High paying jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, 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-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA run 5.4% above the national average (2024), so a Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA salary is worth about 0.95× 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-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

OccupationMedian, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$135,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,650 – $161,180810
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$128,420
Associate's degree
$98,230 – $136,190690
3Dental Hygienists$123,100
Associate's degree
$107,650 – $147,4702,380
4Electricians$105,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,360 – $134,3807,340
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$104,810
Associate's degree
$71,070 – $125,8501,520
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,640 – $147,1004,600
7Respiratory Therapists$100,030
Associate's degree
$82,330 – $116,410760
8Structural Iron and Steel Workers$98,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,310 – $123,710410
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$97,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,640 – $114,0602,290
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$95,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,480 – $123,300540
11Firefighters$85,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,250 – $110,5701,730
12Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,930
Associate's degree
$64,060 – $103,200610
13Massage Therapists$84,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,710 – $103,6501,580
14Correctional Officers and Jailers$84,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,510 – $95,8201,350
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$83,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,690 – $101,290450
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$83,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,330 – $135,930610
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,060 – $102,7802,250
18Surgical Technologists$82,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,720 – $97,100650
19Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,820 – $117,7701,730
20Brickmasons and Blockmasons$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,740 – $102,760400
21Public Safety Telecommunicators$81,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,140 – $99,490470
22Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$81,100
No formal educational credential
$39,010 – $119,2501,100
23Mechanical Drafters$80,510
Associate's degree
$53,740 – $126,700410
24Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$80,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,600 – $81,1102,130
25Sheet Metal Workers$79,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,980 – $127,4502,280
26Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$79,350
Associate's degree
$46,890 – $111,850780
27Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,520 – $123,2903,040
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,570 – $105,6704,830
29Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,600 – $100,6701,260
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,990
Associate's degree
$56,960 – $105,5501,730
31Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,220 – $104,8601,160
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,980 – $131,56010,670
33Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$76,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,530 – $101,310730
34Advertising Sales Agents$76,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,580 – $116,600730
35Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,870
Associate's degree
$52,670 – $98,730910
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$75,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,750 – $103,850400
37Tree Trimmers and Pruners$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $90,8301,160
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,560
Associate's degree
$61,360 – $101,0701,180
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$75,430
Associate's degree
$48,970 – $100,3503,510
40Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$75,090
No formal educational credential
$49,550 – $99,4301,410
41Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$74,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $143,3307,530
42Physical Therapist Assistants$74,690
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $90,760470
43Glaziers$73,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $108,550390
44Carpenters$73,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $108,4409,210
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$71,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,160 – $90,7002,330
46Computer Network Support Specialists$69,010
Associate's degree
$46,320 – $109,0301,400
47Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$65,920
No formal educational credential
$60,830 – $76,3101,500
48Computer User Support Specialists$65,880
Some college, no degree
$50,220 – $96,0305,630
49Real Estate Sales Agents$65,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,100 – $105,9701,410
50Highway Maintenance Workers$65,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,420 – $75,100550

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

#	Occupation	MedianPortland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$135,300	$79,650 – $161,180	810
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$128,420	$98,230 – $136,190	690
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$123,100	$107,650 – $147,470	2,380
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,090	$60,360 – $134,380	7,340
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$104,810	$71,070 – $125,850	1,520
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,010	$57,640 – $147,100	4,600
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$100,030	$82,330 – $116,410	760
8	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,120	$62,310 – $123,710	410
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,200	$79,640 – $114,060	2,290
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$95,360	$73,480 – $123,300	540
11	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,170	$58,250 – $110,570	1,730
12	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,930	$64,060 – $103,200	610
13	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,730	$50,710 – $103,650	1,580
14	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,640	$64,510 – $95,820	1,350
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,860	$53,690 – $101,290	450
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,760	$59,330 – $135,930	610
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,510	$65,060 – $102,780	2,250
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,430	$61,720 – $97,100	650
19	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,160	$51,820 – $117,770	1,730
20	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$55,740 – $102,760	400
21	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,160	$61,140 – $99,490	470
22	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$81,100	$39,010 – $119,250	1,100
23	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$80,510	$53,740 – $126,700	410
24	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,170	$57,600 – $81,110	2,130
25	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,570	$49,980 – $127,450	2,280
26	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$79,350	$46,890 – $111,850	780
27	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,040	$59,520 – $123,290	3,040
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,710	$57,570 – $105,670	4,830
29	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,520	$58,600 – $100,670	1,260
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,990	$56,960 – $105,550	1,730
31	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,980	$50,220 – $104,860	1,160
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,900	$45,980 – $131,560	10,670
33	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,630	$49,530 – $101,310	730
34	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,570	$40,580 – $116,600	730
35	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,870	$52,670 – $98,730	910
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,660	$58,750 – $103,850	400
37	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$51,220 – $90,830	1,160
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,560	$61,360 – $101,070	1,180
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,430	$48,970 – $100,350	3,510
40	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$75,090	$49,550 – $99,430	1,410
41	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,900	$40,250 – $143,330	7,530
42	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$74,690	$56,100 – $90,760	470
43	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,860	$47,430 – $108,550	390
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,710	$47,440 – $108,440	9,210
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,990	$51,160 – $90,700	2,330
46	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,010	$46,320 – $109,030	1,400
47	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$65,920	$60,830 – $76,310	1,500
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$65,880	$50,220 – $96,030	5,630
49	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,380	$37,100 – $105,970	1,410
50	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,300	$54,420 – $75,100	550

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. 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-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA that need no experience

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