High paying jobs in Columbus, IN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Columbus, 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 Columbus, IN run 7.0% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, IN 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 Columbus, IN

OccupationMedian, Columbus, IN · Employed

1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$85,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,400 – $97,070100
2Dental Hygienists$84,810
Associate's degree
$63,320 – $102,69070
3Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,460
Associate's degree
$38,640 – $123,010130
4Electricians$79,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $92,210290
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,690 – $77,460150
6Computer Network Support Specialists$71,270
Associate's degree
$46,800 – $107,53060
7Tool and Die Makers$71,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,440 – $92,940180
8Carpenters$67,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $82,970190
9Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,740 – $128,210450
10Sheet Metal Workers$65,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,580 – $90,11050
11Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,890 – $90,930110
12Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,020
Associate's degree
$40,040 – $77,87090
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $80,680490
14Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $126,480240
15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,460 – $71,610170
16Mechanical Drafters$61,730
Associate's degree
$48,880 – $104,01040
17Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $61,53040
18Machinists$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,640 – $74,7201,470
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,230
Associate's degree
$38,000 – $87,55030
20Physical Therapist Assistants$61,140
Associate's degree
$47,680 – $76,55040
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,430 – $92,35050
22Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04090
23Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,910 – $91,010210
24Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$59,660
No formal educational credential
$38,940 – $78,68040
25Roofers$59,400
No formal educational credential
$39,330 – $83,68050
26Painters, Construction and Maintenance$58,560
No formal educational credential
$39,940 – $75,52040
27Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$58,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,090 – $75,050610
28Computer User Support Specialists$58,380
Some college, no degree
$37,900 – $100,590150
29Insurance Sales Agents$58,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $197,34090
30Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$57,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,220 – $82,42040
31Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,540 – $72,910520
32Automotive Body and Related Repairers$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,160 – $97,04050
33Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$55,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $82,13040
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$55,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,130 – $72,78080
35Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $84,02060
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$54,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,590 – $95,38070
37Construction Laborers$53,900
No formal educational credential
$36,370 – $64,860310
38Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $59,900140
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$50,500
Associate's degree
$39,590 – $80,49050
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $66,790310
41Medical Records Specialists$49,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,940 – $77,62050
42Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$49,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,220 – $74,650190
43Highway Maintenance Workers$49,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,680 – $51,36030
44Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $75,860900
45Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,770 – $58,810610
46Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $57,510260
47Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,890 – $60,090440
48Dental Assistants$47,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,760 – $56,850120
49Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$46,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $59,6602,980
50Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,660
Some college, no degree
$33,880 – $62,400360

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,930	$49,400 – $97,070	100
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,810	$63,320 – $102,690	70
3	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,460	$38,640 – $123,010	130
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,670	$44,880 – $92,210	290
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,500	$51,690 – $77,460	150
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$71,270	$46,800 – $107,530	60
7	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,180	$43,440 – $92,940	180
8	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,780	$47,340 – $82,970	190
9	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,630	$40,740 – $128,210	450
10	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,010	$43,580 – $90,110	50
11	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,970	$45,890 – $90,930	110
12	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,020	$40,040 – $77,870	90
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$47,710 – $80,680	490
14	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,150	$37,530 – $126,480	240
15	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$49,460 – $71,610	170
16	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,730	$48,880 – $104,010	40
17	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,530	$47,590 – $61,530	40
18	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$48,640 – $74,720	1,470
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,230	$38,000 – $87,550	30
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,140	$47,680 – $76,550	40
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$45,430 – $92,350	50
22	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	90
23	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$45,910 – $91,010	210
24	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$59,660	$38,940 – $78,680	40
25	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$59,400	$39,330 – $83,680	50
26	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$58,560	$39,940 – $75,520	40
27	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,450	$36,090 – $75,050	610
28	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,380	$37,900 – $100,590	150
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,180	$36,980 – $197,340	90
30	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,770	$49,220 – $82,420	40
31	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,350	$45,540 – $72,910	520
32	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$41,160 – $97,040	50
33	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,820	$39,450 – $82,130	40
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,470	$44,130 – $72,780	80
35	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,160	$39,090 – $84,020	60
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,490	$41,590 – $95,380	70
37	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$53,900	$36,370 – $64,860	310
38	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,060	$39,410 – $59,900	140
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$50,500	$39,590 – $80,490	50
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,320	$36,720 – $66,790	310
41	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,270	$37,940 – $77,620	50
42	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,180	$36,220 – $74,650	190
43	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,110	$41,680 – $51,360	30
44	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$35,900 – $75,860	900
45	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,590	$39,770 – $58,810	610
46	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,880	$34,790 – $57,510	260
47	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$34,890 – $60,090	440
48	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,260	$35,760 – $56,850	120
49	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,950	$36,240 – $59,660	2,980
50	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,660	$33,880 – $62,400	360

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

High paying jobs in Columbus, IN that need no experience

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