High paying jobs in Portland-South Portland, ME that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Portland-South Portland, ME, 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 Portland-South Portland, ME run 1.9% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-South Portland, ME salary is worth about 0.98× 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 Portland-South Portland, ME

OccupationMedian, Portland-South Portland, ME · Employed

1Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$108,850
Associate's degree
$82,750 – $130,480750
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$101,260
Associate's degree
$79,250 – $133,650180
3Dental Hygienists$98,880
Associate's degree
$86,060 – $112,320500
4Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,000 – $99,180230
5Respiratory Therapists$86,440
Associate's degree
$65,210 – $107,530200
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$63,240 – $125,760160
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,300 – $106,060770
8Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,910
Associate's degree
$64,900 – $103,970350
9Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$78,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,180 – $92,600220
10Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,890 – $110,960280
11Massage Therapists$78,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,450 – $127,180230
12Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$77,770
Associate's degree
$51,850 – $113,760240
13Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,520
Associate's degree
$61,560 – $99,600190
14Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,380
Associate's degree
$55,390 – $94,91090
15Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,320
Associate's degree
$51,270 – $103,020170
16Mechanical Drafters$76,360
Associate's degree
$52,170 – $76,360570
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,430 – $83,060300
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,060 – $92,600600
19Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$73,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,050 – $92,350860
20Electricians$71,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,350 – $98,0301,870
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$70,610
Associate's degree
$51,200 – $93,810260
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,670 – $122,4501,070
23Physical Therapist Assistants$67,140
Associate's degree
$60,560 – $77,730150
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$67,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $93,450550
25Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$66,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,880 – $78,8301,060
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,590 – $113,5301,520
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$66,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,420 – $83,140590
28Sheet Metal Workers$66,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $75,490540
29Insurance Sales Agents$65,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,270 – $107,9401,080
30Surgical Technologists$65,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,330 – $99,850200
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$65,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $99,520760
32Machinists$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,540 – $80,2501,100
33Riggers$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,800 – $81,990280
34Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$64,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,280 – $75,790590
35Medical Equipment Repairers$64,670
Associate's degree
$42,970 – $94,690170
36Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$64,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,920 – $81,1301,740
37Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$64,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,160 – $82,280820
38Skincare Specialists$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,130 – $101,750140
39Carpenters$64,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,480 – $79,0202,230
40Paralegals and Legal Assistants$64,280
Associate's degree
$57,160 – $80,580700
41Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$64,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $79,690140
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$64,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,970 – $80,960920
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,740 – $79,880230
44Insulation Workers, Mechanical$63,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,180 – $73,690300
45Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$63,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,650 – $63,970240
46Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,470 – $77,190280
47Painters, Construction and Maintenance$63,120
No formal educational credential
$49,450 – $75,5301,550
48Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,830 – $95,000170
49Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $81,120320
50Computer User Support Specialists$62,540
Some college, no degree
$50,330 – $81,6701,390

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-South Portland, ME	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$108,850	$82,750 – $130,480	750
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$101,260	$79,250 – $133,650	180
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,880	$86,060 – $112,320	500
4	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,250	$67,000 – $99,180	230
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,440	$65,210 – $107,530	200
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$63,240 – $125,760	160
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,950	$60,300 – $106,060	770
8	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,910	$64,900 – $103,970	350
9	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,170	$54,180 – $92,600	220
10	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,100	$60,890 – $110,960	280
11	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,090	$32,450 – $127,180	230
12	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,770	$51,850 – $113,760	240
13	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,520	$61,560 – $99,600	190
14	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,380	$55,390 – $94,910	90
15	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,320	$51,270 – $103,020	170
16	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,360	$52,170 – $76,360	570
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,950	$63,430 – $83,060	300
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,460	$54,060 – $92,600	600
19	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,600	$61,050 – $92,350	860
20	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,660	$56,350 – $98,030	1,870
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,610	$51,200 – $93,810	260
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,370	$40,670 – $122,450	1,070
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,140	$60,560 – $77,730	150
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,020	$54,330 – $93,450	550
25	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,420	$51,880 – $78,830	1,060
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,390	$45,590 – $113,530	1,520
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,100	$50,420 – $83,140	590
28	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,070	$48,490 – $75,490	540
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,950	$50,270 – $107,940	1,080
30	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,910	$48,330 – $99,850	200
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,370	$36,860 – $99,520	760
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$50,540 – $80,250	1,100
33	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$54,800 – $81,990	280
34	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,760	$52,280 – $75,790	590
35	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$64,670	$42,970 – $94,690	170
36	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,500	$49,920 – $81,130	1,740
37	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,500	$47,160 – $82,280	820
38	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$37,130 – $101,750	140
39	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,300	$50,480 – $79,020	2,230
40	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,280	$57,160 – $80,580	700
41	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,210	$49,830 – $79,690	140
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,090	$51,970 – $80,960	920
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,810	$52,740 – $79,880	230
44	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,580	$54,180 – $73,690	300
45	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,360	$50,650 – $63,970	240
46	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$52,470 – $77,190	280
47	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$63,120	$49,450 – $75,530	1,550
48	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$51,830 – $95,000	170
49	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$47,020 – $81,120	320
50	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,540	$50,330 – $81,670	1,390

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Portland-South Portland, ME. 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 Portland-South Portland, ME to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Portland-South Portland, ME that need no experience

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