High paying jobs in Ithaca, NY that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Ithaca, NY, 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 Ithaca, NY run 3.3% above the national average (2024), so a Ithaca, NY salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Ithaca, NY

OccupationMedian, Ithaca, NY · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,660
Associate's degree
$82,950 – $114,80050
2Dental Hygienists$96,620
Associate's degree
$78,500 – $105,86060
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$95,460
Associate's degree
$67,960 – $95,610100
4Legal Support Workers, All Other$92,000
Associate's degree
$57,780 – $165,58040
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $103,850200
6Massage Therapists$80,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,320 – $90,03040
7Surgical Technologists$77,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,100 – $90,08030
8Computer Network Support Specialists$74,420
Associate's degree
$57,220 – $90,94040
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$72,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,240 – $143,32030
10Electricians$70,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,590 – $80,470100
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $150,800120
12Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,690
Associate's degree
$59,020 – $99,50040
13Public Safety Telecommunicators$66,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,330 – $78,60030
14Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,120 – $73,190220
15Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,960 – $92,450120
16Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,750 – $118,64070
17Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,870 – $63,65050
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,690 – $107,13040
19Library Technicians$62,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,520 – $68,63050
20Machinists$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,870 – $81,000120
21Audio and Video Technicians$62,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,840 – $93,40050
22Computer User Support Specialists$62,160
Some college, no degree
$37,490 – $86,610230
23Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $137,910200
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,540
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040110
25Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,780 – $75,52070
26Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,490 – $74,53040
27Carpenters$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $80,030190
28Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,550
Associate's degree
$45,200 – $90,16080
29Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,710 – $89,040160
30Insurance Sales Agents$59,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,980 – $144,99050
31Painters, Construction and Maintenance$59,110
No formal educational credential
$41,430 – $76,27040
32Medical Records Specialists$56,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,950 – $75,440110
33Highway Maintenance Workers$56,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,120 – $63,110100
34Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$56,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,630 – $80,14050
35Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$56,420
Associate's degree
$44,990 – $59,38080
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,380 – $73,620190
37Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$55,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,880 – $60,22060
38Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$55,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,050 – $58,82080
39Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$54,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,750 – $92,32050
40Bus Drivers, School$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $64,540220
41Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$54,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,830 – $64,58030
42Medical Assistants$53,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,400 – $53,760390
43Residential Advisors$53,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,320 – $64,69090
44Social and Human Service Assistants$53,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,360 – $70,230310
45Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$52,140
Associate's degree
$40,050 – $71,10070
46Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$51,610
Some college, no degree
$38,710 – $72,610490
47Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$51,320
No formal educational credential
$36,890 – $60,99050
48Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,430 – $71,53040
49Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,190 – $60,21070
50Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$49,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $55,42050

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

#	Occupation	MedianIthaca, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,660	$82,950 – $114,800	50
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,620	$78,500 – $105,860	60
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,460	$67,960 – $95,610	100
4	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$92,000	$57,780 – $165,580	40
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,320	$58,530 – $103,850	200
6	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,340	$60,320 – $90,030	40
7	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,760	$58,100 – $90,080	30
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$74,420	$57,220 – $90,940	40
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,030	$32,240 – $143,320	30
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,720	$50,590 – $80,470	100
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,240	$44,990 – $150,800	120
12	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,690	$59,020 – $99,500	40
13	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,250	$53,330 – $78,600	30
14	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,730	$55,120 – $73,190	220
15	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,690	$46,960 – $92,450	120
16	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,460	$43,750 – $118,640	70
17	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$51,870 – $63,650	50
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$51,690 – $107,130	40
19	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,960	$39,520 – $68,630	50
20	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$45,870 – $81,000	120
21	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,510	$35,840 – $93,400	50
22	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,160	$37,490 – $86,610	230
23	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,930	$37,210 – $137,910	200
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,540	$42,390 – $81,040	110
25	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$45,780 – $75,520	70
26	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$42,490 – $74,530	40
27	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$47,080 – $80,030	190
28	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,550	$45,200 – $90,160	80
29	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$40,710 – $89,040	160
30	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,840	$40,980 – $144,990	50
31	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$59,110	$41,430 – $76,270	40
32	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,830	$38,950 – $75,440	110
33	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,770	$43,120 – $63,110	100
34	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,740	$40,630 – $80,140	50
35	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,420	$44,990 – $59,380	80
36	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,130	$47,380 – $73,620	190
37	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,570	$38,880 – $60,220	60
38	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,460	$44,050 – $58,820	80
39	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,820	$34,750 – $92,320	50
40	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$47,370 – $64,540	220
41	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,170	$43,830 – $64,580	30
42	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,760	$38,400 – $53,760	390
43	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,760	$36,320 – $64,690	90
44	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,550	$38,360 – $70,230	310
45	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$52,140	$40,050 – $71,100	70
46	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$51,610	$38,710 – $72,610	490
47	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$51,320	$36,890 – $60,990	50
48	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,030	$44,430 – $71,530	40
49	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,980	$36,190 – $60,210	70
50	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,660	$37,940 – $55,420	50

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

Other metro areas in NY

By field in Ithaca, NY

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Ithaca, NY that need no experience

More for Ithaca, NY

Other metro areas in NY

By field in Ithaca, NY

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience