High paying jobs in Bowling Green, KY that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Bowling Green, KY, 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 Bowling Green, KY run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Bowling Green, KY salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Bowling Green, KY

OccupationMedian, Bowling Green, KY · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$90,310
Associate's degree
$61,410 – $114,95040
2Millwrights$77,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $92,29050
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,080
Associate's degree
$52,950 – $93,000120
4Dental Hygienists$75,690
Associate's degree
$60,650 – $94,940120
5Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,600 – $83,700700
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,140 – $96,100140
7Tool and Die Makers$69,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,000 – $83,220180
8Respiratory Therapists$68,490
Associate's degree
$60,940 – $92,39090
9Chemical Technicians$64,620
Associate's degree
$42,700 – $101,19040
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $93,660160
11Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,060
Associate's degree
$44,940 – $78,83070
12Postal Service Clerks$63,670
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $76,36040
13Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$63,420
Associate's degree
$36,220 – $97,61050
14Physical Therapist Assistants$62,740
Associate's degree
$36,410 – $74,580130
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,690
Associate's degree
$57,680 – $75,95040
16Computer Network Support Specialists$61,200
Associate's degree
$37,830 – $100,84070
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,360 – $66,320250
18Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,440 – $103,380190
19Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $75,200360
20Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$60,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,460 – $95,63080
21Insurance Sales Agents$60,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,360 – $125,210260
22Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $82,400300
23Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,710
Associate's degree
$56,330 – $72,23060
24Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,170
Associate's degree
$41,150 – $73,690160
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,800 – $126,730700
26Maintenance Workers, Machinery$59,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $146,93060
27Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,140 – $91,39070
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $76,96090
29Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$58,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,230 – $86,76030
30Surgical Technologists$58,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,460 – $76,01060
31Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $60,510220
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$56,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $61,590160
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040210
34Electricians$55,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $93,250480
35Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$55,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,320 – $71,100110
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,240 – $74,260230
37Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,710 – $59,820400
38Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $69,56090
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$53,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,690 – $75,9701,540
40Architectural and Civil Drafters$52,980
Associate's degree
$31,600 – $89,65030
41Carpenters$52,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,600 – $61,520480
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$51,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,480 – $67,280200
43Machinists$51,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,050 – $66,180260
44Computer User Support Specialists$51,710
Some college, no degree
$35,680 – $82,500250
45Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$49,380
No formal educational credential
$38,180 – $61,40050
46Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,330 – $69,91080
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$48,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,660 – $80,290320
48Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $57,290100
49Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$48,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,930 – $99,500340
50Roofers$48,680
No formal educational credential
$36,120 – $59,92050

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

#	Occupation	MedianBowling Green, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$90,310	$61,410 – $114,950	40
2	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,480	$49,990 – $92,290	50
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,080	$52,950 – $93,000	120
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,690	$60,650 – $94,940	120
5	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,410	$48,600 – $83,700	700
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,660	$59,140 – $96,100	140
7	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,790	$49,000 – $83,220	180
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$68,490	$60,940 – $92,390	90
9	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,620	$42,700 – $101,190	40
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,260	$46,060 – $93,660	160
11	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,060	$44,940 – $78,830	70
12	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,670	$36,360 – $76,360	40
13	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$63,420	$36,220 – $97,610	50
14	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,740	$36,410 – $74,580	130
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,690	$57,680 – $75,950	40
16	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,200	$37,830 – $100,840	70
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,830	$50,360 – $66,320	250
18	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,830	$41,440 – $103,380	190
19	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,550	$38,620 – $75,200	360
20	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,420	$48,460 – $95,630	80
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,400	$29,360 – $125,210	260
22	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$45,900 – $82,400	300
23	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,710	$56,330 – $72,230	60
24	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,170	$41,150 – $73,690	160
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$32,800 – $126,730	700
26	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,100	$45,890 – $146,930	60
27	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,010	$40,140 – $91,390	70
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,960	$47,840 – $76,960	90
29	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,800	$56,230 – $86,760	30
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,770	$48,460 – $76,010	60
31	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,620	$46,710 – $60,510	220
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,390	$38,590 – $61,590	160
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	210
34	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,740	$36,190 – $93,250	480
35	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,480	$37,320 – $71,100	110
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,230	$39,240 – $74,260	230
37	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,630	$42,710 – $59,820	400
38	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,540	$36,230 – $69,560	90
39	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,450	$37,690 – $75,970	1,540
40	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$52,980	$31,600 – $89,650	30
41	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,680	$37,600 – $61,520	480
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,920	$36,480 – $67,280	200
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,730	$40,050 – $66,180	260
44	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$51,710	$35,680 – $82,500	250
45	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$49,380	$38,180 – $61,400	50
46	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,180	$39,330 – $69,910	80
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,860	$37,660 – $80,290	320
48	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,840	$35,410 – $57,290	100
49	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,730	$30,930 – $99,500	340
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$48,680	$36,120 – $59,920	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Bowling Green, KY. 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 Bowling Green, KY to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Bowling Green, KY that need no experience

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