High paying jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Champaign-Urbana, 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 Champaign-Urbana, IL run 7.3% below the national average (2024), so a Champaign-Urbana, IL salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Champaign-Urbana, IL

OccupationMedian, Champaign-Urbana, IL · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,420
Associate's degree
$76,710 – $120,340100
2Electricians$100,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,970 – $105,710410
3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$95,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,680 – $112,850390
4Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$92,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,690 – $113,480160
5Sheet Metal Workers$92,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,440 – $100,530110
6Painters, Construction and Maintenance$84,370
No formal educational credential
$42,210 – $95,590160
7Brickmasons and Blockmasons$83,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $105,82040
8Dental Hygienists$81,110
Associate's degree
$75,370 – $98,570170
9Power Distributors and Dispatchers$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,800 – $106,88060
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,400 – $108,190430
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,750
Associate's degree
$48,880 – $102,11060
12Advertising Sales Agents$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $163,18060
13Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,590 – $111,660240
14Respiratory Therapists$74,660
Associate's degree
$62,170 – $100,810120
15Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$74,660
No formal educational credential
$46,900 – $85,610110
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,860 – $103,38040
17Surgical Assistants$74,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,640 – $102,41040
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,000 – $109,81070
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $137,260530
20Carpenters$66,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,960 – $100,040310
21Audio and Video Technicians$66,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,600 – $98,20040
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,760
Associate's degree
$59,680 – $99,980210
23Computer Network Support Specialists$66,260
Associate's degree
$55,730 – $84,410300
24Highway Maintenance Workers$65,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $100,790290
25Legal Support Workers, All Other$65,490
Associate's degree
$36,510 – $95,61050
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,470 – $78,840300
27Agricultural Technicians$63,080
Associate's degree
$45,620 – $64,67070
28Firefighters$62,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,010 – $90,900340
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $96,100160
30Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,360 – $102,75060
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $123,200650
32Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $85,70090
33Physical Therapist Assistants$61,430
Associate's degree
$35,950 – $78,72080
34Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,650 – $99,470100
35Massage Therapists$61,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,940 – $81,260110
36Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03070
37Occupational Therapy Assistants$60,840
Associate's degree
$43,270 – $78,09070
38Roofers$60,150
No formal educational credential
$40,100 – $80,19070
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,990
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040250
40Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $91,33070
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,280180
42Construction Laborers$59,460
No formal educational credential
$37,990 – $97,820570
43Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$59,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $81,63080
44Machinists$58,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $106,040100
45Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $85,240200
46Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,580
Associate's degree
$45,910 – $80,020100
47Tool and Die Makers$58,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,400 – $80,17060
48Computer User Support Specialists$57,720
Some college, no degree
$39,680 – $81,640350
49Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$56,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,330 – $82,660100
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,130 – $80,560840

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

#	Occupation	MedianChampaign-Urbana, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,420	$76,710 – $120,340	100
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,320	$47,970 – $105,710	410
3	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,530	$50,680 – $112,850	390
4	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,900	$57,690 – $113,480	160
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,710	$44,440 – $100,530	110
6	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$84,370	$42,210 – $95,590	160
7	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,250	$44,840 – $105,820	40
8	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,110	$75,370 – $98,570	170
9	Power Distributors and DispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$80,800 – $106,880	60
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,520	$54,400 – $108,190	430
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,750	$48,880 – $102,110	60
12	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$31,200 – $163,180	60
13	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$47,590 – $111,660	240
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,660	$62,170 – $100,810	120
15	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$74,660	$46,900 – $85,610	110
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,590	$56,860 – $103,380	40
17	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,490	$59,640 – $102,410	40
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,420	$53,000 – $109,810	70
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,180	$45,610 – $137,260	530
20	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,980	$42,960 – $100,040	310
21	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,930	$39,600 – $98,200	40
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,760	$59,680 – $99,980	210
23	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,260	$55,730 – $84,410	300
24	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,730	$34,350 – $100,790	290
25	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,490	$36,510 – $95,610	50
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,130	$49,470 – $78,840	300
27	Agricultural TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,080	$45,620 – $64,670	70
28	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,190	$35,010 – $90,900	340
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$39,270 – $96,100	160
30	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$44,360 – $102,750	60
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,840	$37,010 – $123,200	650
32	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,720	$38,670 – $85,700	90
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,430	$35,950 – $78,720	80
34	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,420	$38,650 – $99,470	100
35	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,170	$36,940 – $81,260	110
36	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	70
37	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,840	$43,270 – $78,090	70
38	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$60,150	$40,100 – $80,190	70
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,990	$42,390 – $81,040	250
40	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,960	$42,630 – $91,330	70
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,280	180
42	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$59,460	$37,990 – $97,820	570
43	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,200	$39,070 – $81,630	80
44	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,910	$45,470 – $106,040	100
45	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,780	$43,770 – $85,240	200
46	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,580	$45,910 – $80,020	100
47	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,000	$41,400 – $80,170	60
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,720	$39,680 – $81,640	350
49	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,360	$32,330 – $82,660	100
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,270	$38,130 – $80,560	840

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Champaign-Urbana, 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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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Champaign-Urbana, IL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL that need no experience

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