High paying jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL, 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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL run 13.9% below the national average (2024), so a Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 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 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL

OccupationMedian, Cape Girardeau, MO-IL · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,330 – $104,74050
2Dental Hygienists$83,690
Associate's degree
$52,600 – $95,04080
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,430
Associate's degree
$59,680 – $100,57040
4Computer Network Support Specialists$72,950
Associate's degree
$40,440 – $118,80040
5Respiratory Therapists$66,910
Associate's degree
$58,590 – $83,03090
6Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $78,55080
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,220
Associate's degree
$50,470 – $84,190100
8Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$65,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $104,070120
9Carpenters$63,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,160 – $90,980180
10Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,330
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
11Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,010
Associate's degree
$56,530 – $74,16060
12Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $84,27060
13Physical Therapist Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$50,960 – $73,26090
14Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,980 – $89,880130
15Millwrights$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $98,34030
16Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,700 – $74,250410
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,650 – $111,420310
18Electricians$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $99,400150
19Insurance Sales Agents$58,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $125,420120
20Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,180
No formal educational credential
$42,680 – $74,92070
21Construction Laborers$58,140
No formal educational credential
$36,780 – $77,090220
22Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,010
No formal educational credential
$37,940 – $71,35090
23Sheet Metal Workers$57,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $111,01050
24Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,750 – $75,140220
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $74,940150
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$55,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,000 – $80,71050
27Computer User Support Specialists$53,230
Some college, no degree
$36,780 – $94,880130
28Advertising Sales Agents$51,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,920 – $93,43050
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$51,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $93,96090
30Medical Records Specialists$51,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,450 – $76,77070
31Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $73,12060
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,900 – $77,050730
33Surgical Technologists$49,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $67,62060
34Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $83,27060
35Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $76,440490
36Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,600 – $75,860310
37Printing Press Operators$48,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,630 – $75,49070
38Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $59,280170
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$48,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,610 – $104,230180
40Machinists$48,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $84,900100
41Highway Maintenance Workers$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,960 – $77,57090
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,730 – $73,83080
43Bus Drivers, School$47,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $61,56070
44Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$47,520
Associate's degree
$36,410 – $82,50030
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$47,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,950 – $72,690110
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$46,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,220 – $76,52050
47Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$46,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $78,85060
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$46,160
Associate's degree
$40,570 – $69,86060
49Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,810
Some college, no degree
$33,550 – $67,640310
50Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$45,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $69,99030

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

#	Occupation	MedianCape Girardeau, MO-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,650	$66,330 – $104,740	50
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,690	$52,600 – $95,040	80
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,430	$59,680 – $100,570	40
4	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,950	$40,440 – $118,800	40
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,910	$58,590 – $83,030	90
6	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,530	$46,040 – $78,550	80
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,220	$50,470 – $84,190	100
8	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,180	$40,100 – $104,070	120
9	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,740	$43,160 – $90,980	180
10	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$42,390 – $81,040	130
11	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,010	$56,530 – $74,160	60
12	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,670	$46,550 – $84,270	60
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$50,960 – $73,260	90
14	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$38,980 – $89,880	130
15	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$47,130 – $98,340	30
16	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,100	$45,700 – $74,250	410
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,830	$34,650 – $111,420	310
18	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$44,550 – $99,400	150
19	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,730	$38,510 – $125,420	120
20	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,180	$42,680 – $74,920	70
21	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,140	$36,780 – $77,090	220
22	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,010	$37,940 – $71,350	90
23	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,190	$46,330 – $111,010	50
24	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$38,750 – $75,140	220
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,010	$43,970 – $74,940	150
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,520	$33,000 – $80,710	50
27	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$53,230	$36,780 – $94,880	130
28	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,920	$30,920 – $93,430	50
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,260	$37,850 – $93,960	90
30	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,090	$36,450 – $76,770	70
31	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,960	$40,000 – $73,120	60
32	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,200	$36,900 – $77,050	730
33	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,880	$38,100 – $67,620	60
34	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$34,540 – $83,270	60
35	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,830	$33,570 – $76,440	490
36	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,690	$32,600 – $75,860	310
37	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,610	$33,630 – $75,490	70
38	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,580	$37,970 – $59,280	170
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,510	$31,610 – $104,230	180
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,160	$38,030 – $84,900	100
41	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$40,960 – $77,570	90
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$35,730 – $73,830	80
43	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,550	$28,600 – $61,560	70
44	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,520	$36,410 – $82,500	30
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,150	$37,950 – $72,690	110
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,750	$31,220 – $76,520	50
47	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,410	$38,100 – $78,850	60
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$46,160	$40,570 – $69,860	60
49	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$45,810	$33,550 – $67,640	310
50	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,670	$36,290 – $69,990	30

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL. 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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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Cape Girardeau, MO-IL that need no experience

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