High paying jobs in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA, 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA run 0.2% above the national average (2024), so a Amherst Town-Northampton, MA 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 Amherst Town-Northampton, MA

OccupationMedian, Amherst Town-Northampton, MA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$97,940
Associate's degree
$83,720 – $101,150130
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,960 – $125,77030
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$82,520
Associate's degree
$66,890 – $105,93090
4Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,270 – $154,190260
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $109,340190
6Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,270 – $86,380220
7Electricians$76,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $98,440240
8Insurance Sales Agents$76,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,780 – $129,410100
9Physical Therapist Assistants$76,380
Associate's degree
$63,930 – $81,51040
10Sheet Metal Workers$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $111,89030
11Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$74,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $133,030250
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,480 – $105,510430
13Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$73,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,150 – $92,230180
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,430 – $88,60060
15Tutors$68,220
Some college, no degree
$32,090 – $120,55070
16Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,020
Associate's degree
$52,670 – $82,83040
17Audio and Video Technicians$67,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,710 – $85,95040
18Carpenters$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $106,390350
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,470 – $124,100180
20Opticians, Dispensing$65,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,040 – $81,70060
21Computer User Support Specialists$64,470
Some college, no degree
$47,460 – $94,250240
22Paralegals and Legal Assistants$64,050
Associate's degree
$34,690 – $91,330100
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,620 – $81,36080
24Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,740 – $87,740110
25Postal Service Clerks$62,370
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
26Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$61,800
No formal educational credential
$47,530 – $64,73050
27Public Safety Telecommunicators$61,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,470 – $86,83090
28Highway Maintenance Workers$61,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,320 – $79,860110
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$61,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,060 – $73,700470
30Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,800 – $98,940200
31Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040180
32Tree Trimmers and Pruners$59,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,420 – $77,96040
33Firefighters$59,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,340 – $70,840300
34Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,060 – $87,420220
35Medical Records Specialists$58,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,500 – $86,70040
36Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$58,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,570 – $79,47060
37Machinists$58,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $80,440110
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,550 – $77,27060
39Construction Laborers$58,150
No formal educational credential
$38,930 – $96,140280
40Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $84,300110
41Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$56,430
Some college, no degree
$40,590 – $76,060490
42Bus Drivers, School$55,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,650 – $69,320120
43Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $67,890140
44Painters, Construction and Maintenance$55,040
No formal educational credential
$39,640 – $70,05060
45Dental Assistants$54,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,490 – $61,850160
46Community Health Workers$53,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $72,68080
47Office Clerks, General$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,460 – $66,3101,400
48Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$51,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,240 – $64,640100
49Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$51,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,360 – $70,0501,140
50Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$51,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $66,7501,250

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

#	Occupation	MedianAmherst Town-Northampton, MA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,940	$83,720 – $101,150	130
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,380	$84,960 – $125,770	30
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,520	$66,890 – $105,930	90
4	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,110	$48,270 – $154,190	260
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,570	$48,760 – $109,340	190
6	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,080	$66,270 – $86,380	220
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,980	$40,830 – $98,440	240
8	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,650	$48,780 – $129,410	100
9	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,380	$63,930 – $81,510	40
10	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$37,780 – $111,890	30
11	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,710	$44,310 – $133,030	250
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,480	$50,480 – $105,510	430
13	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,370	$49,150 – $92,230	180
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,710	$49,430 – $88,600	60
15	TutorsSome college, no degree	$68,220	$32,090 – $120,550	70
16	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,020	$52,670 – $82,830	40
17	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,100	$44,710 – $85,950	40
18	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$47,960 – $106,390	350
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$48,470 – $124,100	180
20	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,000	$48,040 – $81,700	60
21	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$64,470	$47,460 – $94,250	240
22	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,050	$34,690 – $91,330	100
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$52,620 – $81,360	80
24	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,260	$46,740 – $87,740	110
25	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,370	$42,600 – $75,030	60
26	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$61,800	$47,530 – $64,730	50
27	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,750	$48,470 – $86,830	90
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,520	$40,320 – $79,860	110
29	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,260	$46,060 – $73,700	470
30	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$34,800 – $98,940	200
31	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	180
32	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,370	$46,420 – $77,960	40
33	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,270	$38,340 – $70,840	300
34	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,980	$38,060 – $87,420	220
35	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,820	$40,500 – $86,700	40
36	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,720	$47,570 – $79,470	60
37	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,360	$46,960 – $80,440	110
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,220	$41,550 – $77,270	60
39	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,150	$38,930 – $96,140	280
40	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,920	$37,230 – $84,300	110
41	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$56,430	$40,590 – $76,060	490
42	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,580	$40,650 – $69,320	120
43	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$34,910 – $67,890	140
44	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$55,040	$39,640 – $70,050	60
45	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,970	$39,490 – $61,850	160
46	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,850	$44,980 – $72,680	80
47	Office Clerks, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$38,460 – $66,310	1,400
48	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,890	$42,240 – $64,640	100
49	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,640	$42,360 – $70,050	1,140
50	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,100	$38,790 – $66,750	1,250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA. 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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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Amherst Town-Northampton, MA that need no experience

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