High paying jobs in Manhattan, KS that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, KS run 9.8% below the national average (2024), so a Manhattan, KS salary is worth about 1.11× 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 Manhattan, KS

OccupationMedian, Manhattan, KS · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$103,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $120,38050
2Power Plant Operators$98,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,920 – $116,95070
3Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,750
Associate's degree
$58,710 – $92,80060
4Architectural and Civil Drafters$77,810
Associate's degree
$49,220 – $89,55040
5Sheet Metal Workers$76,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $98,31040
6Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$66,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $77,36090
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,440
Associate's degree
$49,090 – $103,38040
8Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $78,52080
9Postal Service Clerks$63,920
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $71,40030
10Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,440
Associate's degree
$41,270 – $78,52080
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $130,550220
12Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $76,960180
13Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $105,670370
14Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,380
Associate's degree
$47,020 – $70,47030
15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,280 – $77,690230
16Electricians$61,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $78,940170
17Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,590 – $98,330200
18Physical Therapist Assistants$60,210
Associate's degree
$52,540 – $80,87050
19Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,850 – $79,37040
20Automotive Body and Related Repairers$59,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,120 – $109,70050
21Insurance Sales Agents$58,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $142,650140
22Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $82,860360
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,670 – $82,040150
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
25Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,030
No formal educational credential
$46,450 – $79,140130
26Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $65,17070
27Procurement Clerks$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $61,61030
28Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $72,71070
29Firefighters$53,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,290 – $66,390120
30Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$53,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,950 – $64,94060
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $83,670100
32Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$52,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,740 – $76,310280
33Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$51,820
Associate's degree
$39,120 – $59,95090
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,420 – $65,440480
35Public Safety Telecommunicators$51,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,430 – $73,03040
36Machinists$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $67,100100
37Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,180 – $62,69040
38Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$51,610
Associate's degree
$40,570 – $67,300200
39Carpenters$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,510 – $74,050300
40Agricultural Technicians$51,270
Associate's degree
$32,890 – $66,61090
41Computer User Support Specialists$51,230
Some college, no degree
$38,230 – $73,540220
42Information and Record Clerks, All Other$51,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,700 – $59,950110
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $62,780180
44Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$49,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,750 – $86,44050
45Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$49,160
Associate's degree
$34,060 – $59,94070
46Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $59,440250
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$47,890
Associate's degree
$36,360 – $73,32070
48Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $63,60080
49Highway Maintenance Workers$47,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,410 – $61,86060
50Construction Laborers$47,730
No formal educational credential
$35,750 – $59,220420

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

#	Occupation	MedianManhattan, KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,540	$45,600 – $120,380	50
2	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,840	$54,920 – $116,950	70
3	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,750	$58,710 – $92,800	60
4	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$77,810	$49,220 – $89,550	40
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,750	$37,680 – $98,310	40
6	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,600	$47,740 – $77,360	90
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,440	$49,090 – $103,380	40
8	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,170	$44,550 – $78,520	80
9	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,920	$42,600 – $71,400	30
10	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,440	$41,270 – $78,520	80
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$37,230 – $130,550	220
12	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,910	$46,460 – $76,960	180
13	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$36,720 – $105,670	370
14	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,380	$47,020 – $70,470	30
15	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,430	$49,280 – $77,690	230
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,170	$38,100 – $78,940	170
17	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$43,590 – $98,330	200
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,210	$52,540 – $80,870	50
19	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,320	$44,850 – $79,370	40
20	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,260	$43,120 – $109,700	50
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,750	$38,540 – $142,650	140
22	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,080	$41,870 – $82,860	360
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,000	$40,670 – $82,040	150
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	130
25	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,030	$46,450 – $79,140	130
26	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$48,690 – $65,170	70
27	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$49,440 – $61,610	30
28	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,010	$40,370 – $72,710	70
29	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,290	$35,290 – $66,390	120
30	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,290	$44,950 – $64,940	60
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,570	$34,780 – $83,670	100
32	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,220	$42,740 – $76,310	280
33	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$51,820	$39,120 – $59,950	90
34	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,750	$39,420 – $65,440	480
35	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,640	$42,430 – $73,030	40
36	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$35,360 – $67,100	100
37	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$43,180 – $62,690	40
38	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,610	$40,570 – $67,300	200
39	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$39,510 – $74,050	300
40	Agricultural TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,270	$32,890 – $66,610	90
41	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$51,230	$38,230 – $73,540	220
42	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,060	$40,700 – $59,950	110
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,550	$38,500 – $62,780	180
44	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,750	$38,750 – $86,440	50
45	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$49,160	$34,060 – $59,940	70
46	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$36,250 – $59,440	250
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$47,890	$36,360 – $73,320	70
48	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,760	$36,340 – $63,600	80
49	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,750	$33,410 – $61,860	60
50	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$47,730	$35,750 – $59,220	420

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

High paying jobs in Manhattan, KS that need no experience

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