High paying jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX run 1.4% below the national average (2024), so a Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

OccupationMedian, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Employed

1Chemical Plant and System Operators$106,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,920 – $124,9301,420
2Dental Hygienists$104,930
Associate's degree
$85,550 – $108,5903,060
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,100
Associate's degree
$71,350 – $106,4901,670
4Gas Plant Operators$85,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,370 – $100,6601,510
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$85,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,140 – $131,0902,710
6Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$84,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $114,3505,510
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$82,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,730 – $115,8004,380
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,780
Associate's degree
$52,200 – $103,1105,000
9Respiratory Therapists$80,450
Associate's degree
$57,180 – $99,6903,630
10Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$79,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $106,2309,390
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,120 – $115,8102,890
12Mechanical Drafters$78,820
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $130,4901,300
13Calibration Technologists and Technicians$78,610
Associate's degree
$47,100 – $107,3001,930
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$77,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,900 – $113,0104,690
15Physical Therapist Assistants$77,280
Associate's degree
$42,480 – $101,2902,210
16Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,190
Associate's degree
$45,650 – $126,5401,470
17Boilermakers$77,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,880 – $100,3101,170
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$76,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $101,1002,040
19Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$76,120
Associate's degree
$38,330 – $114,2502,860
20Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,110 – $93,80016,250
21Computer Network Support Specialists$74,140
Associate's degree
$49,600 – $104,9901,990
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,090 – $137,97025,630
23Surgical Technologists$71,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,950 – $94,6702,660
24Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,410
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $112,4002,200
25Chemical Technicians$65,050
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $110,8102,620
26Riggers$64,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,230 – $82,7601,140
27Wind Turbine Service Technicians$64,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,230 – $75,6101,120
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,850 – $77,91010,730
29Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $100,0901,730
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,920 – $101,14018,360
31Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,120
Associate's degree
$45,590 – $104,1704,130
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,190 – $130,96028,720
33Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,730
Associate's degree
$42,160 – $101,3707,320
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,330 – $93,0905,330
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0406,660
36Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,040
Associate's degree
$42,840 – $101,9801,240
37Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,610 – $97,8703,420
38Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,920 – $85,68010,980
39Machinists$61,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,960 – $81,4708,140
40Medical Equipment Repairers$61,080
Associate's degree
$38,910 – $94,1701,090
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,960 – $96,6507,410
42Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,650
Associate's degree
$38,780 – $102,3101,480
43Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,330 – $105,6601,540
44Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,550 – $84,2802,850
45Computer User Support Specialists$59,250
Some college, no degree
$38,690 – $93,58012,840
46Electricians$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,800 – $84,47019,730
47Massage Therapists$59,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,970 – $111,0401,930
48Firefighters$59,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,600 – $72,9705,780
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,780 – $83,1207,680
50Maintenance Workers, Machinery$58,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $83,9601,950

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

#	Occupation	MedianHouston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,020	$59,920 – $124,930	1,420
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,930	$85,550 – $108,590	3,060
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,100	$71,350 – $106,490	1,670
4	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,530	$70,370 – $100,660	1,510
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,400	$48,140 – $131,090	2,710
6	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,100	$45,670 – $114,350	5,510
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,710	$48,730 – $115,800	4,380
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,780	$52,200 – $103,110	5,000
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,450	$57,180 – $99,690	3,630
10	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,430	$36,630 – $106,230	9,390
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,820	$48,120 – $115,810	2,890
12	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$78,820	$54,990 – $130,490	1,300
13	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,610	$47,100 – $107,300	1,930
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,880	$50,900 – $113,010	4,690
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,280	$42,480 – $101,290	2,210
16	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,190	$45,650 – $126,540	1,470
17	BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,090	$58,880 – $100,310	1,170
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,950	$46,560 – $101,100	2,040
19	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,120	$38,330 – $114,250	2,860
20	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,570	$59,110 – $93,800	16,250
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$74,140	$49,600 – $104,990	1,990
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,030	$37,090 – $137,970	25,630
23	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,050	$46,950 – $94,670	2,660
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,410	$39,410 – $112,400	2,200
25	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,050	$44,540 – $110,810	2,620
26	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,430	$44,230 – $82,760	1,140
27	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,050	$49,230 – $75,610	1,120
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,670	$51,850 – $77,910	10,730
29	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$45,750 – $100,090	1,730
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$43,920 – $101,140	18,360
31	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,120	$45,590 – $104,170	4,130
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,090	$33,190 – $130,960	28,720
33	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,730	$42,160 – $101,370	7,320
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,410	$46,330 – $93,090	5,330
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	6,660
36	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,040	$42,840 – $101,980	1,240
37	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$42,610 – $97,870	3,420
38	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,300	$39,920 – $85,680	10,980
39	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,280	$39,960 – $81,470	8,140
40	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,080	$38,910 – $94,170	1,090
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,770	$44,960 – $96,650	7,410
42	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,650	$38,780 – $102,310	1,480
43	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$40,330 – $105,660	1,540
44	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,850	$40,550 – $84,280	2,850
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,250	$38,690 – $93,580	12,840
46	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$38,800 – $84,470	19,730
47	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,150	$34,970 – $111,040	1,930
48	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,120	$44,600 – $72,970	5,780
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,940	$38,780 – $83,120	7,680
50	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,310	$39,740 – $83,960	1,950

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. 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.

More for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

By field in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX that need no experience

More for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Other metro areas in TX

By field in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience