High paying jobs in Pittsburgh, PA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Pittsburgh, PA, 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 Pittsburgh, PA run 5.3% below the national average (2024), so a Pittsburgh, PA salary is worth about 1.06× 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 Pittsburgh, PA

OccupationMedian, Pittsburgh, PA · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,150 – $119,1601,030
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$91,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,000 – $100,200710
3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$83,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,470 – $107,6305,080
4Structural Iron and Steel Workers$82,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,330 – $106,150370
5Gas Plant Operators$81,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,210 – $101,670440
6Computer Network Support Specialists$78,820
Associate's degree
$47,920 – $118,010780
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,740
Associate's degree
$68,370 – $100,010490
8Brickmasons and Blockmasons$76,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $97,220590
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $110,0101,740
10Dental Hygienists$75,960
Associate's degree
$63,790 – $80,7101,580
11Respiratory Therapists$75,470
Associate's degree
$62,030 – $88,7501,220
12Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$73,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,190 – $79,840410
13Firefighters$72,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,160 – $76,070950
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,160
Associate's degree
$46,940 – $99,260670
15Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$72,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,320 – $124,010510
16Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$70,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,470 – $96,190810
17Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$70,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,910 – $107,8702,910
18Mechanical Drafters$69,550
Associate's degree
$47,490 – $90,290540
19Electricians$69,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,780 – $106,8405,210
20Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$69,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $69,2401,260
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,160
Associate's degree
$47,040 – $97,2701,070
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,870
Associate's degree
$55,170 – $92,2501,350
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,750 – $89,1701,020
24Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$63,690
Associate's degree
$42,310 – $100,780410
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,620
Associate's degree
$45,710 – $94,6802,620
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,670 – $132,0207,330
27Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$63,310
No formal educational credential
$46,080 – $74,7601,500
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,900 – $127,3408,760
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,780 – $74,6305,800
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,390 – $80,7004,050
31Surgical Technologists$62,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,690 – $78,770890
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,160 – $80,7401,560
33Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $94,5705,050
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$62,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,480 – $92,7102,680
35Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,900
Associate's degree
$50,700 – $74,410370
36Carpenters$61,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,940 – $93,6005,920
37Tool and Die Makers$61,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,120 – $76,350660
38Tax Preparers$61,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $125,720410
39Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030740
40Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,010 – $98,290520
41Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$60,600
No formal educational credential
$45,770 – $73,380380
42Correctional Officers and Jailers$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $85,2801,160
43Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,190 – $79,3002,070
44Insurance Sales Agents$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,780 – $120,3503,710
45Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,900
Associate's degree
$46,750 – $83,770380
46Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,0402,760
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $91,4801,300
48Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,230 – $76,5601,410
49Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,660 – $97,980600
50Massage Therapists$59,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,340 – $114,140560

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

#	Occupation	MedianPittsburgh, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,590	$65,150 – $119,160	1,030
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,500	$49,000 – $100,200	710
3	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,190	$50,470 – $107,630	5,080
4	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,860	$56,330 – $106,150	370
5	Gas Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,600	$65,210 – $101,670	440
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$78,820	$47,920 – $118,010	780
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,740	$68,370 – $100,010	490
8	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,940	$50,440 – $97,220	590
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,440	$48,690 – $110,010	1,740
10	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$75,960	$63,790 – $80,710	1,580
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,470	$62,030 – $88,750	1,220
12	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,090	$54,190 – $79,840	410
13	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,230	$49,160 – $76,070	950
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,160	$46,940 – $99,260	670
15	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,090	$45,320 – $124,010	510
16	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,590	$45,470 – $96,190	810
17	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,100	$46,910 – $107,870	2,910
18	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,550	$47,490 – $90,290	540
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,340	$45,780 – $106,840	5,210
20	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,150	$49,990 – $69,240	1,260
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,160	$47,040 – $97,270	1,070
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,870	$55,170 – $92,250	1,350
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,480	$45,750 – $89,170	1,020
24	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$63,690	$42,310 – $100,780	410
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,620	$45,710 – $94,680	2,620
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,370	$36,670 – $132,020	7,330
27	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$63,310	$46,080 – $74,760	1,500
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$37,900 – $127,340	8,760
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,060	$51,780 – $74,630	5,800
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,560	$47,390 – $80,700	4,050
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,370	$39,690 – $78,770	890
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$48,160 – $80,740	1,560
33	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,320	$47,480 – $94,570	5,050
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,140	$46,480 – $92,710	2,680
35	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,900	$50,700 – $74,410	370
36	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,180	$43,940 – $93,600	5,920
37	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,160	$48,120 – $76,350	660
38	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,140	$31,200 – $125,720	410
39	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	740
40	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$42,010 – $98,290	520
41	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$60,600	$45,770 – $73,380	380
42	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$45,390 – $85,280	1,160
43	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,280	$45,190 – $79,300	2,070
44	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$38,780 – $120,350	3,710
45	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,900	$46,750 – $83,770	380
46	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$43,120 – $81,040	2,760
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$40,000 – $91,480	1,300
48	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$40,230 – $76,560	1,410
49	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$37,660 – $97,980	600
50	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,290	$35,340 – $114,140	560

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

High paying jobs in Pittsburgh, PA that need no experience

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