High paying jobs in Owensboro, KY that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Owensboro, KY, 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 Owensboro, KY run 11.4% below the national average (2024), so a Owensboro, KY salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Owensboro, KY

OccupationMedian, Owensboro, KY · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$75,490
Associate's degree
$60,670 – $92,44080
2Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,050 – $81,520480
3Occupational Therapy Assistants$70,840
Associate's degree
$39,140 – $71,64030
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $91,170180
5Tool and Die Makers$63,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,370 – $70,08080
6Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $65,28060
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,010
Associate's degree
$51,740 – $94,470100
8Physical Therapist Assistants$62,860
Associate's degree
$48,320 – $76,62080
9Computer User Support Specialists$62,490
Some college, no degree
$42,320 – $91,120150
10Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,950 – $72,740170
11Chemical Technicians$61,580
Associate's degree
$48,720 – $62,70060
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$61,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $73,080170
13Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$61,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $64,300980
14Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$60,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,320 – $81,030160
15Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040130
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $121,840390
17Insurance Sales Agents$58,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $127,040160
18Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,680 – $75,87070
19Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $78,14040
20Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,790 – $80,230180
21Electricians$55,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,200 – $85,410260
22Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,000 – $80,68030
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$53,320
Associate's degree
$39,600 – $75,41060
24Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$53,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $96,69060
25Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$53,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $71,39060
26Carpenters$52,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $75,010210
27Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,160 – $60,170410
28Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,490 – $76,630840
29Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$50,010
No formal educational credential
$37,300 – $63,360240
30Library Technicians$49,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,130 – $49,87030
31Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$49,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $81,070140
32Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,140 – $63,590320
33Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$47,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,240 – $90,020220
34Machinists$47,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $75,24090
35Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,430
Some college, no degree
$31,200 – $67,220560
36Loan Interviewers and Clerks$46,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,430 – $58,110220
37Billing and Posting Clerks$45,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $60,41080
38Painters, Construction and Maintenance$45,590
No formal educational credential
$36,180 – $78,29050
39Medical Records Specialists$45,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,180 – $77,60060
40Dental Assistants$45,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,310 – $59,890160
41Customer Service Representatives$45,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $58,700920
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,190 – $60,97030
43Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$44,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,860 – $68,72060
44Bus Drivers, School$44,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $44,560160
45Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$44,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,720 – $66,340500
46Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,790 – $81,33030
47Automotive Body and Related Repairers$44,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,490 – $122,57040
48Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$44,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,490 – $52,21050
49Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$43,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,710 – $71,800290
50Construction Laborers$43,760
No formal educational credential
$30,830 – $59,630340

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

#	Occupation	MedianOwensboro, KY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,490	$60,670 – $92,440	80
2	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,010	$46,050 – $81,520	480
3	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,840	$39,140 – $71,640	30
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,310	$46,040 – $91,170	180
5	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,720	$36,370 – $70,080	80
6	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,700	$47,100 – $65,280	60
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,010	$51,740 – $94,470	100
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,860	$48,320 – $76,620	80
9	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,490	$42,320 – $91,120	150
10	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,180	$49,950 – $72,740	170
11	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,580	$48,720 – $62,700	60
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,560	$47,940 – $73,080	170
13	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,250	$42,320 – $64,300	980
14	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,060	$46,320 – $81,030	160
15	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	130
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,050	$32,810 – $121,840	390
17	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,950	$30,680 – $127,040	160
18	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,810	$31,680 – $75,870	70
19	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,310	$42,320 – $78,140	40
20	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,590	$31,790 – $80,230	180
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,030	$36,200 – $85,410	260
22	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,350	$36,000 – $80,680	30
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$53,320	$39,600 – $75,410	60
24	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,300	$34,770 – $96,690	60
25	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,040	$36,920 – $71,390	60
26	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,360	$35,340 – $75,010	210
27	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$40,160 – $60,170	410
28	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,600	$37,490 – $76,630	840
29	Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$50,010	$37,300 – $63,360	240
30	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,870	$34,130 – $49,870	30
31	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,550	$35,980 – $81,070	140
32	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,390	$34,140 – $63,590	320
33	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,590	$36,240 – $90,020	220
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,170	$38,410 – $75,240	90
35	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,430	$31,200 – $67,220	560
36	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,130	$40,430 – $58,110	220
37	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,900	$35,360 – $60,410	80
38	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$45,590	$36,180 – $78,290	50
39	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,400	$29,180 – $77,600	60
40	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,330	$35,310 – $59,890	160
41	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,260	$29,330 – $58,700	920
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,820	$37,190 – $60,970	30
43	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,690	$33,860 – $68,720	60
44	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,560	$38,520 – $44,560	160
45	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,530	$29,720 – $66,340	500
46	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,340	$33,790 – $81,330	30
47	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,250	$28,490 – $122,570	40
48	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,150	$36,490 – $52,210	50
49	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,900	$30,710 – $71,800	290
50	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$43,760	$30,830 – $59,630	340

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

High paying jobs in Owensboro, KY that need no experience

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