High paying jobs in Abilene, TX that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Abilene, TX, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Abilene, TX run 9.6% below the national average (2024), so a Abilene, TX salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Abilene, TX

OccupationMedian, Abilene, TX · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$93,600
Associate's degree
$77,160 – $99,29070
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$79,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $99,77080
3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,760 – $81,51080
4Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,920 – $78,380210
5Physical Therapist Assistants$76,090
Associate's degree
$38,920 – $95,65060
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $93,990400
7Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$73,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,180 – $98,16060
8Respiratory Therapists$71,260
Associate's degree
$63,170 – $93,86080
9Massage Therapists$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,700 – $101,73060
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,520
Associate's degree
$43,580 – $79,660140
11Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36050
12Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,580 – $80,03060
13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $71,340510
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,630 – $122,680430
15Computer Network Support Specialists$60,060
Associate's degree
$47,910 – $87,03040
16Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,700
Associate's degree
$34,530 – $76,69080
17Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $77,200140
18Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $71,47080
19Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,290
Associate's degree
$42,130 – $103,69040
20Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,970
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040180
21Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,820 – $101,820550
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,490 – $77,800280
23Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$56,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,530 – $80,650210
24Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,680 – $93,96090
25Machinists$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $70,96060
26Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,180 – $77,6301,090
27Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$54,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,970 – $75,920260
28Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $57,330730
29Computer User Support Specialists$52,150
Some college, no degree
$36,490 – $76,420290
30Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $76,250320
31Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $61,37050
32Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$50,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $68,49070
33Insurance Sales Agents$49,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,390 – $119,400200
34Physical Therapist Aides$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,890 – $49,79070
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $62,400230
36Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$48,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,950 – $70,36030
37Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$48,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,670 – $62,230140
38Medical Records Specialists$48,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,220 – $69,90080
39Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$48,350
Associate's degree
$30,540 – $60,18030
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $67,610290
41Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$48,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,830 – $72,320110
42Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$48,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $78,11050
43Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $73,690240
44Real Estate Sales Agents$47,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,410 – $81,330100
45Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$47,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,290 – $74,930120
46Highway Maintenance Workers$47,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,810 – $47,63060
47Electricians$47,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $77,190500
48Bus Drivers, School$47,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,700 – $62,330120
49Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $56,83090
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$46,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,900 – $61,04090

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

#	Occupation	MedianAbilene, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,600	$77,160 – $99,290	70
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,600	$45,830 – $99,770	80
3	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,810	$44,760 – $81,510	80
4	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$45,920 – $78,380	210
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,090	$38,920 – $95,650	60
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,070	$48,540 – $93,990	400
7	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,750	$51,180 – $98,160	60
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$71,260	$63,170 – $93,860	80
9	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$54,700 – $101,730	60
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,520	$43,580 – $79,660	140
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $76,360	50
12	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$28,580 – $80,030	60
13	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,950	$47,320 – $71,340	510
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$34,630 – $122,680	430
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$60,060	$47,910 – $87,030	40
16	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,700	$34,530 – $76,690	80
17	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$44,560 – $77,200	140
18	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$48,880 – $71,470	80
19	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,290	$42,130 – $103,690	40
20	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,970	$42,390 – $81,040	180
21	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,800	$31,820 – $101,820	550
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$38,490 – $77,800	280
23	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,610	$40,530 – $80,650	210
24	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,550	$36,680 – $93,960	90
25	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$36,440 – $70,960	60
26	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,720	$38,180 – $77,630	1,090
27	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,330	$34,970 – $75,920	260
28	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,570	$44,710 – $57,330	730
29	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,150	$36,490 – $76,420	290
30	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,790	$35,360 – $76,250	320
31	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,480	$36,960 – $61,370	50
32	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,120	$34,750 – $68,490	70
33	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,960	$35,390 – $119,400	200
34	Physical Therapist AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$25,890 – $49,790	70
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,500	$36,920 – $62,400	230
36	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,900	$31,950 – $70,360	30
37	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,880	$35,670 – $62,230	140
38	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,390	$35,220 – $69,900	80
39	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$48,350	$30,540 – $60,180	30
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,160	$35,870 – $67,610	290
41	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,130	$38,830 – $72,320	110
42	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,060	$36,920 – $78,110	50
43	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,050	$36,200 – $73,690	240
44	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,790	$27,410 – $81,330	100
45	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,660	$33,290 – $74,930	120
46	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,570	$39,810 – $47,630	60
47	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,400	$35,900 – $77,190	500
48	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,370	$36,700 – $62,330	120
49	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,250	$36,400 – $56,830	90
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,660	$37,900 – $61,040	90

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

High paying jobs in Abilene, TX that need no experience

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