High paying jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY run 0.4% below the national average (2024), so a Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY salary is worth about 1.00× 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

OccupationMedian, Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$127,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,190 – $131,550460
2Power Plant Operators$103,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,910 – $142,310150
3Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$102,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,970 – $121,590260
4Dental Hygienists$98,030
Associate's degree
$79,920 – $103,990730
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,040
Associate's degree
$81,230 – $109,610290
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$85,590
Associate's degree
$65,530 – $101,680670
7Respiratory Therapists$85,250
Associate's degree
$72,900 – $100,520300
8Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,570
Associate's degree
$58,340 – $103,170200
9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$82,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,020 – $128,9501,000
10Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,480
Associate's degree
$51,950 – $101,160450
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,850 – $110,9201,210
12Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,090 – $108,860490
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,240 – $100,2701,770
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$77,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $116,5501,470
15Structural Iron and Steel Workers$77,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,350 – $97,730150
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,660 – $93,110850
17Electricians$74,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $106,5201,820
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Associate's degree
$51,240 – $87,020190
19Bailiffs$74,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,180 – $95,900190
20Real Estate Sales Agents$73,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,410 – $140,050160
21Computer Network Support Specialists$73,160
Associate's degree
$51,270 – $105,390430
22Mechanical Drafters$72,500
Associate's degree
$49,780 – $106,980160
23Insurance Sales Agents$71,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,430 – $150,8101,120
24Firefighters$70,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $82,190480
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,150 – $131,8902,850
26Advertising Sales Agents$70,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $141,840220
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,720 – $145,6103,060
28Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$66,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,680 – $92,960320
29Sheet Metal Workers$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $107,190280
30Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,370
Associate's degree
$39,120 – $104,140200
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$66,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,510 – $97,8101,450
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,300 – $93,460480
33Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$64,990
Associate's degree
$37,570 – $100,920160
34Surgical Technologists$64,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,200 – $81,200280
35Chemical Technicians$64,060
Associate's degree
$51,190 – $89,500320
36Machinists$63,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $93,580580
37Roofers$63,920
No formal educational credential
$47,610 – $91,400440
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $83,730780
39Opticians, Dispensing$63,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $85,170180
40Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,250
Associate's degree
$44,660 – $100,680300
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $81,520360
42Transportation Security Screeners$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,090 – $69,350160
43Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,980
No formal educational credential
$48,500 – $89,770330
44Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,800
Associate's degree
$50,330 – $99,610760
45Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030220
46Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,340 – $94,8101,410
47Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,090 – $81,270290
48Massage Therapists$62,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,240 – $89,350190
49Tax Preparers$62,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,670 – $102,720310
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,990 – $74,0102,130

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

#	Occupation	MedianAlbany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$127,580	$63,190 – $131,550	460
2	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,300	$65,910 – $142,310	150
3	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,660	$65,970 – $121,590	260
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,030	$79,920 – $103,990	730
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,040	$81,230 – $109,610	290
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,590	$65,530 – $101,680	670
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$85,250	$72,900 – $100,520	300
8	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,570	$58,340 – $103,170	200
9	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,540	$51,020 – $128,950	1,000
10	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,480	$51,950 – $101,160	450
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,070	$54,850 – $110,920	1,210
12	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,610	$49,090 – $108,860	490
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,240	$50,240 – $100,270	1,770
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,460	$47,050 – $116,550	1,470
15	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,110	$52,350 – $97,730	150
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,220	$54,660 – $93,110	850
17	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,890	$46,130 – $106,520	1,820
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,840	$51,240 – $87,020	190
19	BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,030	$50,180 – $95,900	190
20	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,560	$44,410 – $140,050	160
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,160	$51,270 – $105,390	430
22	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,500	$49,780 – $106,980	160
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,960	$44,430 – $150,810	1,120
24	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,840	$46,660 – $82,190	480
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,360	$46,150 – $131,890	2,850
26	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,110	$38,230 – $141,840	220
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,050	$39,720 – $145,610	3,060
28	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,620	$54,680 – $92,960	320
29	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$46,340 – $107,190	280
30	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,370	$39,120 – $104,140	200
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,040	$47,510 – $97,810	1,450
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,960	$51,300 – $93,460	480
33	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$64,990	$37,570 – $100,920	160
34	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,070	$48,200 – $81,200	280
35	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,060	$51,190 – $89,500	320
36	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,970	$47,630 – $93,580	580
37	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$63,920	$47,610 – $91,400	440
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$46,490 – $83,730	780
39	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,710	$46,380 – $85,170	180
40	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,250	$44,660 – $100,680	300
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,120	$46,340 – $81,520	360
42	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$47,090 – $69,350	160
43	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,980	$48,500 – $89,770	330
44	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,800	$50,330 – $99,610	760
45	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	220
46	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$40,340 – $94,810	1,410
47	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$43,090 – $81,270	290
48	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,310	$32,240 – $89,350	190
49	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,290	$37,670 – $102,720	310
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,150	$52,990 – $74,010	2,130

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY. 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 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY that need no experience

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