High paying jobs in Joplin, MO-KS that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Joplin, MO-KS, 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 Joplin, MO-KS run 14.3% below the national average (2024), so a Joplin, MO-KS salary is worth about 1.17× 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 Joplin, MO-KS

OccupationMedian, Joplin, MO-KS · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,940 – $107,630160
2Dental Hygienists$83,270
Associate's degree
$53,510 – $86,910120
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,990
Associate's degree
$72,220 – $100,67070
4Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$71,970
Associate's degree
$40,950 – $89,400230
5Electrical and Electronics Drafters$70,010
Associate's degree
$48,660 – $101,96040
6Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$67,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,510 – $73,540120
7Electricians$67,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,810 – $96,890430
8Respiratory Therapists$65,630
Associate's degree
$59,990 – $79,930150
9Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $101,640180
10Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $73,160350
11Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $83,02040
12Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $91,21090
13Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $77,310190
14Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,640210
15Computer Network Support Specialists$61,750
Associate's degree
$37,530 – $114,19060
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $109,30040
17Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $75,380100
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,560 – $81,770130
19Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,330
Associate's degree
$48,560 – $91,08070
20Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36060
21Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,240
Associate's degree
$44,130 – $76,21050
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,010 – $72,950400
23Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,690
Associate's degree
$39,950 – $79,96040
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,690
Associate's degree
$32,100 – $77,28040
25Physical Therapist Assistants$58,240
Associate's degree
$47,960 – $89,70080
26Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,290 – $58,170160
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$57,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,920 – $109,220670
28Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$57,110
Associate's degree
$44,360 – $103,72060
29Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$56,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,040 – $76,300320
30Surgical Technologists$56,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $77,390100
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$56,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $76,830360
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$56,370
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $76,610100
33Tool and Die Makers$55,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,960 – $74,14040
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,560 – $81,980210
35Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$54,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,740 – $98,09040
36Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$53,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $78,800150
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$53,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $80,460330
38Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$52,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $56,82070
39Automotive Body and Related Repairers$52,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $73,650130
40Tutors$52,000
Some college, no degree
$28,600 – $56,31030
41Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$51,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $77,970160
42Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,640 – $60,620100
43Insurance Sales Agents$50,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,730 – $127,980170
44Construction Laborers$49,880
No formal educational credential
$36,130 – $73,050510
45Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,740 – $66,60070
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$49,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,930 – $66,380100
47Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49,250
No formal educational credential
$31,260 – $58,48060
48Advertising Sales Agents$49,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $113,14050
49Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,720 – $77,3601,020
50Carpenters$48,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $84,880300

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

#	Occupation	MedianJoplin, MO-KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,670	$73,940 – $107,630	160
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,270	$53,510 – $86,910	120
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,990	$72,220 – $100,670	70
4	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,970	$40,950 – $89,400	230
5	Electrical and Electronics DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,010	$48,660 – $101,960	40
6	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,790	$40,510 – $73,540	120
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,720	$36,810 – $96,890	430
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$65,630	$59,990 – $79,930	150
9	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,370	$42,210 – $101,640	180
10	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,720	$46,280 – $73,160	350
11	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,640	$40,080 – $83,020	40
12	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$46,280 – $91,210	90
13	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$40,410 – $77,310	190
14	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$42,390 – $81,640	210
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$61,750	$37,530 – $114,190	60
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$45,830 – $109,300	40
17	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$47,050 – $75,380	100
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,910	$43,560 – $81,770	130
19	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,330	$48,560 – $91,080	70
20	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$42,600 – $76,360	60
21	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,240	$44,130 – $76,210	50
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,920	$48,010 – $72,950	400
23	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,690	$39,950 – $79,960	40
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,690	$32,100 – $77,280	40
25	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,240	$47,960 – $89,700	80
26	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,170	$35,290 – $58,170	160
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,270	$30,920 – $109,220	670
28	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$57,110	$44,360 – $103,720	60
29	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,790	$38,040 – $76,300	320
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,750	$44,200 – $77,390	100
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,580	$38,440 – $76,830	360
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$56,370	$36,480 – $76,610	100
33	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,930	$41,960 – $74,140	40
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,360	$38,560 – $81,980	210
35	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,720	$37,740 – $98,090	40
36	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,840	$37,180 – $78,800	150
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,210	$38,340 – $80,460	330
38	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,560	$36,400 – $56,820	70
39	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,200	$35,990 – $73,650	130
40	TutorsSome college, no degree	$52,000	$28,600 – $56,310	30
41	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,450	$46,840 – $77,970	160
42	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,980	$38,640 – $60,620	100
43	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,400	$29,730 – $127,980	170
44	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$49,880	$36,130 – $73,050	510
45	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,860	$31,740 – $66,600	70
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,750	$34,930 – $66,380	100
47	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$49,250	$31,260 – $58,480	60
48	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,030	$36,140 – $113,140	50
49	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,740	$33,720 – $77,360	1,020
50	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,540	$32,000 – $84,880	300

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Joplin, MO-KS. 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 Joplin, MO-KS to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Joplin, MO-KS that need no experience

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