High paying jobs in Columbus, OH that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Columbus, OH, 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, OH run 4.5% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, OH salary is worth about 1.05× 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, OH

OccupationMedian, Columbus, OH · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$175,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $216,2701,410
2Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,450 – $111,4205,190
3Dental Hygienists$96,880
Associate's degree
$81,780 – $99,7301,700
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$84,200
Associate's degree
$64,930 – $101,800530
5Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$83,580
Associate's degree
$51,000 – $118,870730
6Respiratory Therapists$81,860
Associate's degree
$68,300 – $98,7001,220
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,820 – $110,3001,260
8Computer Network Support Specialists$81,220
Associate's degree
$50,770 – $147,7401,710
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,200
Associate's degree
$57,700 – $100,7101,780
10Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$80,000
No formal educational credential
$38,130 – $80,020380
11Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,610 – $99,3903,290
12Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,690 – $96,950760
13Structural Iron and Steel Workers$76,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $132,650370
14Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,530
Associate's degree
$50,120 – $96,410540
15Mechanical Drafters$76,480
Associate's degree
$51,350 – $94,910350
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,480 – $162,310870
17Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$73,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,030 – $73,790700
18Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,500 – $124,340430
19Pipelayers$71,560
No formal educational credential
$63,940 – $89,640430
20Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $92,9102,670
21Physical Therapist Assistants$69,480
Associate's degree
$56,280 – $96,2501,100
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$67,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $89,4201,080
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,450 – $136,6508,900
24Carpenters$66,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $82,6303,620
25Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$65,450
No formal educational credential
$48,140 – $74,400570
26Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,910
No formal educational credential
$46,620 – $84,0501,000
27Community Health Workers$64,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $75,380610
28Electricians$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $94,4107,210
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,680 – $100,5903,000
30Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$64,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $103,5103,300
31Surgical Technologists$64,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,110 – $84,650750
32Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $94,270950
33Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $78,950730
34Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,480
Associate's degree
$38,020 – $84,670610
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,820 – $103,0003,060
36Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,010 – $76,940490
37Computer User Support Specialists$62,540
Some college, no degree
$41,000 – $103,1104,960
38Public Safety Telecommunicators$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $76,810690
39Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $94,190490
40Chemical Technicians$62,340
Associate's degree
$46,160 – $85,170390
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,680 – $80,3502,690
42Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $90,830400
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,920
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,480 – $76,2007,270
45Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers$61,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $72,220480
46Firefighters$61,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,720 – $96,5304,130
47Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$61,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,510 – $90,08016,110
48Crossing Guards and Flaggers$61,690
No formal educational credential
$33,280 – $61,690960
49Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,330 – $100,770790
50Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,310
Associate's degree
$34,240 – $91,170670

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, OH	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$175,690	$60,300 – $216,270	1,410
2	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,890	$60,450 – $111,420	5,190
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,880	$81,780 – $99,730	1,700
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$84,200	$64,930 – $101,800	530
5	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$83,580	$51,000 – $118,870	730
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,860	$68,300 – $98,700	1,220
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,760	$50,820 – $110,300	1,260
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,220	$50,770 – $147,740	1,710
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,200	$57,700 – $100,710	1,780
10	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$80,000	$38,130 – $80,020	380
11	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$50,610 – $99,390	3,290
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$46,690 – $96,950	760
13	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,920	$50,960 – $132,650	370
14	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,530	$50,120 – $96,410	540
15	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,480	$51,350 – $94,910	350
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,210	$55,480 – $162,310	870
17	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,790	$45,030 – $73,790	700
18	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,550	$47,500 – $124,340	430
19	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$71,560	$63,940 – $89,640	430
20	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,410	$49,220 – $92,910	2,670
21	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,480	$56,280 – $96,250	1,100
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,920	$49,830 – $89,420	1,080
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,410	$39,450 – $136,650	8,900
24	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,480	$47,270 – $82,630	3,620
25	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$65,450	$48,140 – $74,400	570
26	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,910	$46,620 – $84,050	1,000
27	Community Health WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,810	$44,330 – $75,380	610
28	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$46,090 – $94,410	7,210
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,440	$40,680 – $100,590	3,000
30	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,180	$45,320 – $103,510	3,300
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,120	$50,110 – $84,650	750
32	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,000	$48,690 – $94,270	950
33	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$48,420 – $78,950	730
34	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,480	$38,020 – $84,670	610
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,260	$40,820 – $103,000	3,060
36	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,060	$47,010 – $76,940	490
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,540	$41,000 – $103,110	4,960
38	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$45,970 – $76,810	690
39	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$38,710 – $94,190	490
40	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,340	$46,160 – $85,170	390
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,190	$46,680 – $80,350	2,690
42	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,140	$44,100 – $90,830	400
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	1,920
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,910	$51,480 – $76,200	7,270
45	Automotive Glass Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,900	$37,820 – $72,220	480
46	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,780	$35,720 – $96,530	4,130
47	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,720	$46,510 – $90,080	16,110
48	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$61,690	$33,280 – $61,690	960
49	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,380	$33,330 – $100,770	790
50	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,310	$34,240 – $91,170	670

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Columbus, OH. 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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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Columbus, OH that need no experience

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