High paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH run 8.3% above the national average (2024), so a Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH salary is worth about 0.92× 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

OccupationMedian, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Employed

1Structural Iron and Steel Workers$120,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,000 – $128,6001,310
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$111,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$81,230 – $128,5601,550
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$109,200
Associate's degree
$98,660 – $135,8101,590
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,590
Associate's degree
$78,650 – $133,3004,100
5Respiratory Therapists$104,580
Associate's degree
$82,620 – $125,1201,560
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,830 – $113,3101,730
7Dental Hygienists$101,990
Associate's degree
$95,860 – $117,5705,150
8Brickmasons and Blockmasons$96,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,720 – $136,8701,060
9Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$96,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,270 – $143,9509,200
10Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$74,890 – $133,4001,220
11Correctional Officers and Jailers$89,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,030 – $101,6204,510
12Computer Network Support Specialists$88,950
Associate's degree
$58,950 – $134,6401,700
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$88,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,850 – $123,3903,380
14Advertising Sales Agents$83,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $135,1401,100
15Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$83,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $164,02025,310
16Sheet Metal Workers$82,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,210 – $121,0602,330
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$82,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,680 – $94,1108,410
18Surgical Technologists$81,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,690 – $116,3401,550
19Physical Therapist Assistants$80,430
Associate's degree
$62,710 – $89,1501,860
20Insurance Sales Agents$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,620 – $163,3807,420
21Electricians$79,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,240 – $129,32013,410
22Paralegals and Legal Assistants$79,850
Associate's degree
$50,340 – $126,4706,300
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $157,53014,010
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$79,310
Associate's degree
$60,780 – $102,5802,150
25Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$78,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,950 – $103,8301,330
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,890 – $103,0506,050
27Medical Equipment Repairers$78,480
Associate's degree
$50,690 – $100,4901,660
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,750 – $107,0202,140
29Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
Associate's degree
$57,670 – $105,8203,290
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,750 – $107,24011,440
31Computer User Support Specialists$77,850
Some college, no degree
$49,990 – $107,11013,580
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$76,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,010 – $125,8606,370
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $108,6701,180
34Transportation Security Screeners$76,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,030 – $83,7401,250
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$75,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,030 – $103,8503,110
36Occupational Therapy Assistants$75,300
Associate's degree
$42,120 – $83,550850
37Carpenters$75,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,820 – $124,19012,720
38Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,260 – $99,9604,060
39Massage Therapists$75,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,430 – $104,7102,180
40Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,250
Associate's degree
$52,040 – $94,6901,580
41Firefighters$73,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,700 – $118,5408,510
42Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$73,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,220 – $93,0601,460
43Machinists$72,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $93,6004,870
44Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$70,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,580 – $93,5003,270
45Chemical Technicians$67,850
Associate's degree
$48,730 – $94,5701,240
46Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$67,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $81,4501,360
47Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$66,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $89,4502,500
48Roofers$66,350
No formal educational credential
$53,700 – $96,2201,120
49Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$65,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $105,3907,350
50Bus Drivers, School$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $72,4806,470

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

#	Occupation	MedianBoston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,840	$81,000 – $128,600	1,310
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,490	$81,230 – $128,560	1,550
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$109,200	$98,660 – $135,810	1,590
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,590	$78,650 – $133,300	4,100
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,580	$82,620 – $125,120	1,560
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,090	$57,830 – $113,310	1,730
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$101,990	$95,860 – $117,570	5,150
8	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,960	$62,720 – $136,870	1,060
9	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,760	$52,270 – $143,950	9,200
10	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,280	$74,890 – $133,400	1,220
11	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,060	$65,030 – $101,620	4,510
12	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$88,950	$58,950 – $134,640	1,700
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,390	$59,850 – $123,390	3,380
14	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,470	$45,330 – $135,140	1,100
15	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,420	$49,990 – $164,020	25,310
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,550	$43,210 – $121,060	2,330
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,190	$61,680 – $94,110	8,410
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,500	$61,690 – $116,340	1,550
19	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$80,430	$62,710 – $89,150	1,860
20	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$58,620 – $163,380	7,420
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,910	$47,240 – $129,320	13,410
22	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,850	$50,340 – $126,470	6,300
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,670	$46,810 – $157,530	14,010
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,310	$60,780 – $102,580	2,150
25	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,560	$48,950 – $103,830	1,330
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,530	$50,890 – $103,050	6,050
27	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,480	$50,690 – $100,490	1,660
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,240	$39,750 – $107,020	2,140
29	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,190	$57,670 – $105,820	3,290
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,180	$61,750 – $107,240	11,440
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$77,850	$49,990 – $107,110	13,580
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,940	$54,010 – $125,860	6,370
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,770	$60,530 – $108,670	1,180
34	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,130	$62,030 – $83,740	1,250
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,770	$52,030 – $103,850	3,110
36	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,300	$42,120 – $83,550	850
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,210	$48,820 – $124,190	12,720
38	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,200	$50,260 – $99,960	4,060
39	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,160	$46,430 – $104,710	2,180
40	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,250	$52,040 – $94,690	1,580
41	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,990	$49,700 – $118,540	8,510
42	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,330	$54,220 – $93,060	1,460
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,060	$48,400 – $93,600	4,870
44	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,120	$52,580 – $93,500	3,270
45	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,850	$48,730 – $94,570	1,240
46	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,320	$48,030 – $81,450	1,360
47	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,930	$50,510 – $89,450	2,500
48	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$66,350	$53,700 – $96,220	1,120
49	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,190	$36,120 – $105,390	7,350
50	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$44,580 – $72,480	6,470

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH that need no experience

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