High paying jobs in Peoria, IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Peoria, 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 Peoria, IL run 8.8% below the national average (2024), so a Peoria, IL salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Peoria, IL

OccupationMedian, Peoria, IL · Employed

1Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$102,610
Associate's degree
$62,890 – $124,110100
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,090
Associate's degree
$77,810 – $113,460170
3Sheet Metal Workers$87,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,660 – $110,260120
4Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$86,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,100 – $102,680330
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$85,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,790 – $117,300560
6Electricians$80,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $108,490880
7Structural Iron and Steel Workers$80,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,470 – $98,32090
8Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,480
Associate's degree
$47,660 – $103,190220
9Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$78,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,100 – $105,450370
10Dental Hygienists$77,870
Associate's degree
$65,530 – $95,820270
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,960 – $123,840300
12Respiratory Therapists$77,660
Associate's degree
$64,370 – $91,480210
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$77,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,700 – $98,980110
14Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,340 – $105,720630
15Roofers$76,610
No formal educational credential
$45,200 – $97,730160
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,490
Associate's degree
$57,720 – $94,630310
17Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$75,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $100,37060
18Carpenters$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,440 – $105,440780
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,610 – $97,270880
20Firefighters$73,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,150 – $102,960490
21Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$72,670
No formal educational credential
$46,730 – $98,220220
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$72,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,040 – $78,870630
23Medical Equipment Repairers$67,600
Associate's degree
$39,540 – $98,34090
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $82,320180
25Correctional Officers and Jailers$64,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,870 – $75,610220
26Painters, Construction and Maintenance$64,450
No formal educational credential
$39,370 – $94,150110
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $93,600250
28Production Workers, All Other$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,930 – $106,980740
29Construction Laborers$62,960
No formal educational credential
$39,130 – $97,7401,020
30Tool and Die Makers$62,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,070 – $89,380130
31Postal Service Clerks$62,670
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030100
32Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$62,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,700 – $81,460170
33Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,520 – $99,620160
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,370 – $129,2601,110
35Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,480 – $74,99060
36Millwrights$61,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,210 – $85,61060
37Highway Maintenance Workers$61,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,040 – $100,790430
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,220
Associate's degree
$42,920 – $98,230370
39Physical Therapist Assistants$61,120
Associate's degree
$44,930 – $81,530160
40Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $117,8201,210
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$60,530
No formal educational credential
$46,490 – $76,36080
42Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $85,360120
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,850 – $94,570140
44Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040430
45Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,410 – $97,140100
46Surgical Technologists$59,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,860 – $74,520180
47Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$59,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,420 – $59,50080
48Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$59,070
No formal educational credential
$36,300 – $75,68060
49Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$58,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,480 – $79,9301,230
50Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,820
Associate's degree
$44,890 – $82,18060

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

#	Occupation	MedianPeoria, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,610	$62,890 – $124,110	100
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,090	$77,810 – $113,460	170
3	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,120	$45,660 – $110,260	120
4	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,440	$46,100 – $102,680	330
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,090	$47,790 – $117,300	560
6	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,460	$46,030 – $108,490	880
7	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,060	$63,470 – $98,320	90
8	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,480	$47,660 – $103,190	220
9	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,710	$47,100 – $105,450	370
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$77,870	$65,530 – $95,820	270
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,740	$57,960 – $123,840	300
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,660	$64,370 – $91,480	210
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,540	$46,700 – $98,980	110
14	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,670	$49,340 – $105,720	630
15	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$76,610	$45,200 – $97,730	160
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,490	$57,720 – $94,630	310
17	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,900	$48,980 – $100,370	60
18	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$42,440 – $105,440	780
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,780	$48,610 – $97,270	880
20	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,670	$36,150 – $102,960	490
21	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$72,670	$46,730 – $98,220	220
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,270	$58,040 – $78,870	630
23	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,600	$39,540 – $98,340	90
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,150	$39,030 – $82,320	180
25	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,540	$48,870 – $75,610	220
26	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$64,450	$39,370 – $94,150	110
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$44,690 – $93,600	250
28	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$32,930 – $106,980	740
29	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$62,960	$39,130 – $97,740	1,020
30	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,950	$42,070 – $89,380	130
31	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,670	$42,600 – $75,030	100
32	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,500	$48,700 – $81,460	170
33	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$37,520 – $99,620	160
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,240	$37,370 – $129,260	1,110
35	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$35,480 – $74,990	60
36	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,870	$40,210 – $85,610	60
37	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,410	$33,040 – $100,790	430
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,220	$42,920 – $98,230	370
39	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,120	$44,930 – $81,530	160
40	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,530	$36,680 – $117,820	1,210
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$60,530	$46,490 – $76,360	80
42	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$38,080 – $85,360	120
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,900	$38,850 – $94,570	140
44	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	430
45	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,680	$47,410 – $97,140	100
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,470	$45,860 – $74,520	180
47	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,160	$51,420 – $59,500	80
48	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$59,070	$36,300 – $75,680	60
49	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,960	$46,480 – $79,930	1,230
50	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,820	$44,890 – $82,180	60

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

High paying jobs in Peoria, IL that need no experience

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