High paying jobs in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL run 10.9% below the national average (2024), so a Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

OccupationMedian, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,740 – $117,64090
2Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$85,110
Associate's degree
$62,150 – $108,040130
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,870
Associate's degree
$76,900 – $100,100100
4Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,220
Associate's degree
$45,190 – $82,220200
5Dental Hygienists$82,000
Associate's degree
$74,080 – $95,810280
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,700
Associate's degree
$49,150 – $122,000110
7Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$80,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,720 – $98,89070
8Structural Iron and Steel Workers$79,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,810 – $105,17090
9Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,160
Associate's degree
$44,100 – $97,640100
10Electricians$76,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,640 – $102,4801,450
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,860
Associate's degree
$49,660 – $93,980130
12Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,520 – $87,19070
13Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $100,930680
14Respiratory Therapists$75,460
Associate's degree
$62,510 – $81,220100
15Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$75,440
No formal educational credential
$49,850 – $75,440750
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,020 – $114,050180
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,800 – $130,4901,580
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,960 – $94,470750
19Sheet Metal Workers$72,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $85,490440
20Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$68,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $91,300690
21Computer Network Support Specialists$68,400
Associate's degree
$49,550 – $98,020190
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $81,780240
23Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,370
Associate's degree
$44,290 – $103,99070
24Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$65,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,990 – $81,59090
25Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$65,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,660 – $72,22060
26Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$65,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,790 – $100,270410
27Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,910 – $97,050570
28Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,580
Associate's degree
$51,860 – $80,140280
29Cargo and Freight Agents$64,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $71,96060
30Tool and Die Makers$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,060 – $87,190140
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,050 – $76,090640
32Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,350 – $83,740220
33Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $88,590460
34Massage Therapists$62,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,960 – $76,390100
35Correctional Officers and Jailers$62,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,560 – $100,790460
36Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$62,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $78,34070
37Postal Service Clerks$61,920
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030100
38Machinists$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,850 – $80,500600
39Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,510
Associate's degree
$42,710 – $93,60060
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $78,120520
41Millwrights$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,260 – $83,27080
42Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$61,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $84,190160
43Physical Therapist Assistants$61,130
Associate's degree
$43,870 – $93,600140
44Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$60,680
No formal educational credential
$44,890 – $79,200220
45Surgical Technologists$60,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,070 – $75,690110
46Carpenters$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $91,550670
47Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $74,290520
48Tax Preparers$60,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,030 – $87,99080
49Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,380 – $88,770250
50Firefighters$60,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,340 – $94,410410

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

#	Occupation	MedianDavenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,640	$73,740 – $117,640	90
2	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$85,110	$62,150 – $108,040	130
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,870	$76,900 – $100,100	100
4	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,220	$45,190 – $82,220	200
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,000	$74,080 – $95,810	280
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,700	$49,150 – $122,000	110
7	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,200	$51,720 – $98,890	70
8	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,090	$58,810 – $105,170	90
9	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,160	$44,100 – $97,640	100
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,950	$40,640 – $102,480	1,450
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,860	$49,660 – $93,980	130
12	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,600	$56,520 – $87,190	70
13	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,310	$46,560 – $100,930	680
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,460	$62,510 – $81,220	100
15	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$75,440	$49,850 – $75,440	750
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,530	$48,020 – $114,050	180
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,480	$41,800 – $130,490	1,580
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,790	$49,960 – $94,470	750
19	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,380	$50,510 – $85,490	440
20	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,550	$47,480 – $91,300	690
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$68,400	$49,550 – $98,020	190
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,210	$47,880 – $81,780	240
23	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,370	$44,290 – $103,990	70
24	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,980	$47,990 – $81,590	90
25	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,850	$46,660 – $72,220	60
26	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,190	$45,790 – $100,270	410
27	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,850	$42,910 – $97,050	570
28	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,580	$51,860 – $80,140	280
29	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,580	$38,520 – $71,960	60
30	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$36,060 – $87,190	140
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,100	$51,050 – $76,090	640
32	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,440	$49,350 – $83,740	220
33	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$43,930 – $88,590	460
34	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,400	$32,960 – $76,390	100
35	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,390	$48,560 – $100,790	460
36	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,140	$45,250 – $78,340	70
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,920	$42,600 – $75,030	100
38	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$41,850 – $80,500	600
39	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,510	$42,710 – $93,600	60
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,270	$44,580 – $78,120	520
41	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$39,260 – $83,270	80
42	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,210	$39,630 – $84,190	160
43	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,130	$43,870 – $93,600	140
44	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$60,680	$44,890 – $79,200	220
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,520	$51,070 – $75,690	110
46	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$39,520 – $91,550	670
47	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,430	$38,620 – $74,290	520
48	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,280	$33,030 – $87,990	80
49	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,140	$39,380 – $88,770	250
50	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,080	$38,340 – $94,410	410

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL. 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL that need no experience

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