High paying jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

OccupationMedian, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$123,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,820 – $131,7601,830
2Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$107,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,450 – $123,13022,680
3Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$103,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,960 – $127,20012,750
4Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$103,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,060 – $124,1607,930
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,080
Associate's degree
$82,660 – $123,9902,280
6Electricians$102,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,890 – $124,07017,720
7Structural Iron and Steel Workers$102,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,620 – $124,5302,120
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$100,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,060 – $130,9502,090
9Dental Hygienists$100,260
Associate's degree
$74,280 – $118,4106,470
10Sheet Metal Workers$95,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $122,3302,430
11Brickmasons and Blockmasons$89,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,960 – $109,8702,140
12Respiratory Therapists$87,060
Associate's degree
$74,560 – $100,1003,620
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,230 – $120,9001,590
14Correctional Officers and Jailers$84,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,000 – $95,9904,940
15Firefighters$82,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,080 – $112,93014,560
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$82,140
Associate's degree
$60,130 – $106,1505,650
17Roofers$82,090
No formal educational credential
$48,770 – $106,7803,900
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,360
Associate's degree
$51,940 – $126,5202,250
19Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$81,020
No formal educational credential
$50,730 – $108,8903,890
20Carpenters$80,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,220 – $118,45014,220
21Surgical Assistants$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,220 – $80,2102,090
22Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,820 – $102,7501,620
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$79,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,690 – $110,8301,770
24Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,590 – $123,4609,080
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,200 – $96,53011,420
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,460 – $117,9407,210
27Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$77,470
No formal educational credential
$39,780 – $89,0903,330
28Highway Maintenance Workers$76,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,110 – $102,5304,110
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,250 – $102,5908,710
30Advertising Sales Agents$75,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $161,4102,830
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,240 – $137,00038,490
32Millwrights$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,230 – $114,5901,490
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$74,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,860 – $104,5702,570
34Computer Network Support Specialists$73,340
Associate's degree
$49,670 – $109,8804,740
35Physical Therapist Assistants$72,230
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $82,8803,520
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,570 – $154,54055,730
37Transportation Security Screeners$70,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,070 – $77,4201,780
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$70,550
Associate's degree
$50,160 – $106,04011,590
39Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$69,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,000 – $100,5203,480
40Insurance Sales Agents$69,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,150 – $163,80011,870
41Medical Equipment Repairers$68,580
Associate's degree
$42,490 – $99,2901,940
42Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$68,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,020 – $68,5802,290
43Occupational Therapy Assistants$67,840
Associate's degree
$48,980 – $82,5601,710
44Public Safety Telecommunicators$66,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,170 – $98,7102,730
45Surgical Technologists$66,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,590 – $94,0302,530
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$65,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $98,6608,660
47Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,160 – $85,9907,080
48Audio and Video Technicians$63,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $116,8802,490
49Postal Service Mail Carriers$63,750
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,04010,320
50Brokerage Clerks$63,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $95,0401,790

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

#	Occupation	MedianChicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,430	$72,820 – $131,760	1,830
2	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,810	$63,450 – $123,130	22,680
3	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,380	$53,960 – $127,200	12,750
4	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,100	$58,060 – $124,160	7,930
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,080	$82,660 – $123,990	2,280
6	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,350	$49,890 – $124,070	17,720
7	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,350	$64,620 – $124,530	2,120
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,610	$50,060 – $130,950	2,090
9	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,260	$74,280 – $118,410	6,470
10	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,310	$42,220 – $122,330	2,430
11	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,980	$46,960 – $109,870	2,140
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$87,060	$74,560 – $100,100	3,620
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,230 – $120,900	1,590
14	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,550	$61,000 – $95,990	4,940
15	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,820	$42,080 – $112,930	14,560
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,140	$60,130 – $106,150	5,650
17	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$82,090	$48,770 – $106,780	3,900
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,360	$51,940 – $126,520	2,250
19	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$81,020	$50,730 – $108,890	3,890
20	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,440	$41,220 – $118,450	14,220
21	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$64,220 – $80,210	2,090
22	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,590	$33,820 – $102,750	1,620
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,290	$50,690 – $110,830	1,770
24	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$49,590 – $123,460	9,080
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,070	$62,200 – $96,530	11,420
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,960	$47,460 – $117,940	7,210
27	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$77,470	$39,780 – $89,090	3,330
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,220	$42,110 – $102,530	4,110
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$49,250 – $102,590	8,710
30	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,590	$31,200 – $161,410	2,830
31	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,350	$46,240 – $137,000	38,490
32	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$48,230 – $114,590	1,490
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,090	$45,860 – $104,570	2,570
34	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,340	$49,670 – $109,880	4,740
35	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,230	$41,600 – $82,880	3,520
36	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,710	$39,570 – $154,540	55,730
37	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,570	$45,070 – $77,420	1,780
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,550	$50,160 – $106,040	11,590
39	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,820	$45,000 – $100,520	3,480
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,240	$37,150 – $163,800	11,870
41	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$68,580	$42,490 – $99,290	1,940
42	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,280	$46,020 – $68,580	2,290
43	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,840	$48,980 – $82,560	1,710
44	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,980	$39,170 – $98,710	2,730
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,360	$50,590 – $94,030	2,530
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,680	$45,830 – $98,660	8,660
47	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$52,160 – $85,990	7,080
48	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,780	$31,200 – $116,880	2,490
49	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$63,750	$44,160 – $81,040	10,320
50	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,390	$44,980 – $95,040	1,790

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN that need no experience

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