High paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA run 8.3% below the national average (2024), so a Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

OccupationMedian, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$121,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$81,270 – $206,390130
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,790 – $115,000200
3Dental Hygienists$93,660
Associate's degree
$74,630 – $96,060750
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$87,080
Associate's degree
$78,110 – $101,600170
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$81,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,540 – $104,4701,240
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,440
Associate's degree
$58,410 – $105,550230
7Massage Therapists$76,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,920 – $77,320150
8Respiratory Therapists$75,650
Associate's degree
$63,740 – $84,260200
9Mechanical Drafters$75,510
Associate's degree
$48,120 – $99,940160
10Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$75,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $99,5702,150
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,150 – $101,2502,100
12Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,470
Associate's degree
$46,380 – $96,580380
13Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$70,410
No formal educational credential
$45,180 – $76,920200
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$70,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,300 – $82,200130
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,640
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $86,520560
16Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$67,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,970 – $87,750330
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,820 – $128,1904,900
18Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,310 – $85,190510
19Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$66,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,970 – $81,2601,340
20Sheet Metal Workers$66,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,080 – $92,330350
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $92,550760
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$65,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $125,4202,400
23Public Safety Telecommunicators$64,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,070 – $78,630170
24Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$64,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $80,240280
25Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040690
26Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,240
Associate's degree
$45,590 – $96,290360
27Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$63,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $78,970240
28Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$63,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,880 – $81,010150
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,970 – $78,4101,040
30Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $86,840450
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,110 – $82,780750
32Tax Preparers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $94,300210
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $75,850610
34Tire Builders$63,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $63,820310
35Electricians$62,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $92,6502,870
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,020 – $98,460900
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,710 – $82,9701,260
38Glaziers$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,100 – $81,190180
39Advertising Sales Agents$62,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,380 – $95,010350
40Surgical Technologists$62,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,640 – $73,630230
41Computer Network Support Specialists$62,050
Associate's degree
$47,330 – $93,760640
42Postal Service Clerks$61,710
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030160
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $79,2601,050
44Carpenters$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $76,6701,810
45Physical Therapist Assistants$61,360
Associate's degree
$45,750 – $96,370170
46Insurance Sales Agents$61,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,620 – $128,5102,940
47Highway Maintenance Workers$60,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,060 – $75,990560
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$60,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,950 – $79,2407,840
49Medical Equipment Repairers$60,540
Associate's degree
$43,720 – $90,130270
50Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,460840

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

#	Occupation	MedianDes Moines-West Des Moines, IA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$121,490	$81,270 – $206,390	130
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,230	$74,790 – $115,000	200
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,660	$74,630 – $96,060	750
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$87,080	$78,110 – $101,600	170
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,810	$62,540 – $104,470	1,240
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,440	$58,410 – $105,550	230
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,090	$45,920 – $77,320	150
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,650	$63,740 – $84,260	200
9	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,510	$48,120 – $99,940	160
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,040	$47,720 – $99,570	2,150
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,710	$51,150 – $101,250	2,100
12	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,470	$46,380 – $96,580	380
13	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$70,410	$45,180 – $76,920	200
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,180	$51,300 – $82,200	130
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,640	$58,450 – $86,520	560
16	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,450	$47,970 – $87,750	330
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$42,820 – $128,190	4,900
18	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,920	$47,310 – $85,190	510
19	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,710	$42,970 – $81,260	1,340
20	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,000	$44,080 – $92,330	350
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,810	$48,680 – $92,550	760
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,510	$36,360 – $125,420	2,400
23	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,380	$50,070 – $78,630	170
24	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,270	$46,090 – $80,240	280
25	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$42,390 – $81,040	690
26	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,240	$45,590 – $96,290	360
27	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,750	$47,350 – $78,970	240
28	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,750	$42,880 – $81,010	150
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,670	$51,970 – $78,410	1,040
30	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$45,320 – $86,840	450
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,590	$49,110 – $82,780	750
32	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$38,520 – $94,300	210
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,230	$49,920 – $75,850	610
34	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,060	$38,650 – $63,820	310
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,840	$39,740 – $92,650	2,870
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,640	$46,020 – $98,460	900
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,610	$46,710 – $82,970	1,260
38	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$46,100 – $81,190	180
39	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,510	$30,380 – $95,010	350
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,250	$51,640 – $73,630	230
41	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,050	$47,330 – $93,760	640
42	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,710	$42,600 – $75,030	160
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$46,560 – $79,260	1,050
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$44,560 – $76,670	1,810
45	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,360	$45,750 – $96,370	170
46	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,140	$27,620 – $128,510	2,940
47	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,900	$50,060 – $75,990	560
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,720	$43,950 – $79,240	7,840
49	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,540	$43,720 – $90,130	270
50	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$42,600 – $76,460	840

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA that need no experience

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