High paying jobs in Harrisonburg, VA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Harrisonburg, VA, 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 Harrisonburg, VA run 5.1% below the national average (2024), so a Harrisonburg, VA 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 Harrisonburg, VA

OccupationMedian, Harrisonburg, VA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$100,620
Associate's degree
$82,110 – $123,530100
2Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,210
Associate's degree
$59,930 – $97,08030
3Food Batchmakers$66,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,960 – $66,330200
4Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,170 – $89,430400
5Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
6Printing Press Operators$64,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,540 – $66,160130
7Opticians, Dispensing$62,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,970 – $79,09030
8Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $78,630100
9Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,720 – $87,87080
10Electricians$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $79,360370
11Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $102,100310
12Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,740 – $78,500330
13Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,740130
14Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,260 – $79,310250
15Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,340 – $77,780340
16Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$59,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $64,57030
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,110 – $119,660430
18Computer User Support Specialists$59,310
Some college, no degree
$38,780 – $85,640190
19Insurance Sales Agents$58,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,960 – $135,940100
20Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,150 – $71,9201,290
21Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $76,230230
22Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$58,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,480 – $80,66080
23Structural Iron and Steel Workers$57,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $74,21050
24Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,850 – $69,78050
25Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$54,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $78,790140
26Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$53,440
No formal educational credential
$36,850 – $62,5901,040
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$52,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,710 – $80,120240
28Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$52,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $76,690340
29Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $74,220110
30Computer Network Support Specialists$51,350
Associate's degree
$39,150 – $83,35070
31Correctional Officers and Jailers$50,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,670 – $56,020100
32Paralegals and Legal Assistants$50,870
Associate's degree
$41,320 – $79,900110
33Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,830 – $76,360780
34Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,260 – $95,72080
35Machinists$49,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,210 – $73,57060
36Highway Maintenance Workers$49,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $58,89080
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $63,880260
38Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$49,660
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $60,58050
39Carpenters$49,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $75,280380
40Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,120 – $78,210340
41Loan Interviewers and Clerks$48,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $65,45060
42Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$48,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,250 – $60,65080
43Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$48,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,490 – $57,30070
44Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$47,900
No formal educational credential
$37,170 – $62,510100
45Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,700 – $60,76030
46Real Estate Sales Agents$47,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,720 – $97,18070
47Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$47,360
No formal educational credential
$38,820 – $61,76040
48Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$47,120
Associate's degree
$35,440 – $64,51040
49Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,090
Some college, no degree
$34,610 – $64,740500
50Information and Record Clerks, All Other$47,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $60,88050

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

#	Occupation	MedianHarrisonburg, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,620	$82,110 – $123,530	100
2	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,210	$59,930 – $97,080	30
3	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,330	$35,960 – $66,330	200
4	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,990	$50,170 – $89,430	400
5	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$42,600 – $75,030	40
6	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,180	$36,540 – $66,160	130
7	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,980	$40,970 – $79,090	30
8	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,730	$46,760 – $78,630	100
9	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,970	$43,720 – $87,870	80
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$37,460 – $79,360	370
11	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$34,980 – $102,100	310
12	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,830	$49,740 – $78,500	330
13	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $83,740	130
14	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,450	$42,260 – $79,310	250
15	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,210	$39,340 – $77,780	340
16	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,550	$39,520 – $64,570	30
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,370	$37,110 – $119,660	430
18	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,310	$38,780 – $85,640	190
19	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,950	$43,960 – $135,940	100
20	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,660	$44,150 – $71,920	1,290
21	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,260	$47,960 – $76,230	230
22	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,040	$42,480 – $80,660	80
23	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,720	$49,520 – $74,210	50
24	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$44,850 – $69,780	50
25	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,870	$38,230 – $78,790	140
26	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$53,440	$36,850 – $62,590	1,040
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,290	$39,710 – $80,120	240
28	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,260	$34,790 – $76,690	340
29	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,870	$35,140 – $74,220	110
30	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$51,350	$39,150 – $83,350	70
31	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,950	$47,670 – $56,020	100
32	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$50,870	$41,320 – $79,900	110
33	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$34,830 – $76,360	780
34	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$35,260 – $95,720	80
35	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,900	$39,210 – $73,570	60
36	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,750	$46,760 – $58,890	80
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,670	$39,880 – $63,880	260
38	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$49,660	$39,410 – $60,580	50
39	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,650	$38,670 – $75,280	380
40	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,930	$35,120 – $78,210	340
41	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,900	$38,090 – $65,450	60
42	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,730	$41,250 – $60,650	80
43	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,510	$35,490 – $57,300	70
44	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$47,900	$37,170 – $62,510	100
45	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,870	$32,700 – $60,760	30
46	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,370	$29,720 – $97,180	70
47	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$47,360	$38,820 – $61,760	40
48	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$47,120	$35,440 – $64,510	40
49	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,090	$34,610 – $64,740	500
50	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,030	$37,410 – $60,880	50

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

High paying jobs in Harrisonburg, VA that need no experience

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