High paying jobs in New Jersey that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average (2024), so a New Jersey salary is worth about 0.92× 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 New Jersey.

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

Find high paying jobs in New Jersey

OccupationMedian, New Jersey · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$107,040
Associate's degree
$94,260 – $117,7307,230
2Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$105,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$72,760 – $133,7901,900
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$103,150
Associate's degree
$80,090 – $134,5503,370
4Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$102,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $115,0002,540
5Respiratory Therapists$100,810
Associate's degree
$78,000 – $123,3703,350
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$95,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,780 – $129,7209,650
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$95,000
Associate's degree
$71,770 – $118,4106,320
8Correctional Officers and Jailers$94,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,410 – $106,5707,570
9Sheet Metal Workers$92,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $130,6302,790
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,740 – $134,26021,780
11Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$89,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,760 – $133,3305,980
12Computer Network Support Specialists$87,440
Associate's degree
$50,830 – $136,2603,370
13Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,460 – $118,1202,250
14Firefighters$84,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,920 – $123,9407,500
15Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$82,710
Associate's degree
$47,950 – $115,5502,440
16Insurance Sales Agents$81,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,330 – $169,77011,370
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $169,82034,360
18Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$79,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,290 – $167,43044,980
19Solar Photovoltaic Installers$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $102,0501,880
20Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,050 – $99,2402,500
21Physical Therapist Assistants$78,440
Associate's degree
$62,620 – $90,0901,810
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,720 – $136,7108,750
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,040 – $99,6803,520
24Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$78,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,590 – $104,7702,690
25Electricians$77,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,570 – $130,86013,520
26Surgical Technologists$77,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,270 – $100,4902,780
27Roofers$76,600
No formal educational credential
$45,230 – $103,7201,860
28Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$76,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,170 – $106,4901,400
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,210 – $85,40017,410
30Brokerage Clerks$74,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,930 – $100,4103,260
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $99,4408,380
32Sales and Related Workers, All Other$74,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $106,8904,190
33Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,020 – $116,55010,330
34Opticians, Dispensing$72,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $85,0202,010
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$72,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $94,1508,160
36Paralegals and Legal Assistants$71,500
Associate's degree
$47,070 – $99,90012,010
37Audio and Video Technicians$71,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $106,7802,280
38Advertising Sales Agents$69,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,760 – $125,8902,110
39Medical Equipment Repairers$68,460
Associate's degree
$45,210 – $102,6502,400
40Computer User Support Specialists$64,470
Some college, no degree
$41,830 – $105,38018,200
41Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,3602,230
42Construction Laborers$64,060
No formal educational credential
$37,980 – $106,14023,590
43Carpenters$64,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $121,49014,230
44Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$63,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,950 – $90,31047,980
45Machinists$63,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $90,7403,210
46Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $86,4302,740
47Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,900 – $89,0104,160
48Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,960
Associate's degree
$44,700 – $96,1202,280
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,440 – $87,6609,410
50Automotive Body and Related Repairers$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $83,2103,720

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

#	Occupation	MedianNew Jersey	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$107,040	$94,260 – $117,730	7,230
2	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$105,370	$72,760 – $133,790	1,900
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$103,150	$80,090 – $134,550	3,370
4	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,090	$58,690 – $115,000	2,540
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,810	$78,000 – $123,370	3,350
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,690	$61,780 – $129,720	9,650
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,000	$71,770 – $118,410	6,320
8	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,770	$51,410 – $106,570	7,570
9	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,840	$46,290 – $130,630	2,790
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,610	$57,740 – $134,260	21,780
11	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,660	$50,760 – $133,330	5,980
12	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$87,440	$50,830 – $136,260	3,370
13	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,460 – $118,120	2,250
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,130	$47,920 – $123,940	7,500
15	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,710	$47,950 – $115,550	2,440
16	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,640	$49,330 – $169,770	11,370
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,410	$47,910 – $169,820	34,360
18	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,200	$44,290 – $167,430	44,980
19	Solar Photovoltaic InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$47,600 – $102,050	1,880
20	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,760	$51,050 – $99,240	2,500
21	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,440	$62,620 – $90,090	1,810
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,240	$48,720 – $136,710	8,750
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,180	$52,040 – $99,680	3,520
24	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,000	$51,590 – $104,770	2,690
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,250	$48,570 – $130,860	13,520
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,200	$48,270 – $100,490	2,780
27	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$76,600	$45,230 – $103,720	1,860
28	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,560	$54,170 – $106,490	1,400
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,160	$63,210 – $85,400	17,410
30	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,830	$60,930 – $100,410	3,260
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,760	$48,680 – $99,440	8,380
32	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,520	$39,520 – $106,890	4,190
33	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,450	$48,020 – $116,550	10,330
34	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,460	$47,110 – $85,020	2,010
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,340	$49,140 – $94,150	8,160
36	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$71,500	$47,070 – $99,900	12,010
37	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,040	$47,320 – $106,780	2,280
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,620	$37,760 – $125,890	2,110
39	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$68,460	$45,210 – $102,650	2,400
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$64,470	$41,830 – $105,380	18,200
41	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$54,330 – $76,360	2,230
42	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$64,060	$37,980 – $106,140	23,590
43	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,010	$43,680 – $121,490	14,230
44	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,570	$47,950 – $90,310	47,980
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,190	$46,170 – $90,740	3,210
46	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,140	$43,680 – $86,430	2,740
47	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$41,900 – $89,010	4,160
48	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,960	$44,700 – $96,120	2,280
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,710	$42,440 – $87,660	9,410
50	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$45,760 – $83,210	3,720

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

Metro areas in New Jersey

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

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in New Jersey that need no experience

More for New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey

By field in New Jersey

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience