High paying jobs in Arkansas that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average (2024), so a Arkansas salary is worth about 1.15× 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 Arkansas.

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

Find high paying jobs in Arkansas

OccupationMedian, Arkansas · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$94,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,290 – $171,500460
2Dental Hygienists$86,760
Associate's degree
$62,170 – $97,7301,740
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,500
Associate's degree
$64,280 – $102,190640
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,150 – $115,1201,510
5Occupational Therapy Assistants$78,940
Associate's degree
$50,710 – $98,960730
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $103,4202,660
7Respiratory Therapists$73,870
Associate's degree
$59,550 – $93,4801,400
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$65,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,900 – $78,690720
9Physical Therapist Assistants$64,520
Associate's degree
$31,540 – $85,2801,620
10Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,800 – $87,5601,160
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,640
Associate's degree
$46,810 – $94,1802,210
12Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,420
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $81,490980
13Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $89,680440
14Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $99,1501,690
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,790 – $77,0001,190
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,180 – $81,0206,270
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0403,030
18Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030970
19Computer Network Support Specialists$59,460
Associate's degree
$42,340 – $102,4501,470
20Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280570
21Surgical Technologists$57,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,750 – $75,4601,640
22Insurance Sales Agents$56,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,300 – $122,5304,580
23Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,670 – $65,02010,010
24Millwrights$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,640 – $76,1401,140
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,630 – $132,20012,740
26Brickmasons and Blockmasons$55,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $62,370450
27Maintenance Workers, Machinery$53,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,410 – $73,750770
28Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$52,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $69,2604,090
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,770 – $81,11032,220
30Machinists$51,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $78,4002,150
31Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$50,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $76,490510
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$50,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $107,2105,750
33Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,130 – $85,6002,390
34Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,180 – $69,2502,180
35Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $61,7601,270
36Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$50,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $104,530920
37Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$50,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $50,050430
38Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $66,470840
39Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$49,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,620 – $68,5801,320
40Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $76,5501,140
41Advertising Sales Agents$49,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,920 – $96,150900
42Electricians$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,910 – $74,4607,500
43Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,970 – $76,420790
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$48,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,760 – $67,190620
45Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$48,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,410 – $68,8703,370
46Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,870 – $61,7702,060
47Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $48,3202,190
48Logging Equipment Operators$48,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,990 – $65,0001,280
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,040 – $69,2904,960
50Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $62,8306,150

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

#	Occupation	MedianArkansas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,410	$43,290 – $171,500	460
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,760	$62,170 – $97,730	1,740
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,500	$64,280 – $102,190	640
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,450	$51,150 – $115,120	1,510
5	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,940	$50,710 – $98,960	730
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$46,490 – $103,420	2,660
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,870	$59,550 – $93,480	1,400
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,420	$39,900 – $78,690	720
9	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,520	$31,540 – $85,280	1,620
10	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$41,800 – $87,560	1,160
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,640	$46,810 – $94,180	2,210
12	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,420	$49,880 – $81,490	980
13	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$38,190 – $89,680	440
14	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$36,160 – $99,150	1,690
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,530	$42,790 – $77,000	1,190
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$39,180 – $81,020	6,270
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,700	$42,390 – $81,040	3,030
18	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	970
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$59,460	$42,340 – $102,450	1,470
20	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	570
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,400	$38,750 – $75,460	1,640
22	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,720	$34,300 – $122,530	4,580
23	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,620	$44,670 – $65,020	10,010
24	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$36,640 – $76,140	1,140
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$29,630 – $132,200	12,740
26	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,100	$39,170 – $62,370	450
27	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,250	$41,410 – $73,750	770
28	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,330	$38,620 – $69,260	4,090
29	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,550	$36,770 – $81,110	32,220
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,140	$37,760 – $78,400	2,150
31	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,840	$40,100 – $76,490	510
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,570	$30,930 – $107,210	5,750
33	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$38,130 – $85,600	2,390
34	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,280	$35,180 – $69,250	2,180
35	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,150	$39,110 – $61,760	1,270
36	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,070	$35,170 – $104,530	920
37	Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,010	$47,150 – $50,050	430
38	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,960	$36,410 – $66,470	840
39	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,740	$34,620 – $68,580	1,320
40	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,310	$36,070 – $76,550	1,140
41	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,120	$28,920 – $96,150	900
42	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$34,910 – $74,460	7,500
43	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$30,970 – $76,420	790
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,950	$35,760 – $67,190	620
45	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,660	$33,410 – $68,870	3,370
46	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,630	$35,870 – $61,770	2,060
47	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,320	$38,220 – $48,320	2,190
48	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,280	$28,990 – $65,000	1,280
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,110	$37,040 – $69,290	4,960
50	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,970	$37,380 – $62,830	6,150

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

Metro areas in Arkansas

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

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Arkansas that need no experience

More for Arkansas

Metro areas in Arkansas

By field in Arkansas

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience