High paying jobs in Boulder, CO that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Boulder, CO, 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 Boulder, CO run 5.2% above the national average (2024), so a Boulder, CO salary is worth about 0.95× 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 Boulder, CO

OccupationMedian, Boulder, CO · Employed

1Legal Support Workers, All Other$134,890
Associate's degree
$52,280 – $185,10090
2Dental Hygienists$130,000
Associate's degree
$93,600 – $133,460300
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$114,620
Associate's degree
$99,980 – $136,660160
4Mechanical Drafters$102,710
Associate's degree
$71,990 – $161,77060
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,430 – $104,690370
6Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$99,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $184,7703,230
7Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$94,190
Associate's degree
$78,810 – $127,80080
8Respiratory Therapists$91,880
Associate's degree
$72,600 – $106,780130
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$88,330
Associate's degree
$65,570 – $116,390290
10Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,870
Associate's degree
$60,140 – $136,46070
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $160,6201,880
12Surgical Technologists$81,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,960 – $97,760130
13Firefighters$79,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $107,200360
14Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$79,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,270 – $94,100150
15Computer Network Support Specialists$78,770
Associate's degree
$55,500 – $130,180270
16Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,370
Associate's degree
$57,260 – $98,040120
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,170 – $94,20080
18Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$77,350
Associate's degree
$59,920 – $95,180120
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,210
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $101,400280
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$76,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,460 – $82,700250
21Medical Equipment Repairers$76,490
Associate's degree
$50,450 – $107,590100
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,200
Associate's degree
$49,230 – $103,840190
23Drafters, All Other$74,630
Associate's degree
$52,480 – $102,82060
24Computer User Support Specialists$74,380
Some college, no degree
$48,200 – $124,6601,710
25Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,760 – $85,490170
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $96,830340
27Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,290 – $94,980170
28Massage Therapists$71,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,090 – $125,010420
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$71,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,900 – $113,670340
30Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$71,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $93,370190
31Public Safety Telecommunicators$70,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,110 – $84,26080
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$69,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,840 – $101,44060
33Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,010
Associate's degree
$55,250 – $93,640150
34Advertising Sales Agents$68,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,740 – $150,390100
35Chemical Technicians$66,960
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $93,530150
36Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$66,610
No formal educational credential
$37,530 – $71,380110
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$66,090
Associate's degree
$53,880 – $98,760400
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$66,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $93,880620
39Community Health Workers$65,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,450 – $92,05070
40Tax Preparers$65,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,260 – $94,060110
41Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$65,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,350 – $76,200260
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,470 – $101,270420
43Surveying and Mapping Technicians$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $83,480110
44Financial Clerks, All Other$64,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $79,270110
45Electricians$64,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $94,890420
46Machinists$63,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,770 – $103,170240
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$63,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,150 – $98,510670
48Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$63,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $93,420150
49Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$63,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,490 – $77,340650
50Sales and Related Workers, All Other$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $126,340440

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

#	Occupation	MedianBoulder, CO	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$134,890	$52,280 – $185,100	90
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$130,000	$93,600 – $133,460	300
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$114,620	$99,980 – $136,660	160
4	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$102,710	$71,990 – $161,770	60
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$78,430 – $104,690	370
6	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,990	$48,620 – $184,770	3,230
7	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$94,190	$78,810 – $127,800	80
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$91,880	$72,600 – $106,780	130
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$88,330	$65,570 – $116,390	290
10	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,870	$60,140 – $136,460	70
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,660	$48,160 – $160,620	1,880
12	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,600	$61,960 – $97,760	130
13	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,390	$47,730 – $107,200	360
14	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,030	$55,270 – $94,100	150
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,770	$55,500 – $130,180	270
16	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,370	$57,260 – $98,040	120
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,800	$50,170 – $94,200	80
18	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,350	$59,920 – $95,180	120
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,210	$59,320 – $101,400	280
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,800	$59,460 – $82,700	250
21	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$76,490	$50,450 – $107,590	100
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,200	$49,230 – $103,840	190
23	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$74,630	$52,480 – $102,820	60
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$74,380	$48,200 – $124,660	1,710
25	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$53,760 – $85,490	170
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,050	$52,000 – $96,830	340
27	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,590	$53,290 – $94,980	170
28	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,870	$55,090 – $125,010	420
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,080	$48,900 – $113,670	340
30	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,060	$50,440 – $93,370	190
31	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,240	$43,110 – $84,260	80
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,600	$45,840 – $101,440	60
33	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,010	$55,250 – $93,640	150
34	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,140	$31,740 – $150,390	100
35	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,960	$47,510 – $93,530	150
36	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$66,610	$37,530 – $71,380	110
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,090	$53,880 – $98,760	400
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,050	$48,250 – $93,880	620
39	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,780	$45,450 – $92,050	70
40	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,410	$39,260 – $94,060	110
41	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,040	$46,350 – $76,200	260
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,890	$49,470 – $101,270	420
43	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$46,140 – $83,480	110
44	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,390	$44,710 – $79,270	110
45	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,120	$47,110 – $94,890	420
46	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,990	$48,770 – $103,170	240
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,950	$44,150 – $98,510	670
48	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,920	$45,600 – $93,420	150
49	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,810	$48,490 – $77,340	650
50	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$43,540 – $126,340	440

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

High paying jobs in Boulder, CO that need no experience

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