High paying jobs in Erie, PA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Erie, PA, 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 Erie, PA run 9.0% below the national average (2024), so a Erie, PA salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Erie, PA

OccupationMedian, Erie, PA · Employed

1Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$86,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,070 – $86,85040
2Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,360 – $107,650660
3Firefighters$80,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,040 – $89,320140
4Dental Hygienists$77,360
Associate's degree
$64,330 – $93,100140
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$76,510
Associate's degree
$65,040 – $94,91060
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$71,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $112,260170
7Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $97,300280
8Electricians$65,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,890 – $94,280420
9Sheet Metal Workers$65,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $94,29070
10Insurance Sales Agents$65,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,380 – $139,970290
11Tool and Die Makers$63,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,760 – $72,890230
12Postal Service Clerks$62,910
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,03050
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$62,500
Associate's degree
$39,370 – $80,140160
14Respiratory Therapists$62,480
Associate's degree
$59,140 – $78,490110
15Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$62,060
Associate's degree
$35,360 – $87,57040
16Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,480
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040310
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,500 – $75,81040
18Millwrights$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,680 – $66,89070
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,560 – $122,340960
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,800 – $72,270940
21Surgical Technologists$60,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,750 – $74,150100
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,320
Associate's degree
$41,720 – $90,91050
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $82,30090
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $74,870370
25Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,870 – $75,130120
26Physical Therapist Assistants$59,120
Associate's degree
$45,700 – $71,150110
27Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,430 – $82,540230
28Brickmasons and Blockmasons$58,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,090 – $83,65040
29Massage Therapists$58,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,440 – $89,26080
30Occupational Therapy Assistants$58,470
Associate's degree
$50,480 – $75,24040
31Tax Preparers$58,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $98,57050
32Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$58,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,710 – $75,41040
33Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,510 – $81,570280
34Mechanical Drafters$57,970
Associate's degree
$43,900 – $78,28060
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,150 – $73,310180
36Carpenters$56,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $76,090530
37Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$56,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,520 – $121,440460
38Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$56,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,900 – $62,59040
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$56,040
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $78,970170
40Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $63,05050
41Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$55,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $67,370340
42Machinists$55,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,980 – $83,500640
43Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$55,010
Associate's degree
$44,030 – $74,76060
44Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,690 – $74,01080
45Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,220 – $73,9201,380
46Public Safety Telecommunicators$52,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $64,060110
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,470 – $78,650180
48Computer User Support Specialists$52,000
Some college, no degree
$35,900 – $74,230440
49Correctional Officers and Jailers$51,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,850 – $84,930410
50Roofers$50,440
No formal educational credential
$39,760 – $62,940140

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

#	Occupation	MedianErie, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,850	$56,070 – $86,850	40
2	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,860	$47,360 – $107,650	660
3	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,280	$39,040 – $89,320	140
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$77,360	$64,330 – $93,100	140
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$76,510	$65,040 – $94,910	60
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,720	$45,020 – $112,260	170
7	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,410	$42,670 – $97,300	280
8	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,820	$37,890 – $94,280	420
9	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,710	$37,700 – $94,290	70
10	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,160	$44,380 – $139,970	290
11	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,740	$40,760 – $72,890	230
12	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,910	$55,350 – $75,030	50
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,500	$39,370 – $80,140	160
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$62,480	$59,140 – $78,490	110
15	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,060	$35,360 – $87,570	40
16	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,480	$42,390 – $81,040	310
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,330	$46,500 – $75,810	40
18	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$38,680 – $66,890	70
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$36,560 – $122,340	960
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,510	$48,800 – $72,270	940
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,440	$46,750 – $74,150	100
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,320	$41,720 – $90,910	50
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,670	$44,570 – $82,300	90
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,620	$44,140 – $74,870	370
25	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$47,870 – $75,130	120
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,120	$45,700 – $71,150	110
27	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,990	$39,430 – $82,540	230
28	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,740	$48,090 – $83,650	40
29	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,600	$34,440 – $89,260	80
30	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,470	$50,480 – $75,240	40
31	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,460	$37,440 – $98,570	50
32	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,320	$46,710 – $75,410	40
33	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,030	$49,510 – $81,570	280
34	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,970	$43,900 – $78,280	60
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,720	$40,150 – $73,310	180
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,850	$36,380 – $76,090	530
37	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,210	$32,520 – $121,440	460
38	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,210	$40,900 – $62,590	40
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$56,040	$39,410 – $78,970	170
40	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,250	$45,470 – $63,050	50
41	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,220	$47,740 – $67,370	340
42	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,120	$39,980 – $83,500	640
43	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,010	$44,030 – $74,760	60
44	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,900	$38,690 – $74,010	80
45	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,770	$39,220 – $73,920	1,380
46	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,620	$38,480 – $64,060	110
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,100	$35,470 – $78,650	180
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,000	$35,900 – $74,230	440
49	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,250	$38,850 – $84,930	410
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$50,440	$39,760 – $62,940	140

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

High paying jobs in Erie, PA that need no experience

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