High paying jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX run 14.0% below the national average (2024), so a Brownsville-Harlingen, TX salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

OccupationMedian, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$82,860
Associate's degree
$73,130 – $94,980120
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$75,400
Associate's degree
$60,820 – $94,44070
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,320 – $97,470100
4Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$73,900
Associate's degree
$46,270 – $100,15070
5Physical Therapist Assistants$73,020
Associate's degree
$47,750 – $92,670140
6Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,190
Associate's degree
$53,710 – $85,67080
7Respiratory Therapists$66,990
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $76,280110
8Sailors and Marine Oilers$65,940
No formal educational credential
$36,870 – $86,80070
9Transportation Security Screeners$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $71,28080
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,100
Associate's degree
$35,060 – $87,280260
11Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03050
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,850
Associate's degree
$46,840 – $74,47070
13Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $86,470270
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$56,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $80,400290
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $84,740820
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$56,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,660 – $107,090530
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$56,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,420 – $65,5701,260
18Computer Network Support Specialists$55,740
Associate's degree
$42,230 – $100,18060
19Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$51,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,600 – $78,46070
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$51,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,010 – $76,61080
21Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$50,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,180 – $64,340380
22Tax Preparers$49,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,870 – $69,28090
23Machinists$48,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $69,050120
24Information and Record Clerks, All Other$48,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,290 – $64,940120
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$48,710
Associate's degree
$38,660 – $80,60060
26Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$48,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,740 – $72,4001,660
27Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$47,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,810 – $71,380260
28Computer User Support Specialists$47,730
Some college, no degree
$31,250 – $77,370440
29Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,900 – $63,52050
30Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$47,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $70,340180
31Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$47,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,300 – $87,65060
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$46,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,670 – $63,820250
33Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$46,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,970 – $72,800180
34Maintenance Workers, Machinery$46,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,800 – $65,220100
35Insurance Sales Agents$46,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $119,520390
36Firefighters$46,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,040 – $47,800310
37Cargo and Freight Agents$46,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,040 – $73,15080
38Electricians$46,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $66,420450
39Automotive Body and Related Repairers$45,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,740 – $85,88080
40Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$45,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,890 – $52,380250
41Paralegals and Legal Assistants$45,480
Associate's degree
$28,910 – $78,850320
42Social and Human Service Assistants$45,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,420 – $55,580690
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,230 – $76,710650
44Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$44,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,280 – $58,290140
45Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$44,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,710 – $56,14050
46Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$44,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,360 – $90,2801,010
47Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$43,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,390 – $72,070260
48Surveying and Mapping Technicians$42,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,650 – $61,79050
49Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$42,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,020 – $57,530140
50Painters, Construction and Maintenance$41,600
No formal educational credential
$19,740 – $49,690100

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

#	Occupation	MedianBrownsville-Harlingen, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,860	$73,130 – $94,980	120
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$75,400	$60,820 – $94,440	70
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$33,320 – $97,470	100
4	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$73,900	$46,270 – $100,150	70
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,020	$47,750 – $92,670	140
6	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,190	$53,710 – $85,670	80
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,990	$59,320 – $76,280	110
8	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$65,940	$36,870 – $86,800	70
9	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$61,110 – $71,280	80
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,100	$35,060 – $87,280	260
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	50
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,850	$46,840 – $74,470	70
13	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $86,470	270
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,980	$38,210 – $80,400	290
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,820	$37,840 – $84,740	820
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,710	$30,660 – $107,090	530
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,250	$44,420 – $65,570	1,260
18	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$55,740	$42,230 – $100,180	60
19	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,720	$36,600 – $78,460	70
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,710	$34,010 – $76,610	80
21	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,540	$42,180 – $64,340	380
22	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,630	$27,870 – $69,280	90
23	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,970	$35,560 – $69,050	120
24	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,870	$31,290 – $64,940	120
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$48,710	$38,660 – $80,600	60
26	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,550	$30,740 – $72,400	1,660
27	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,910	$35,810 – $71,380	260
28	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$47,730	$31,250 – $77,370	440
29	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$28,900 – $63,520	50
30	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,580	$33,600 – $70,340	180
31	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,180	$33,300 – $87,650	60
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,850	$32,670 – $63,820	250
33	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,560	$29,970 – $72,800	180
34	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,430	$30,800 – $65,220	100
35	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,220	$29,120 – $119,520	390
36	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,220	$35,040 – $47,800	310
37	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,090	$34,040 – $73,150	80
38	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,080	$32,180 – $66,420	450
39	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,950	$27,740 – $85,880	80
40	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,620	$36,890 – $52,380	250
41	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$45,480	$28,910 – $78,850	320
42	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,360	$29,420 – $55,580	690
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,020	$30,230 – $76,710	650
44	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,730	$30,280 – $58,290	140
45	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,610	$31,710 – $56,140	50
46	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,460	$23,360 – $90,280	1,010
47	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,800	$34,390 – $72,070	260
48	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,480	$32,650 – $61,790	50
49	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,070	$29,020 – $57,530	140
50	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$41,600	$19,740 – $49,690	100

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX. 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 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX that need no experience

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