High paying jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN, 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN run 6.6% below the national average (2024), so a Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

OccupationMedian, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$91,750
Associate's degree
$67,570 – $102,030150
2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $95,360340
3Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$82,050
Associate's degree
$37,630 – $108,82040
4Respiratory Therapists$80,140
Associate's degree
$65,510 – $94,720110
5Tool and Die Makers$80,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,260 – $81,36080
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,570
Associate's degree
$51,250 – $104,520160
7Electricians$78,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,730 – $96,840580
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,940 – $101,02060
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,830 – $90,990350
10Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,280
Associate's degree
$39,110 – $106,64090
11Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,710 – $88,890150
12Computer Network Support Specialists$72,800
Associate's degree
$47,050 – $114,13090
13Millwrights$72,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $76,92040
14Occupational Therapy Assistants$71,930
Associate's degree
$40,740 – $78,80060
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,580 – $92,540370
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,140 – $130,800630
17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$67,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,350 – $85,60050
18Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$66,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,410 – $67,04070
19Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,610 – $75,900330
20Chemical Technicians$64,190
Associate's degree
$42,470 – $97,72080
21Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$63,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,410 – $93,22030
22Surgical Technologists$63,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,100 – $82,220130
23Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$63,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $71,8606,280
24Carpenters$63,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $95,940300
25Sheet Metal Workers$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,890 – $102,600140
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $122,250450
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $100,350320
28Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $72,500170
29Machinists$62,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $75,610720
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,690 – $74,63070
31Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $71,10050
32Insurance Sales Agents$62,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $165,240240
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040190
34Physical Therapist Assistants$62,030
Associate's degree
$35,720 – $76,710110
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,040 – $86,390230
36Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,350
Associate's degree
$41,150 – $81,40040
37Surveying and Mapping Technicians$61,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $80,13030
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,260 – $76,810250
39Food Batchmakers$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,220 – $60,690150
40Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,440 – $73,92070
41Brickmasons and Blockmasons$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,200 – $84,40070
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $77,740210
43Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,990 – $80,46030
44Postal Service Clerks$58,880
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
45Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,810
Associate's degree
$42,440 – $74,66060
46Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,560 – $76,4501,410
47Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,540
No formal educational credential
$47,090 – $73,550130
48Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$57,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,860 – $58,86030
49Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,080 – $75,230180
50Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$55,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $83,5301,250

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

#	Occupation	MedianLafayette-West Lafayette, IN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$91,750	$67,570 – $102,030	150
2	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,460	$47,350 – $95,360	340
3	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,050	$37,630 – $108,820	40
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,140	$65,510 – $94,720	110
5	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,060	$59,260 – $81,360	80
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,570	$51,250 – $104,520	160
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,540	$43,730 – $96,840	580
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,290	$44,940 – $101,020	60
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,320	$58,830 – $90,990	350
10	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,280	$39,110 – $106,640	90
11	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,830	$49,710 – $88,890	150
12	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,800	$47,050 – $114,130	90
13	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,450	$47,020 – $76,920	40
14	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,930	$40,740 – $78,800	60
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,130	$49,580 – $92,540	370
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,080	$40,140 – $130,800	630
17	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,550	$47,350 – $85,600	50
18	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,800	$39,410 – $67,040	70
19	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,160	$52,610 – $75,900	330
20	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,190	$42,470 – $97,720	80
21	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,570	$49,410 – $93,220	30
22	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,200	$60,100 – $82,220	130
23	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,140	$36,750 – $71,860	6,280
24	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,050	$47,000 – $95,940	300
25	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$42,890 – $102,600	140
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,870	$37,350 – $122,250	450
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$44,800 – $100,350	320
28	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,380	$38,810 – $72,500	170
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,220	$41,060 – $75,610	720
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,210	$47,690 – $74,630	70
31	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$38,710 – $71,100	50
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,150	$46,810 – $165,240	240
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	190
34	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,030	$35,720 – $76,710	110
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,430	$41,040 – $86,390	230
36	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,350	$41,150 – $81,400	40
37	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,220	$39,090 – $80,130	30
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$43,260 – $76,810	250
39	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$29,220 – $60,690	150
40	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$36,440 – $73,920	70
41	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$49,200 – $84,400	70
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$44,210 – $77,740	210
43	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,950	$26,990 – $80,460	30
44	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$58,880	$42,600 – $75,030	40
45	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,810	$42,440 – $74,660	60
46	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,360	$40,560 – $76,450	1,410
47	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,540	$47,090 – $73,550	130
48	Court Reporters and Simultaneous CaptionersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,470	$45,860 – $58,860	30
49	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,280	$44,080 – $75,230	180
50	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,480	$37,340 – $83,530	1,250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN. 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN that need no experience

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