High paying jobs in Kankakee, IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Kankakee, IL, 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 Kankakee, IL run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Kankakee, IL salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Kankakee, IL

OccupationMedian, Kankakee, IL · Employed

1Electricians$105,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,390 – $111,490140
2Carpenters$95,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $98,880120
3Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$94,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,520 – $122,72090
4Respiratory Therapists$84,490
Associate's degree
$67,270 – $101,45060
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $120,290110
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,040 – $106,010190
7Dental Hygienists$78,430
Associate's degree
$60,570 – $97,33050
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,620
Associate's degree
$51,850 – $100,30070
9Highway Maintenance Workers$73,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,130 – $100,790100
10Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,270 – $139,840350
11Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,830 – $80,630240
12Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$65,130
No formal educational credential
$46,100 – $104,84040
13Physical Therapist Assistants$64,960
Associate's degree
$57,970 – $80,63040
14Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,130 – $97,87050
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,930 – $93,240130
16Public Safety Telecommunicators$61,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $78,89050
17Surgical Technologists$59,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,900 – $69,94040
18Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,120 – $79,61070
19Firefighters$59,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,730 – $95,390120
20Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$58,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,860 – $77,460520
21Insurance Sales Agents$58,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $99,99070
22Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,160 – $80,270110
23Computer User Support Specialists$57,580
Some college, no degree
$36,000 – $80,93080
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,030
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040120
25Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,140 – $91,98040
26Medical Records Specialists$56,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,020 – $80,29040
27Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $84,790100
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,960 – $118,180220
29Construction Laborers$54,830
No formal educational credential
$34,620 – $96,340200
30Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $71,71040
31Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $75,23050
32Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,660 – $60,590210
33Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $67,790260
34Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$48,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $83,31040
35Machinists$47,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,400 – $76,440100
36Production Workers, All Other$47,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $79,470130
37Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $58,06050
38Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $71,110230
39Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$47,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,040 – $83,08070
40Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$47,240
Some college, no degree
$35,140 – $64,490400
41Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $67,07050
42Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,770 – $76,780760
43Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,320
No formal educational credential
$36,340 – $50,070200
44Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $71,11070
45Dental Assistants$45,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,690 – $56,70060
46Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,730 – $57,560800
47Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$45,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $80,100320
48Bus Drivers, School$44,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $59,250160
49Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$44,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,550 – $63,240540
50Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$44,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $64,90080

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

#	Occupation	MedianKankakee, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,500	$59,390 – $111,490	140
2	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,280	$47,730 – $98,880	120
3	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,270	$60,520 – $122,720	90
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,490	$67,270 – $101,450	60
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,620	$38,510 – $120,290	110
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,840	$49,040 – $106,010	190
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,430	$60,570 – $97,330	50
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,620	$51,850 – $100,300	70
9	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,080	$39,130 – $100,790	100
10	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,500	$41,270 – $139,840	350
11	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,910	$52,830 – $80,630	240
12	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$65,130	$46,100 – $104,840	40
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,960	$57,970 – $80,630	40
14	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,570	$46,130 – $97,870	50
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,410	$50,930 – $93,240	130
16	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,010	$48,160 – $78,890	50
17	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,940	$40,900 – $69,940	40
18	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$36,120 – $79,610	70
19	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,850	$34,730 – $95,390	120
20	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,400	$35,860 – $77,460	520
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,340	$34,530 – $99,990	70
22	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$38,160 – $80,270	110
23	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,580	$36,000 – $80,930	80
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,030	$42,390 – $81,040	120
25	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$46,140 – $91,980	40
26	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,450	$37,020 – $80,290	40
27	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,580	$36,240 – $84,790	100
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,410	$34,960 – $118,180	220
29	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$54,830	$34,620 – $96,340	200
30	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,860	$38,760 – $71,710	40
31	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$37,440 – $75,230	50
32	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,930	$38,660 – $60,590	210
33	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$37,780 – $67,790	260
34	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,730	$33,600 – $83,310	40
35	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,930	$38,400 – $76,440	100
36	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,890	$35,560 – $79,470	130
37	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$38,100 – $58,060	50
38	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,460	$36,230 – $71,110	230
39	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,450	$37,040 – $83,080	70
40	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,240	$35,140 – $64,490	400
41	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,940	$37,350 – $67,070	50
42	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,750	$33,770 – $76,780	760
43	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$46,320	$36,340 – $50,070	200
44	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,130	$38,250 – $71,110	70
45	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,610	$36,690 – $56,700	60
46	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,480	$37,730 – $57,560	800
47	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,190	$31,200 – $80,100	320
48	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,870	$33,600 – $59,250	160
49	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,740	$32,550 – $63,240	540
50	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,600	$37,960 – $64,900	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kankakee, IL. 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 Kankakee, IL to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Kankakee, IL that need no experience

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