High paying jobs in Columbia, MO that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Columbia, MO, 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 Columbia, MO run 10.6% below the national average (2024), so a Columbia, MO salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Columbia, MO

OccupationMedian, Columbia, MO · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,730 – $102,66080
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,540
Associate's degree
$64,590 – $97,96050
3Dental Hygienists$86,300
Associate's degree
$53,020 – $97,850140
4Radiation Therapists$84,980
Associate's degree
$70,340 – $103,23060
5Structural Iron and Steel Workers$79,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,550 – $79,10040
6Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$76,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,920 – $81,820100
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,560
Associate's degree
$49,650 – $97,47050
8Respiratory Therapists$69,400
Associate's degree
$55,450 – $83,780150
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,170
Associate's degree
$55,510 – $91,790230
10Chemical Technicians$67,760
Associate's degree
$38,060 – $108,75050
11Computer Network Support Specialists$66,380
Associate's degree
$46,320 – $128,19080
12Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,430 – $73,640100
13Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,610 – $102,970280
14Physical Therapist Assistants$63,540
Associate's degree
$49,800 – $74,600110
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,810
Associate's degree
$55,560 – $73,06080
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,450
Associate's degree
$47,960 – $99,19040
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $73,380310
18Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$44,160 – $81,040200
19Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,880 – $75,280800
20Electricians$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $88,940290
21Medical Records Specialists$60,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,910 – $74,080300
22Insurance Sales Agents$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,500 – $122,440350
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $80,37070
24Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $75,23040
25Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
26Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $80,490140
27Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,090
No formal educational credential
$37,970 – $98,810160
28Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,430 – $82,870330
29Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,780
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $75,030100
30Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,800 – $96,920310
31Architectural and Civil Drafters$57,410
Associate's degree
$38,500 – $77,52080
32Advertising Sales Agents$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,120 – $107,17060
33Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$56,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $80,120110
34Construction Laborers$56,810
No formal educational credential
$37,570 – $84,540470
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$56,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,790 – $90,730310
36Computer User Support Specialists$56,670
Some college, no degree
$39,600 – $80,680430
37Carpenters$56,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $87,910510
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$55,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,970 – $97,990570
39Sheet Metal Workers$54,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $95,51060
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$53,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $75,610130
41Production Workers, All Other$53,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,260 – $78,070300
42Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $64,97050
43Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$52,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,670 – $74,590850
44Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$52,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,710 – $67,010260
45Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$52,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $59,020200
46Automotive Body and Related Repairers$51,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,490 – $92,610120
47Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$51,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,350 – $82,04090
48Tree Trimmers and Pruners$51,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,310 – $65,28040
49Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $51,82040
50Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$50,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,810 – $77,06040

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbia, MO	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,390	$58,730 – $102,660	80
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,540	$64,590 – $97,960	50
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,300	$53,020 – $97,850	140
4	Radiation TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,980	$70,340 – $103,230	60
5	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,100	$58,550 – $79,100	40
6	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,120	$46,920 – $81,820	100
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,560	$49,650 – $97,470	50
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$69,400	$55,450 – $83,780	150
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,170	$55,510 – $91,790	230
10	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,760	$38,060 – $108,750	50
11	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,380	$46,320 – $128,190	80
12	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,670	$59,430 – $73,640	100
13	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$50,610 – $102,970	280
14	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,540	$49,800 – $74,600	110
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,810	$55,560 – $73,060	80
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,450	$47,960 – $99,190	40
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$43,540 – $73,380	310
18	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$44,160 – $81,040	200
19	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,670	$48,880 – $75,280	800
20	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$39,520 – $88,940	290
21	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,960	$43,910 – $74,080	300
22	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$30,500 – $122,440	350
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$45,250 – $80,370	70
24	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,690	$38,480 – $75,230	40
25	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	40
26	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$38,100 – $80,490	140
27	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,090	$37,970 – $98,810	160
28	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,880	$39,430 – $82,870	330
29	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,780	$47,440 – $75,030	100
30	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,010	$36,800 – $96,920	310
31	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,410	$38,500 – $77,520	80
32	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$38,120 – $107,170	60
33	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,820	$44,710 – $80,120	110
34	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$56,810	$37,570 – $84,540	470
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,770	$41,790 – $90,730	310
36	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$56,670	$39,600 – $80,680	430
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,160	$36,130 – $87,910	510
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,200	$32,970 – $97,990	570
39	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,550	$39,190 – $95,510	60
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,980	$38,700 – $75,610	130
41	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,510	$35,260 – $78,070	300
42	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,370	$29,700 – $64,970	50
43	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,820	$37,670 – $74,590	850
44	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,810	$36,710 – $67,010	260
45	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,700	$40,250 – $59,020	200
46	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,910	$33,490 – $92,610	120
47	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,780	$35,350 – $82,040	90
48	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,470	$37,310 – $65,280	40
49	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,080	$37,290 – $51,820	40
50	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,930	$42,810 – $77,060	40

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Columbia, MO. 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 Columbia, MO to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Columbia, MO that need no experience

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