High paying jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Memphis, TN-MS-AR, 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a Memphis, TN-MS-AR salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR

OccupationMedian, Memphis, TN-MS-AR · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$122,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$55,900 – $206,830200
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,700 – $116,770340
3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$92,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $169,7402,140
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,930
Associate's degree
$66,290 – $100,880390
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $106,330450
6Dental Hygienists$78,580
Associate's degree
$72,150 – $119,720650
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,850
Associate's degree
$34,040 – $94,930240
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $79,4803,630
9Computer Network Support Specialists$70,720
Associate's degree
$46,930 – $115,630310
10Respiratory Therapists$66,460
Associate's degree
$56,430 – $88,060670
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$66,320
Associate's degree
$54,100 – $94,000890
12Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,320
Associate's degree
$39,410 – $97,520220
13Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,090
Associate's degree
$45,680 – $82,590210
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,420 – $82,9401,690
15Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,500220
16Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,570 – $97,790340
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,320 – $94,710440
18Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $96,15019,460
19Firefighters$62,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,290 – $70,4601,660
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,420 – $79,840460
21Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030220
22Physical Therapist Assistants$61,560
Associate's degree
$47,270 – $80,270490
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,070 – $124,7904,290
24Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $96,1101,240
25Surgical Technologists$61,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,390 – $77,630630
26Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,070
Associate's degree
$46,110 – $99,380300
27Electricians$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $84,8902,770
28Sheet Metal Workers$60,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,580 – $81,850310
29Computer User Support Specialists$59,460
Some college, no degree
$40,930 – $82,8001,770
30Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$59,330
Associate's degree
$48,530 – $118,640210
31Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $80,410690
32Machinists$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $74,3401,050
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,270 – $110,4803,330
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,130 – $68,4102,980
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,270
36Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $82,0201,920
37Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,690 – $83,0802,430
38Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $79,440640
39Transportation Workers, All Other$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,120 – $66,650440
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$56,850
Associate's degree
$42,950 – $84,4801,120
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,820 – $87,6501,740
42Aircraft Service Attendants$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $57,610440
43Chemical Technicians$56,390
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $93,950200
44Cargo and Freight Agents$55,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,790 – $95,2201,670
45Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$54,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,030 – $85,380270
46Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$54,330
No formal educational credential
$40,600 – $75,2801,260
47Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$53,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,560 – $72,7901,140
48Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,330 – $73,270410
49Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,710 – $75,460520
50Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $62,7901,370

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

#	Occupation	MedianMemphis, TN-MS-AR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$122,420	$55,900 – $206,830	200
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,150	$61,700 – $116,770	340
3	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,180	$52,900 – $169,740	2,140
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,930	$66,290 – $100,880	390
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$49,450 – $106,330	450
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$78,580	$72,150 – $119,720	650
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,850	$34,040 – $94,930	240
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$47,060 – $79,480	3,630
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$70,720	$46,930 – $115,630	310
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$66,460	$56,430 – $88,060	670
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,320	$54,100 – $94,000	890
12	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,320	$39,410 – $97,520	220
13	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,090	$45,680 – $82,590	210
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,570	$45,420 – $82,940	1,690
15	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,470	$50,340 – $78,500	220
16	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$41,570 – $97,790	340
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,160	$39,320 – $94,710	440
18	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$44,200 – $96,150	19,460
19	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,910	$36,290 – $70,460	1,660
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,670	$48,420 – $79,840	460
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	220
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,560	$47,270 – $80,270	490
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$34,070 – $124,790	4,290
24	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$46,070 – $96,110	1,240
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,150	$49,390 – $77,630	630
26	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,070	$46,110 – $99,380	300
27	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$38,670 – $84,890	2,770
28	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,780	$39,580 – $81,850	310
29	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,460	$40,930 – $82,800	1,770
30	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$59,330	$48,530 – $118,640	210
31	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$38,920 – $80,410	690
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$39,630 – $74,340	1,050
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,140	$34,270 – $110,480	3,330
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,140	$41,130 – $68,410	2,980
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	1,270
36	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,690	$37,530 – $82,020	1,920
37	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,030	$39,690 – $83,080	2,430
38	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$37,610 – $79,440	640
39	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$26,120 – $66,650	440
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$56,850	$42,950 – $84,480	1,120
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,780	$38,820 – $87,650	1,740
42	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$38,060 – $57,610	440
43	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,390	$41,600 – $93,950	200
44	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,930	$46,790 – $95,220	1,670
45	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,460	$37,030 – $85,380	270
46	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$54,330	$40,600 – $75,280	1,260
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,870	$40,560 – $72,790	1,140
48	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,820	$37,330 – $73,270	410
49	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,420	$36,710 – $75,460	520
50	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,210	$40,250 – $62,790	1,370

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Memphis, TN-MS-AR. 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR that need no experience

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