High paying jobs in Missouri that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Missouri, 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 Missouri run 9.2% below the national average (2024), so a Missouri salary is worth about 1.10× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Missouri.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Missouri

OccupationMedian, Missouri · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,130
Associate's degree
$76,820 – $106,0901,930
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$96,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,900 – $115,7403,440
3Dental Hygienists$92,750
Associate's degree
$59,880 – $99,4003,810
4Respiratory Therapists$78,390
Associate's degree
$60,950 – $95,7303,030
5Structural Iron and Steel Workers$77,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,650 – $89,3501,320
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,900 – $111,0706,200
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,080
Associate's degree
$50,810 – $97,1505,170
8Computer Network Support Specialists$72,780
Associate's degree
$42,440 – $129,5103,910
9Brickmasons and Blockmasons$72,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $85,6301,940
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,120
Associate's degree
$49,480 – $103,2401,390
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$71,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,620 – $97,1601,700
12Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$69,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,410 – $98,5601,560
13Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$68,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,990 – $68,590970
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$67,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,190 – $104,1105,420
15Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$66,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,780 – $117,1808,310
16Occupational Therapy Assistants$66,070
Associate's degree
$50,990 – $80,9301,470
17Electricians$65,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,860 – $104,06012,780
18Physical Therapist Assistants$63,770
Associate's degree
$50,460 – $79,0002,490
19Maintenance Workers, Machinery$63,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,070 – $84,4302,180
20Sheet Metal Workers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $110,5802,640
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,930 – $88,3803,370
22Tax Preparers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,400 – $124,3001,330
23Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,440
Associate's degree
$44,560 – $104,3001,220
24Massage Therapists$62,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,680 – $101,9001,500
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $125,28021,960
26Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,940
Associate's degree
$44,760 – $90,2002,270
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,580 – $77,12014,700
28Advertising Sales Agents$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $128,3001,640
29Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,410
Associate's degree
$42,150 – $96,8207,130
30Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,390
No formal educational credential
$42,280 – $87,0106,220
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,350
Associate's degree
$43,060 – $82,6401,300
32Tree Trimmers and Pruners$61,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,560 – $70,950970
33Surgical Technologists$61,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,930 – $78,4102,100
34Carpenters$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $96,31014,410
35Tool and Die Makers$60,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,560 – $94,5501,280
36Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$60,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $67,0401,860
37Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,290 – $94,13010,470
38Automotive Body and Related Repairers$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $81,6304,350
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,940 – $122,83014,100
40Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,780
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,180 – $88,7607,220
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0407,260
43Computer User Support Specialists$59,770
Some college, no degree
$39,920 – $93,09013,510
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,210 – $90,77013,570
45Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$59,380
Associate's degree
$39,010 – $93,430930
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,170 – $82,4806,780
47Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,050 – $96,0502,710
48Insurance Sales Agents$58,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $127,15010,030
49Machinists$58,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,120 – $84,1508,380
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$57,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,590 – $86,7902,260

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

#	Occupation	MedianMissouri	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,130	$76,820 – $106,090	1,930
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,360	$59,900 – $115,740	3,440
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,750	$59,880 – $99,400	3,810
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,390	$60,950 – $95,730	3,030
5	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,410	$48,650 – $89,350	1,320
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,840	$48,900 – $111,070	6,200
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,080	$50,810 – $97,150	5,170
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$72,780	$42,440 – $129,510	3,910
9	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,370	$47,610 – $85,630	1,940
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,120	$49,480 – $103,240	1,390
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,470	$45,620 – $97,160	1,700
12	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,400	$42,410 – $98,560	1,560
13	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,030	$59,990 – $68,590	970
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,390	$45,190 – $104,110	5,420
15	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,790	$44,780 – $117,180	8,310
16	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,070	$50,990 – $80,930	1,470
17	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,410	$43,860 – $104,060	12,780
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,770	$50,460 – $79,000	2,490
19	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,720	$48,070 – $84,430	2,180
20	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$38,090 – $110,580	2,640
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,390	$45,930 – $88,380	3,370
22	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$31,400 – $124,300	1,330
23	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,440	$44,560 – $104,300	1,220
24	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,050	$43,680 – $101,900	1,500
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$35,110 – $125,280	21,960
26	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,940	$44,760 – $90,200	2,270
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,530	$48,580 – $77,120	14,700
28	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$37,020 – $128,300	1,640
29	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,410	$42,150 – $96,820	7,130
30	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,390	$42,280 – $87,010	6,220
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,350	$43,060 – $82,640	1,300
32	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,140	$37,560 – $70,950	970
33	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,120	$44,930 – $78,410	2,100
34	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$38,700 – $96,310	14,410
35	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,810	$39,560 – $94,550	1,280
36	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,660	$39,030 – $67,040	1,860
37	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$43,290 – $94,130	10,470
38	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$36,240 – $81,630	4,350
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$32,940 – $122,830	14,100
40	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	1,780
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,950	$39,180 – $88,760	7,220
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	7,260
43	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,770	$39,920 – $93,090	13,510
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$43,210 – $90,770	13,570
45	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$59,380	$39,010 – $93,430	930
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,360	$41,170 – $82,480	6,780
47	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$43,050 – $96,050	2,710
48	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,990	$31,200 – $127,150	10,030
49	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,710	$44,120 – $84,150	8,380
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,610	$36,590 – $86,790	2,260

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Missouri. 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.

More for Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Missouri

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Missouri to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Missouri that need no experience

More for Missouri

Metro areas in Missouri

By field in Missouri

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience