High paying jobs in Ohio that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Ohio, 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 Ohio run 7.2% below the national average (2024), so a Ohio 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. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Ohio.

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

Find high paying jobs in Ohio

OccupationMedian, Ohio · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$150,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,300 – $219,1402,680
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$93,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,840 – $111,7604,260
3Dental Hygienists$88,990
Associate's degree
$76,260 – $102,9508,630
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,870
Associate's degree
$65,480 – $101,1903,160
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,490 – $132,8502,840
6Respiratory Therapists$79,920
Associate's degree
$65,580 – $97,0306,640
7Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,270
Associate's degree
$38,670 – $101,0302,140
8Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,500
Associate's degree
$48,820 – $97,7401,800
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,320
Associate's degree
$60,360 – $98,4509,570
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,110 – $103,21023,430
11Sheet Metal Workers$74,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,200 – $94,2404,180
12Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$74,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,200 – $79,4003,430
13Structural Iron and Steel Workers$74,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,840 – $88,8602,290
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,850 – $149,87058,740
15Millwrights$73,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $91,7601,930
16Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$71,330
Associate's degree
$38,270 – $104,0702,500
17Brickmasons and Blockmasons$70,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $83,7902,770
18Mechanical Drafters$70,580
Associate's degree
$49,400 – $98,7401,790
19Computer Network Support Specialists$70,080
Associate's degree
$45,980 – $122,4707,480
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,950 – $104,87013,650
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,490
Associate's degree
$48,020 – $86,0805,340
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $91,54021,950
23Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$64,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $98,10016,920
24Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,730
Associate's degree
$45,970 – $94,8901,790
25Electricians$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,750 – $99,28028,950
26Physical Therapist Assistants$63,820
Associate's degree
$51,280 – $84,1307,040
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $101,41016,390
28Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,300
Associate's degree
$48,240 – $96,7803,260
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,080 – $83,0206,270
30Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,990
No formal educational credential
$44,130 – $81,3206,060
31Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $91,5503,920
32Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,660 – $74,2704,000
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,700
Associate's degree
$49,500 – $79,6003,890
34Postal Service Clerks$62,690
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0302,430
35Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,630 – $98,31014,150
36Surgical Technologists$62,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,110 – $80,6403,730
37Tool and Die Makers$62,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,080 – $84,8405,520
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,030 – $74,12039,900
39Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,240 – $77,9802,440
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,680 – $99,5503,560
41Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,450
Associate's degree
$44,700 – $87,1602,860
42Insurance Sales Agents$61,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,720 – $123,37016,250
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,130
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04012,680
44Carpenters$60,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,290 – $81,14018,450
45Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,450 – $81,8407,830
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $78,12014,240
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,420
Associate's degree
$41,720 – $94,6609,270
48Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$60,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,050 – $93,1602,370
49Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$60,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,950 – $84,1202,370
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,670 – $77,65083,060

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

#	Occupation	MedianOhio	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$150,330	$60,300 – $219,140	2,680
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,150	$58,840 – $111,760	4,260
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$88,990	$76,260 – $102,950	8,630
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,870	$65,480 – $101,190	3,160
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,570	$51,490 – $132,850	2,840
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,920	$65,580 – $97,030	6,640
7	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,270	$38,670 – $101,030	2,140
8	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,500	$48,820 – $97,740	1,800
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,320	$60,360 – $98,450	9,570
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,020	$51,110 – $103,210	23,430
11	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,790	$43,200 – $94,240	4,180
12	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,750	$45,200 – $79,400	3,430
13	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,710	$47,840 – $88,860	2,290
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,960	$39,850 – $149,870	58,740
15	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,220	$51,880 – $91,760	1,930
16	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$71,330	$38,270 – $104,070	2,500
17	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,950	$46,260 – $83,790	2,770
18	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,580	$49,400 – $98,740	1,790
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$70,080	$45,980 – $122,470	7,480
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,990	$47,950 – $104,870	13,650
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,490	$48,020 – $86,080	5,340
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,130	$47,580 – $91,540	21,950
23	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,940	$46,850 – $98,100	16,920
24	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,730	$45,970 – $94,890	1,790
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$40,750 – $99,280	28,950
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,820	$51,280 – $84,130	7,040
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,330	$45,470 – $101,410	16,390
28	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,300	$48,240 – $96,780	3,260
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,200	$49,080 – $83,020	6,270
30	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,990	$44,130 – $81,320	6,060
31	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$47,110 – $91,550	3,920
32	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$40,660 – $74,270	4,000
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,700	$49,500 – $79,600	3,890
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,690	$42,600 – $75,030	2,430
35	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,510	$38,630 – $98,310	14,150
36	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,420	$48,110 – $80,640	3,730
37	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,280	$42,080 – $84,840	5,520
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,950	$50,030 – $74,120	39,900
39	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,860	$46,240 – $77,980	2,440
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,680	$43,680 – $99,550	3,560
41	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,450	$44,700 – $87,160	2,860
42	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,260	$37,720 – $123,370	16,250
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$42,390 – $81,040	12,680
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,810	$42,290 – $81,140	18,450
45	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,550	$45,450 – $81,840	7,830
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$44,860 – $78,120	14,240
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,420	$41,720 – $94,660	9,270
48	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,280	$38,050 – $93,160	2,370
49	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,080	$42,950 – $84,120	2,370
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,800	$43,670 – $77,650	83,060

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

Metro areas in Ohio

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

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Ohio that need no experience

More for Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio

By field in Ohio

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience