High paying jobs in Illinois that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Illinois, 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 Illinois run 0.0% below the national average (2024), so a Illinois salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Illinois.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Illinois

OccupationMedian, Illinois · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$108,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,820 – $129,2303,090
2Structural Iron and Steel Workers$101,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,830 – $124,4502,740
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,660
Associate's degree
$78,350 – $122,6803,270
4Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$100,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,420 – $119,56029,180
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$99,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,250 – $126,43016,750
6Electricians$99,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $123,66023,120
7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,770 – $123,33012,290
8Dental Hygienists$96,670
Associate's degree
$74,280 – $118,4108,970
9Brickmasons and Blockmasons$89,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $109,6702,490
10Sheet Metal Workers$86,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,220 – $117,9103,260
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$56,960 – $120,9001,980
12Respiratory Therapists$84,090
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $100,1004,880
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,460 – $130,9503,370
14Surgical Assistants$80,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,220 – $83,7402,300
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,930
Associate's degree
$59,350 – $104,2107,650
16Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$79,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,290 – $134,4402,790
17Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,520 – $102,77012,190
18Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,190
Associate's degree
$49,130 – $119,9904,190
19Carpenters$79,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $117,66019,570
20Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $106,06018,400
21Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$78,170
No formal educational credential
$49,050 – $107,6705,890
22Roofers$77,900
No formal educational credential
$46,600 – $106,5305,300
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,690 – $117,5509,740
24Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $118,81014,210
25Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,230 – $102,59012,100
26Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$75,050
No formal educational credential
$38,790 – $88,6404,910
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,880 – $89,81017,440
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,130 – $134,03051,310
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,990 – $94,2903,470
30Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,090
Associate's degree
$48,480 – $99,2002,260
31Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$70,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,810 – $100,1402,460
32Transportation Security Screeners$70,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,070 – $75,1901,970
33Computer Network Support Specialists$68,530
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $104,9506,960
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$67,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,240 – $103,6903,500
35Medical Equipment Repairers$67,380
Associate's degree
$42,190 – $99,8802,620
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$66,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $154,07069,910
37Millwrights$66,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,490 – $105,9402,160
38Advertising Sales Agents$66,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $142,8703,790
39Physical Therapist Assistants$65,240
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $81,8904,890
40Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $85,9908,650
41Surgical Technologists$64,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,560 – $91,8903,570
42Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$64,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,700 – $100,1405,760
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$64,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,760 – $97,67011,320
44Insurance Sales Agents$64,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $160,13016,360
45Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,120
Associate's degree
$47,830 – $80,1502,470
46Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,670
Associate's degree
$46,860 – $104,58014,130
47Brokerage Clerks$63,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,980 – $95,0302,060
48Legal Support Workers, All Other$63,250
Associate's degree
$37,740 – $103,0103,010
49Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,04014,730
50Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,210 – $91,6005,580

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

#	Occupation	MedianIllinois	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$108,120	$72,820 – $129,230	3,090
2	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,850	$64,830 – $124,450	2,740
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,660	$78,350 – $122,680	3,270
4	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,520	$58,420 – $119,560	29,180
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,950	$50,250 – $126,430	16,750
6	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,560	$49,240 – $123,660	23,120
7	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,740	$49,770 – $123,330	12,290
8	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,670	$74,280 – $118,410	8,970
9	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,980	$47,200 – $109,670	2,490
10	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,630	$42,220 – $117,910	3,260
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$56,960 – $120,900	1,980
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,090	$64,480 – $100,100	4,880
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,680	$46,460 – $130,950	3,370
14	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,210	$64,220 – $83,740	2,300
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,930	$59,350 – $104,210	7,650
16	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,820	$63,290 – $134,440	2,790
17	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,190	$50,520 – $102,770	12,190
18	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,190	$49,130 – $119,990	4,190
19	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,000	$39,890 – $117,660	19,570
20	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$38,900 – $106,060	18,400
21	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$78,170	$49,050 – $107,670	5,890
22	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$77,900	$46,600 – $106,530	5,300
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,410	$46,690 – $117,550	9,740
24	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,010	$48,620 – $118,810	14,210
25	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,200	$49,230 – $102,590	12,100
26	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$75,050	$38,790 – $88,640	4,910
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,000	$58,880 – $89,810	17,440
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,510	$44,130 – $134,030	51,310
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,370	$42,990 – $94,290	3,470
30	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,090	$48,480 – $99,200	2,260
31	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,700	$33,810 – $100,140	2,460
32	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,570	$45,070 – $75,190	1,970
33	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$68,530	$47,510 – $104,950	6,960
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,810	$42,240 – $103,690	3,500
35	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,380	$42,190 – $99,880	2,620
36	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,900	$38,530 – $154,070	69,910
37	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,640	$44,490 – $105,940	2,160
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,290	$31,200 – $142,870	3,790
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,240	$41,600 – $81,890	4,890
40	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$47,270 – $85,990	8,650
41	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,650	$48,560 – $91,890	3,570
42	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,630	$42,700 – $100,140	5,760
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,340	$44,760 – $97,670	11,320
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,280	$37,020 – $160,130	16,360
45	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,120	$47,830 – $80,150	2,470
46	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,670	$46,860 – $104,580	14,130
47	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,350	$44,980 – $95,030	2,060
48	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,250	$37,740 – $103,010	3,010
49	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$43,120 – $81,040	14,730
50	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$39,210 – $91,600	5,580

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Illinois. 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 Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Illinois that need no experience

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience