100 – $137,370	160
31	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,110	$46,720 – $102,500	50
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,020	$48,640 – $83,300	110
33	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,070	$49,560 – $80,870	430
34	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,460	$41,560 – $83,970	260
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,360	$49,450 – $73,930	150
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,250	$52,790 – $77,650	40
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	130
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,850	$49,400 – $93,950	70
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,730	$49,670 – $72,720	50
40	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$45,140 – $69,730	60
41	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,630	$40,210 – $79,530	50
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,450	$36,650 – $102,700	350
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,350	$36,370 – $76,890	280
44	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$39,420 – $60,100	150
45	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,160	$48,660 – $73,020	40
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,110	$45,370 – $91,560	140
47	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,110	$38,500 – $71,580	70
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,520	$45,360 – $74,260	1,460
49	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,420	$43,600 – $78,730	50
50	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,220	$48,930 – $64,100	80

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

High paying jobs in Wausau, WI that need no degree

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