High paying jobs in Wisconsin that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average (2024), so a Wisconsin salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Wisconsin.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Wisconsin

OccupationMedian, Wisconsin · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$129,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,390 – $269,9901,090
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $119,8502,520
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,090
Associate's degree
$82,430 – $124,4501,530
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,250 – $125,9502,080
5Dental Hygienists$96,540
Associate's degree
$80,370 – $110,2405,080
6Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,410 – $176,0905,410
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,440 – $159,7704,930
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,060 – $103,1301,640
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$85,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,840 – $122,88015,150
10Respiratory Therapists$84,210
Associate's degree
$70,520 – $100,3201,940
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$83,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,060 – $119,2301,330
12Millwrights$82,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,530 – $93,2801,220
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,930 – $124,09010,640
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,020 – $120,07010,210
15Computer Network Support Specialists$81,010
Associate's degree
$57,840 – $107,8401,140
16Brickmasons and Blockmasons$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $100,3601,050
17Insurance Sales Agents$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $163,3807,860
18Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,140
Associate's degree
$61,870 – $99,4205,010
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,570 – $103,6208,760
20Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $94,45012,320
21Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $107,0603,180
22Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$77,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,880 – $123,5701,560
23Electricians$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $101,77014,310
24Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,230 – $109,550980
25Construction and Building Inspectors$75,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $101,2401,270
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,370 – $100,1408,140
27First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $101,75025,500
28Surgical Technologists$74,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,410 – $86,6702,180
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,970
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $94,3201,560
30Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,520 – $99,8501,270
31Lodging Managers$73,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $125,9601,130
32Correctional Officers and Jailers$73,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,540 – $92,1407,360
33Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,880
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $102,3501,520
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$70,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $102,44022,950
35Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$69,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $92,150960
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$68,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,250 – $93,1904,480
37Tool and Die Makers$68,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,940 – $81,6702,450
38Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$67,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,220 – $79,4701,610
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,360 – $88,79013,870
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,060 – $130,51037,700
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,660 – $89,2602,090
42Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,270
Associate's degree
$47,070 – $82,9902,660
43First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,070 – $94,16011,140
44Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$48,410 – $93,9104,490
45Physical Therapist Assistants$64,080
Associate's degree
$51,960 – $77,4401,650
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $123,28022,720
47Mechanical Drafters$63,770
Associate's degree
$48,010 – $92,2601,630
48Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,820 – $78,4907,390
49Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $91,080950
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,7902,230

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

#	Occupation	MedianWisconsin	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,860	$66,390 – $269,990	1,090
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,820	$58,330 – $119,850	2,520
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,090	$82,430 – $124,450	1,530
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,120	$77,250 – $125,950	2,080
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,540	$80,370 – $110,240	5,080
6	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,900	$57,410 – $176,090	5,410
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,980	$60,440 – $159,770	4,930
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,040	$70,060 – $103,130	1,640
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,350	$54,840 – $122,880	15,150
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,210	$70,520 – $100,320	1,940
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,310	$55,060 – $119,230	1,330
12	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,630	$57,530 – $93,280	1,220
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,570	$55,930 – $124,090	10,640
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,210	$50,020 – $120,070	10,210
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,010	$57,840 – $107,840	1,140
16	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$47,110 – $100,360	1,050
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$47,430 – $163,380	7,860
18	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,140	$61,870 – $99,420	5,010
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$50,570 – $103,620	8,760
20	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,090	$58,530 – $94,450	12,320
21	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$45,160 – $107,060	3,180
22	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,730	$52,880 – $123,570	1,560
23	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$44,830 – $101,770	14,310
24	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$58,230 – $109,550	980
25	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,610	$47,290 – $101,240	1,270
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$51,370 – $100,140	8,140
27	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,840	$50,690 – $101,750	25,500
28	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,120	$59,410 – $86,670	2,180
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,970	$48,640 – $94,320	1,560
30	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,930	$44,520 – $99,850	1,270
31	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,590	$39,070 – $125,960	1,130
32	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,470	$56,540 – $92,140	7,360
33	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,880	$49,470 – $102,350	1,520
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,560	$47,590 – $102,440	22,950
35	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,020	$37,440 – $92,150	960
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,920	$51,250 – $93,190	4,480
37	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,120	$46,940 – $81,670	2,450
38	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,460	$56,220 – $79,470	1,610
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,620	$49,360 – $88,790	13,870
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,930	$39,060 – $130,510	37,700
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,450	$48,660 – $89,260	2,090
42	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,270	$47,070 – $82,990	2,660
43	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,560	$43,070 – $94,160	11,140
44	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$48,410 – $93,910	4,490
45	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,080	$51,960 – $77,440	1,650
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$39,900 – $123,280	22,720
47	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,770	$48,010 – $92,260	1,630
48	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,760	$51,820 – $78,490	7,390
49	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$47,710 – $91,080	950
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$50,340 – $78,790	2,230

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

Metro areas in Wisconsin

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Wisconsin that need no degree

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree