High paying jobs in Nebraska that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska run 9.9% below the national average (2024), so a Nebraska 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. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Nebraska.

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

Find high paying jobs in Nebraska

OccupationMedian, Nebraska · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$98,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,850 – $125,570360
2Dental Hygienists$92,580
Associate's degree
$67,600 – $98,0801,280
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$92,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,930 – $118,0401,490
4Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$88,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,020 – $103,980440
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,670
Associate's degree
$64,590 – $105,320780
6Respiratory Therapists$81,590
Associate's degree
$64,100 – $96,180840
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,170 – $102,2503,160
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$74,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,680 – $95,2103,490
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,860
Associate's degree
$54,410 – $98,3001,670
10Tool and Die Makers$69,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,680 – $83,140360
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,590
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $99,750370
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,490
Associate's degree
$48,000 – $93,540710
13Structural Iron and Steel Workers$65,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $79,040610
14Computer Network Support Specialists$65,450
Associate's degree
$44,490 – $108,8701,490
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,290 – $97,0301,490
16Sheet Metal Workers$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,140 – $94,980440
17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,030 – $90,650410
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $83,3202,880
19Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,830 – $118,5608,550
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$64,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,440 – $98,020410
21Surgical Technologists$63,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,870 – $79,350770
22Correctional Officers and Jailers$63,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $78,2703,250
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,250
Associate's degree
$44,230 – $86,9901,630
24Advertising Sales Agents$62,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,180 – $180,5101,190
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,890 – $77,9404,580
26Cargo and Freight Agents$62,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,630 – $82,200390
27Insurance Sales Agents$61,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,500 – $125,9306,160
28Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,550
Associate's degree
$46,580 – $87,260850
29Physical Therapist Assistants$61,370
Associate's degree
$48,100 – $77,690980
30Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $76,250740
31Brickmasons and Blockmasons$61,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $72,500350
32Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,140 – $77,320650
33Mechanical Drafters$61,170
Associate's degree
$43,150 – $92,160530
34Firefighters$61,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,660 – $69,4601,070
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,830 – $98,0304,110
36Brokerage Clerks$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,150 – $75,920440
37Computer User Support Specialists$60,830
Some college, no degree
$40,910 – $78,1506,380
38Electricians$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,400 – $94,0406,440
39Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,290 – $82,9501,430
40Millwrights$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $74,510590
41Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,000
Associate's degree
$40,280 – $98,490330
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0402,150
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,540 – $81,1103,020
44Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$59,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,630 – $76,6501,020
45Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030690
46Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280640
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $79,4002,720
48Skincare Specialists$58,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,300 – $122,250550
49Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,150 – $81,79023,160
50Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$58,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $75,7003,180

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

#	Occupation	MedianNebraska	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,210	$65,850 – $125,570	360
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$92,580	$67,600 – $98,080	1,280
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,150	$52,930 – $118,040	1,490
4	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,610	$67,020 – $103,980	440
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,670	$64,590 – $105,320	780
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,590	$64,100 – $96,180	840
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,830	$50,170 – $102,250	3,160
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,620	$54,680 – $95,210	3,490
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,860	$54,410 – $98,300	1,670
10	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,150	$49,680 – $83,140	360
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,590	$49,210 – $99,750	370
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,490	$48,000 – $93,540	710
13	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,470	$48,160 – $79,040	610
14	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,450	$44,490 – $108,870	1,490
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,150	$42,290 – $97,030	1,490
16	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$32,140 – $94,980	440
17	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,120	$47,030 – $90,650	410
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,110	$49,130 – $83,320	2,880
19	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,030	$40,830 – $118,560	8,550
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,020	$47,440 – $98,020	410
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,880	$49,870 – $79,350	770
22	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,380	$47,630 – $78,270	3,250
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,250	$44,230 – $86,990	1,630
24	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,890	$32,180 – $180,510	1,190
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,660	$50,890 – $77,940	4,580
26	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,500	$40,630 – $82,200	390
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,590	$37,500 – $125,930	6,160
28	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,550	$46,580 – $87,260	850
29	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,370	$48,100 – $77,690	980
30	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,220	$44,620 – $76,250	740
31	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,200	$44,670 – $72,500	350
32	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$44,140 – $77,320	650
33	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,170	$43,150 – $92,160	530
34	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,040	$46,660 – $69,460	1,070
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,970	$42,830 – $98,030	4,110
36	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$48,150 – $75,920	440
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,830	$40,910 – $78,150	6,380
38	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$40,400 – $94,040	6,440
39	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,520	$41,290 – $82,950	1,430
40	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$47,480 – $74,510	590
41	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,000	$40,280 – $98,490	330
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	2,150
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,850	$43,540 – $81,110	3,020
44	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,750	$41,630 – $76,650	1,020
45	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	690
46	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$45,530 – $75,280	640
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,140	$44,010 – $79,400	2,720
48	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,420	$44,300 – $122,250	550
49	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,390	$40,150 – $81,790	23,160
50	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,360	$44,620 – $75,700	3,180

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

Metro areas in Nebraska

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

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Nebraska that need no experience

More for Nebraska

Metro areas in Nebraska

By field in Nebraska

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience