High paying jobs in Madison, WI that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Madison, WI, 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 Madison, WI run 2.7% below the national average (2024), so a Madison, WI salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Madison, WI

OccupationMedian, Madison, WI · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$104,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $121,000360
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$101,960
Associate's degree
$97,410 – $127,240210
3Dental Hygienists$100,340
Associate's degree
$83,660 – $105,440680
4Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$98,530
Associate's degree
$50,600 – $128,450270
5Computer Network Support Specialists$90,400
Associate's degree
$65,330 – $110,660460
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$85,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $123,2701,590
7Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$83,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,830 – $102,450680
8Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$82,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,790 – $118,690130
9Brickmasons and Blockmasons$82,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,650 – $100,820150
10Respiratory Therapists$81,530
Associate's degree
$75,960 – $100,320350
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,860 – $105,2401,400
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,920
Associate's degree
$62,230 – $99,720770
13Insurance Sales Agents$80,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,780 – $152,3301,090
14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$80,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,730 – $98,4101,600
15Electricians$78,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $102,8601,760
16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$77,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,010 – $77,800240
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,970
Associate's degree
$48,150 – $98,620300
18Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,520 – $92,140610
19Medical Equipment Repairers$76,020
Associate's degree
$50,640 – $120,990210
20Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$75,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,740 – $75,990170
21Surgical Technologists$75,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,930 – $96,720330
22Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $93,290220
23Sheet Metal Workers$74,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $107,280340
24Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,410 – $98,670170
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$72,210
Associate's degree
$52,570 – $102,540390
26Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$71,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $83,700150
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,340 – $92,670230
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$65,910
No formal educational credential
$50,890 – $92,490570
29Tool and Die Makers$65,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,470 – $95,250150
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$65,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,470 – $119,5404,060
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,700 – $88,110930
32Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,420
Associate's degree
$51,120 – $105,260270
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $132,4903,750
34Mechanical Drafters$64,990
Associate's degree
$48,150 – $92,040180
35Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$64,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,940 – $127,460370
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,800 – $79,370650
37Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,500 – $81,160840
38Advertising Sales Agents$63,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,430 – $138,480200
39Highway Maintenance Workers$63,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,010 – $71,920670
40Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,350 – $82,460360
41Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$63,500
No formal educational credential
$46,580 – $92,220170
42Carpenters$63,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,670 – $92,4302,320
43Physical Therapist Assistants$63,380
Associate's degree
$47,630 – $77,530180
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,210 – $78,940130
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$63,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,450 – $100,9001,020
46Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,010
Associate's degree
$48,720 – $81,110260
47Real Estate Sales Agents$62,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $119,9901,120
48Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,820 – $89,860280
49Medical Records Specialists$61,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,480 – $79,720490
50Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$61,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,000 – $76,210180

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

#	Occupation	MedianMadison, WI	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$104,220	$47,600 – $121,000	360
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$101,960	$97,410 – $127,240	210
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,340	$83,660 – $105,440	680
4	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$98,530	$50,600 – $128,450	270
5	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$90,400	$65,330 – $110,660	460
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,160	$48,310 – $123,270	1,590
7	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,060	$58,830 – $102,450	680
8	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,960	$60,790 – $118,690	130
9	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,420	$48,650 – $100,820	150
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,530	$75,960 – $100,320	350
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,200	$59,860 – $105,240	1,400
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,920	$62,230 – $99,720	770
13	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,700	$49,780 – $152,330	1,090
14	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,580	$61,730 – $98,410	1,600
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,430	$45,050 – $102,860	1,760
16	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,800	$47,010 – $77,800	240
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,970	$48,150 – $98,620	300
18	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,250	$53,520 – $92,140	610
19	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$76,020	$50,640 – $120,990	210
20	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,990	$49,740 – $75,990	170
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,930	$61,930 – $96,720	330
22	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$50,510 – $93,290	220
23	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,450	$47,150 – $107,280	340
24	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,030	$38,410 – $98,670	170
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,210	$52,570 – $102,540	390
26	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,850	$51,220 – $83,700	150
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,610	$54,340 – $92,670	230
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$65,910	$50,890 – $92,490	570
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,900	$48,470 – $95,250	150
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,840	$40,470 – $119,540	4,060
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,620	$49,700 – $88,110	930
32	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,420	$51,120 – $105,260	270
33	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,400	$39,480 – $132,490	3,750
34	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,990	$48,150 – $92,040	180
35	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,580	$47,940 – $127,460	370
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,550	$55,800 – $79,370	650
37	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$45,500 – $81,160	840
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,840	$39,430 – $138,480	200
39	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,530	$50,010 – $71,920	670
40	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$45,350 – $82,460	360
41	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$63,500	$46,580 – $92,220	170
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,480	$46,670 – $92,430	2,320
43	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,380	$47,630 – $77,530	180
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,240	$49,210 – $78,940	130
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,150	$45,450 – $100,900	1,020
46	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,010	$48,720 – $81,110	260
47	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,440	$40,080 – $119,990	1,120
48	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,030	$49,820 – $89,860	280
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,860	$48,480 – $79,720	490
50	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,000	$32,000 – $76,210	180

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

High paying jobs in Madison, WI that need no experience

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