High paying jobs in Colorado that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Colorado, 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 Colorado run 3.1% above the national average (2024), so a Colorado 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. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Colorado.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Colorado

OccupationMedian, Colorado · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$139,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,780 – $269,6301,240
2Dental Hygienists$109,580
Associate's degree
$95,680 – $128,9004,270
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$108,410
Associate's degree
$85,500 – $130,7201,430
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,170 – $131,3602,370
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$97,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,340 – $109,3009,610
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$87,760
Associate's degree
$63,270 – $111,7303,960
7Respiratory Therapists$86,220
Associate's degree
$66,560 – $109,0702,110
8Computer Network Support Specialists$82,750
Associate's degree
$52,710 – $126,3004,530
9Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,960 – $130,1602,690
10Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$79,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $164,84037,810
11Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$79,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,540 – $108,9402,200
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,620 – $149,89027,530
13Paralegals and Legal Assistants$78,190
Associate's degree
$56,930 – $106,1605,620
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,550 – $123,3605,680
15Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$77,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,080 – $106,6401,400
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,440
Associate's degree
$52,110 – $105,3501,410
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$76,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,030 – $88,6603,180
18Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,370
Associate's degree
$48,980 – $107,9903,570
19Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,110
Associate's degree
$50,530 – $107,2801,260
20Surgical Technologists$75,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,040 – $92,5802,100
21Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $101,5907,260
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,130 – $95,7302,620
23Firefighters$74,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,000 – $114,1706,510
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$73,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,820 – $84,4404,920
25Advertising Sales Agents$73,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $164,9301,110
26Computer User Support Specialists$71,900
Some college, no degree
$48,590 – $116,85016,740
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,960 – $98,8504,060
28Transportation Security Screeners$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $78,6901,250
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$70,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,450 – $96,4504,600
30Insurance Sales Agents$68,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,450 – $158,6909,530
31Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,850
Associate's degree
$50,580 – $100,370930
32Medical Equipment Repairers$66,720
Associate's degree
$44,490 – $95,5401,460
33Legal Support Workers, All Other$66,660
Associate's degree
$45,220 – $146,9902,000
34Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$66,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,490 – $93,9301,630
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$65,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,220 – $103,6408,940
36Physical Therapist Assistants$64,810
Associate's degree
$48,580 – $89,5501,350
37Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$64,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,590 – $88,0502,580
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,720 – $91,5307,800
39Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,990 – $92,1101,190
40Chemical Technicians$63,770
Associate's degree
$46,850 – $94,9701,180
41Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$63,760
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $116,5301,860
42Real Estate Sales Agents$63,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $128,2206,120
43Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $83,7501,800
44Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $100,24010,080
45Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,870 – $71,0903,540
46Carpenters$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $90,74012,740
47Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,480 – $78,87011,700
48Tax Preparers$62,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,790 – $97,9801,540
49Glaziers$62,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,290 – $80,7702,040
50Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$62,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,310 – $95,9201,950

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

#	Occupation	MedianColorado	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$139,680	$59,780 – $269,630	1,240
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$109,580	$95,680 – $128,900	4,270
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$108,410	$85,500 – $130,720	1,430
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,980	$59,170 – $131,360	2,370
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,350	$65,340 – $109,300	9,610
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$87,760	$63,270 – $111,730	3,960
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,220	$66,560 – $109,070	2,110
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,750	$52,710 – $126,300	4,530
9	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,080	$60,960 – $130,160	2,690
10	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,810	$44,530 – $164,840	37,810
11	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,610	$53,540 – $108,940	2,200
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$47,620 – $149,890	27,530
13	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,190	$56,930 – $106,160	5,620
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,620	$59,550 – $123,360	5,680
15	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,600	$50,080 – $106,640	1,400
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,440	$52,110 – $105,350	1,410
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,410	$51,030 – $88,660	3,180
18	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,370	$48,980 – $107,990	3,570
19	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,110	$50,530 – $107,280	1,260
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,740	$51,040 – $92,580	2,100
21	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,600	$50,470 – $101,590	7,260
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,200	$50,130 – $95,730	2,620
23	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,170	$47,000 – $114,170	6,510
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,880	$50,820 – $84,440	4,920
25	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,420	$38,160 – $164,930	1,110
26	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,900	$48,590 – $116,850	16,740
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,830	$49,960 – $98,850	4,060
28	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$58,530 – $78,690	1,250
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,480	$47,450 – $96,450	4,600
30	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,730	$42,450 – $158,690	9,530
31	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,850	$50,580 – $100,370	930
32	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$66,720	$44,490 – $95,540	1,460
33	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$66,660	$45,220 – $146,990	2,000
34	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,020	$46,490 – $93,930	1,630
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,200	$48,220 – $103,640	8,940
36	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,810	$48,580 – $89,550	1,350
37	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,140	$46,590 – $88,050	2,580
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$46,720 – $91,530	7,800
39	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$47,990 – $92,110	1,190
40	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,770	$46,850 – $94,970	1,180
41	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,760	$45,760 – $116,530	1,860
42	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,670	$37,040 – $128,220	6,120
43	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,520	$48,250 – $83,750	1,800
44	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$47,770 – $100,240	10,080
45	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$50,870 – $71,090	3,540
46	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$47,020 – $90,740	12,740
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,620	$49,480 – $78,870	11,700
48	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,620	$37,790 – $97,980	1,540
49	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,340	$47,290 – $80,770	2,040
50	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,250	$46,310 – $95,920	1,950

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Colorado. 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.

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Colorado that need no experience

More for Colorado

Metro areas in Colorado

By field in Colorado

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience