High paying jobs in Missoula, MT that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Missoula, MT, 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 Missoula, MT run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Missoula, MT 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 Missoula, MT

OccupationMedian, Missoula, MT · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$104,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$85,540 – $174,11040
2Dental Hygienists$98,050
Associate's degree
$80,650 – $102,740130
3Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$83,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,760 – $101,03040
4Respiratory Therapists$82,580
Associate's degree
$63,810 – $86,73070
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$79,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $98,390290
6Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,730 – $98,220110
7Electricians$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $81,150280
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$77,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,240 – $140,75030
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,860 – $96,410170
10Firefighters$76,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,120 – $82,270130
11Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,880 – $83,61070
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,740
Associate's degree
$58,270 – $94,840120
13Drafters, All Other$72,520
Associate's degree
$43,420 – $83,41030
14Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,360 – $92,820140
15Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,760
Associate's degree
$50,650 – $83,95070
16Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$66,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,320 – $81,42060
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040100
18Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $79,210310
19Surgical Technologists$64,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,410 – $92,34070
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,980 – $75,180170
21Cargo and Freight Agents$63,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,540 – $75,99060
22Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$62,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,300 – $98,260210
23Roofers$62,310
No formal educational credential
$42,870 – $69,90060
24Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,550
No formal educational credential
$48,790 – $72,370100
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,530
Associate's degree
$48,530 – $77,34060
26Sheet Metal Workers$61,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,130 – $84,220120
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $75,620140
28Highway Maintenance Workers$61,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,510 – $74,840110
29Insurance Sales Agents$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $107,190230
30Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $73,32060
31Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $102,770450
32Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $75,99040
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,500 – $75,860180
34Machinists$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,950 – $75,42050
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $121,540260
36Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,880 – $77,560350
37Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,03070
38Forest and Conservation Technicians$58,990
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $80,330330
39Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$58,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,610 – $58,870110
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,110 – $71,490920
41Computer User Support Specialists$58,460
Some college, no degree
$42,950 – $68,310300
42Surveying and Mapping Technicians$58,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,270 – $78,830100
43Industrial Machinery Mechanics$58,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,100 – $71,78060
44Computer Network Support Specialists$57,390
Associate's degree
$41,780 – $91,970140
45Carpenters$57,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,540 – $69,320400
46Painters, Construction and Maintenance$57,060
No formal educational credential
$35,150 – $62,15090
47Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$56,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,030 – $56,57070
48Legal Support Workers, All Other$54,520
Associate's degree
$48,500 – $155,08050
49Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$54,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $61,77030
50Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,150 – $68,60060

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

#	Occupation	MedianMissoula, MT	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,260	$85,540 – $174,110	40
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,050	$80,650 – $102,740	130
3	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,230	$51,760 – $101,030	40
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,580	$63,810 – $86,730	70
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,750	$48,150 – $98,390	290
6	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,720	$62,730 – $98,220	110
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$49,240 – $81,150	280
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,790	$51,240 – $140,750	30
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,610	$59,860 – $96,410	170
10	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,620	$45,120 – $82,270	130
11	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,860	$47,880 – $83,610	70
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,740	$58,270 – $94,840	120
13	Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$72,520	$43,420 – $83,410	30
14	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,610	$55,360 – $92,820	140
15	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,760	$50,650 – $83,950	70
16	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,550	$49,320 – $81,420	60
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$43,120 – $81,040	100
18	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,050	$47,040 – $79,210	310
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,030	$36,410 – $92,340	70
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,130	$50,980 – $75,180	170
21	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,010	$46,540 – $75,990	60
22	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,850	$46,300 – $98,260	210
23	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$62,310	$42,870 – $69,900	60
24	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,550	$48,790 – $72,370	100
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,530	$48,530 – $77,340	60
26	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,420	$45,130 – $84,220	120
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,380	$45,970 – $75,620	140
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,230	$60,510 – $74,840	110
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$45,160 – $107,190	230
30	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$45,640 – $73,320	60
31	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,000	$37,860 – $102,770	450
32	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$44,780 – $75,990	40
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,240	$44,500 – $75,860	180
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$41,950 – $75,420	50
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$36,680 – $121,540	260
36	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,650	$40,880 – $77,560	350
37	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,030	70
38	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,990	$43,660 – $80,330	330
39	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,870	$41,610 – $58,870	110
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,500	$46,110 – $71,490	920
41	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,460	$42,950 – $68,310	300
42	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,080	$46,270 – $78,830	100
43	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,040	$42,100 – $71,780	60
44	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$57,390	$41,780 – $91,970	140
45	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,160	$40,540 – $69,320	400
46	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$57,060	$35,150 – $62,150	90
47	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,570	$49,030 – $56,570	70
48	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$54,520	$48,500 – $155,080	50
49	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,010	$38,430 – $61,770	30
50	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,590	$42,150 – $68,600	60

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

High paying jobs in Missoula, MT that need no experience

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