High paying jobs in Iowa that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Iowa, 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 Iowa run 12.2% below the national average (2024), so a Iowa salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Iowa.

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

Find high paying jobs in Iowa

OccupationMedian, Iowa · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,310 – $109,9801,390
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,480
Associate's degree
$72,480 – $101,970740
3Dental Hygienists$84,010
Associate's degree
$78,320 – $95,8102,440
4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$83,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,400 – $103,890820
5Wind Turbine Service Technicians$74,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,630 – $100,410900
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,840
Associate's degree
$47,020 – $107,660880
7Respiratory Therapists$74,760
Associate's degree
$62,860 – $86,510910
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,360 – $101,5205,130
9Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$72,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,580 – $72,670660
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,360 – $102,9003,930
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,540
Associate's degree
$46,520 – $90,7601,130
12Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,360 – $93,8901,130
13Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,670
Associate's degree
$52,430 – $125,300500
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,960 – $124,59016,990
15Sheet Metal Workers$66,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $91,4501,650
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,930
Associate's degree
$54,360 – $86,5202,550
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $83,6201,780
18Tool and Die Makers$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,540 – $80,170760
19Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,640 – $79,340900
20Computer Network Support Specialists$64,600
Associate's degree
$47,330 – $93,7601,920
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,410
Associate's degree
$51,550 – $86,390710
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $82,7806,050
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,880 – $85,0702,820
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,220
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $102,060980
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,510 – $97,5005,730
26Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$63,700
Associate's degree
$34,540 – $94,950640
27Mechanical Drafters$63,330
Associate's degree
$46,760 – $95,370630
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,550 – $77,7105,510
29Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $64,7801,420
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $119,0606,530
31Millwrights$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $79,710690
32Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,320 – $78,7801,040
33Physical Therapist Assistants$61,030
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $74,9501,060
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,880 – $76,0402,370
35Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $85,760820
36Electricians$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,770 – $89,48010,310
37Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,040 – $86,2803,840
38Surgical Technologists$60,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,280 – $75,100950
39Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,3601,040
40Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,690 – $87,4605,530
41Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,370 – $80,5503,540
42Insurance Sales Agents$60,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $126,8406,840
43Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,190
44Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0403,730
45Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,190 – $77,8802,210
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,710 – $80,0804,140
47Medical Equipment Repairers$59,300
Associate's degree
$40,400 – $80,360650
48Computer User Support Specialists$58,810
Some college, no degree
$37,740 – $85,6806,140
49Highway Maintenance Workers$58,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,380 – $67,9804,000
50Advertising Sales Agents$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,250 – $92,120900

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

#	Occupation	MedianIowa	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,200	$65,310 – $109,980	1,390
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,480	$72,480 – $101,970	740
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,010	$78,320 – $95,810	2,440
4	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,830	$50,400 – $103,890	820
5	Wind Turbine Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,880	$57,630 – $100,410	900
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,840	$47,020 – $107,660	880
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,760	$62,860 – $86,510	910
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,470	$59,360 – $101,520	5,130
9	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,670	$48,580 – $72,670	660
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$50,360 – $102,900	3,930
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,540	$46,520 – $90,760	1,130
12	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,250	$60,360 – $93,890	1,130
13	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,670	$52,430 – $125,300	500
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,760	$39,960 – $124,590	16,990
15	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,460	$43,770 – $91,450	1,650
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,930	$54,360 – $86,520	2,550
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,710	$45,600 – $83,620	1,780
18	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$51,540 – $80,170	760
19	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$49,640 – $79,340	900
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,600	$47,330 – $93,760	1,920
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,410	$51,550 – $86,390	710
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,400	$47,770 – $82,780	6,050
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,290	$47,880 – $85,070	2,820
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,220	$45,760 – $102,060	980
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$45,510 – $97,500	5,730
26	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$63,700	$34,540 – $94,950	640
27	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,330	$46,760 – $95,370	630
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,630	$50,550 – $77,710	5,510
29	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$44,840 – $64,780	1,420
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$35,700 – $119,060	6,530
31	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$47,050 – $79,710	690
32	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$45,320 – $78,780	1,040
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,030	$45,760 – $74,950	1,060
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,990	$46,880 – $76,040	2,370
35	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$40,410 – $85,760	820
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$39,770 – $89,480	10,310
37	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,680	$43,040 – $86,280	3,840
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,540	$47,280 – $75,100	950
39	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$42,600 – $76,360	1,040
40	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,330	$46,690 – $87,460	5,530
41	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$45,370 – $80,550	3,540
42	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,140	$37,590 – $126,840	6,840
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	1,190
44	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	3,730
45	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$44,190 – $77,880	2,210
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,680	$43,710 – $80,080	4,140
47	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,300	$40,400 – $80,360	650
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,810	$37,740 – $85,680	6,140
49	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,490	$47,380 – $67,980	4,000
50	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$30,250 – $92,120	900

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

Metro areas in Iowa

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

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Iowa that need no experience

More for Iowa

Metro areas in Iowa

By field in Iowa

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience