High paying jobs in Paducah, KY-IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Paducah, KY-IL, 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 Paducah, KY-IL run 13.9% below the national average (2024), so a Paducah, KY-IL salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Paducah, KY-IL

OccupationMedian, Paducah, KY-IL · Employed

1Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$82,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $95,380380
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,480
Associate's degree
$48,400 – $114,92030
3Dental Hygienists$79,610
Associate's degree
$60,630 – $97,40090
4Sheet Metal Workers$79,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,620 – $85,63070
5Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$78,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $102,330190
6Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,470 – $101,89070
7Respiratory Therapists$76,100
Associate's degree
$57,650 – $93,15080
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,200
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $99,700120
9Electricians$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,910 – $89,490400
10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$66,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $76,04070
11Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,640 – $80,89080
12Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,750 – $65,270300
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $83,160270
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,400 – $118,530420
15Machinists$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $98,890100
16Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $76,36040
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,740120
18Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,990 – $68,500160
19Conveyor Operators and Tenders$59,140
No formal educational credential
$49,460 – $81,33050
20Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,110
Associate's degree
$35,670 – $75,88090
21Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $83,810460
22Physical Therapist Assistants$58,720
Associate's degree
$35,080 – $77,72060
23Insurance Sales Agents$58,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $105,270120
24Computer User Support Specialists$57,570
Some college, no degree
$37,440 – $83,620160
25Surgical Technologists$57,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,210 – $77,54060
26Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,620 – $73,59040
27Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,500 – $80,78040
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,500 – $81,30090
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,970 – $78,11090
30Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$56,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,480 – $75,82090
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,330
Associate's degree
$44,710 – $78,02050
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$55,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,490 – $122,860270
33Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$53,320
No formal educational credential
$37,440 – $70,41040
34Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$52,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $76,14070
35Carpenters$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,340 – $73,320310
36Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $93,76090
37Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$50,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,990 – $74,490660
38Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,090 – $84,64090
39Bill and Account Collectors$49,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,970 – $57,20070
40Printing Press Operators$48,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,150 – $58,42040
41Automotive Body and Related Repairers$48,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,470 – $77,02060
42Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,300 – $66,580310
43Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,460
No formal educational credential
$32,970 – $53,54040
44Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$47,810
Some college, no degree
$38,460 – $61,04060
45Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,110 – $69,93050
46Sailors and Marine Oilers$47,550
No formal educational credential
$38,140 – $62,0801,070
47Construction Laborers$46,850
No formal educational credential
$34,110 – $56,990590
48Dental Assistants$46,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,020 – $59,260190
49Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,310
Some college, no degree
$32,130 – $66,620610
50Medical Records Specialists$45,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,610 – $65,41080

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

#	Occupation	MedianPaducah, KY-IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,120	$46,340 – $95,380	380
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,480	$48,400 – $114,920	30
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$79,610	$60,630 – $97,400	90
4	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,020	$38,620 – $85,630	70
5	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,900	$45,760 – $102,330	190
6	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$47,470 – $101,890	70
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$76,100	$57,650 – $93,150	80
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,200	$52,000 – $99,700	120
9	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$38,910 – $89,490	400
10	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,250	$46,470 – $76,040	70
11	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,240	$43,640 – $80,890	80
12	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,060	$50,750 – $65,270	300
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$47,560 – $83,160	270
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,340	$34,400 – $118,530	420
15	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$38,250 – $98,890	100
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$36,360 – $76,360	40
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $83,740	120
18	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,730	$36,990 – $68,500	160
19	Conveyor Operators and TendersNo formal educational credential	$59,140	$49,460 – $81,330	50
20	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,110	$35,670 – $75,880	90
21	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,000	$47,610 – $83,810	460
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,720	$35,080 – $77,720	60
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,270	$31,200 – $105,270	120
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,570	$37,440 – $83,620	160
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,570	$41,210 – $77,540	60
26	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,350	$48,620 – $73,590	40
27	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$40,500 – $80,780	40
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,980	$38,500 – $81,300	90
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,610	$44,970 – $78,110	90
30	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,350	$40,480 – $75,820	90
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,330	$44,710 – $78,020	50
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,780	$35,490 – $122,860	270
33	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$53,320	$37,440 – $70,410	40
34	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,160	$34,440 – $76,140	70
35	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$36,340 – $73,320	310
36	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$37,410 – $93,760	90
37	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,520	$38,990 – $74,490	660
38	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,920	$33,090 – $84,640	90
39	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,150	$28,970 – $57,200	70
40	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,890	$31,150 – $58,420	40
41	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,600	$30,470 – $77,020	60
42	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,560	$39,300 – $66,580	310
43	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,460	$32,970 – $53,540	40
44	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$47,810	$38,460 – $61,040	60
45	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,580	$35,110 – $69,930	50
46	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$47,550	$38,140 – $62,080	1,070
47	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$46,850	$34,110 – $56,990	590
48	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,750	$35,020 – $59,260	190
49	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$46,310	$32,130 – $66,620	610
50	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,930	$36,610 – $65,410	80

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

High paying jobs in Paducah, KY-IL that need no experience

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