High paying jobs in Richmond, VA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Richmond, VA, 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 Richmond, VA run 2.1% below the national average (2024), so a Richmond, VA salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Richmond, VA

OccupationMedian, Richmond, VA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$104,250
Associate's degree
$94,870 – $119,350780
2Advertising Sales Agents$95,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,150 – $133,470330
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$79,740 – $103,010440
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$85,510
Associate's degree
$58,820 – $132,450480
5Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $99,390540
6Respiratory Therapists$81,750
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $96,420630
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,600
Associate's degree
$60,250 – $98,1501,130
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,320 – $105,5401,790
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,920 – $105,600490
10Chemical Plant and System Operators$77,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,330 – $96,520340
11Legal Support Workers, All Other$77,840
Associate's degree
$46,950 – $185,100330
12Occupational Therapy Assistants$76,760
Associate's degree
$50,000 – $93,430210
13Physical Therapist Assistants$73,640
Associate's degree
$54,850 – $83,090560
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$71,960
Associate's degree
$37,500 – $99,230380
15Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$70,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $86,170210
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,940
Associate's degree
$40,670 – $88,730210
17Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,790 – $92,5001,900
18Computer Network Support Specialists$65,460
Associate's degree
$42,750 – $111,610610
19Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,020 – $82,580930
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,010 – $77,9302,570
21Financial Clerks, All Other$63,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,710 – $76,500270
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,920 – $166,7905,080
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,940
Associate's degree
$48,400 – $91,9601,930
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,830
Associate's degree
$48,480 – $90,630380
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$62,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,270 – $96,2203,410
26Machinists$62,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,890 – $95,800650
27Insurance Sales Agents$62,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,540 – $141,9402,040
28Tax Preparers$62,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,190 – $100,470310
29Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$61,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $81,020760
30Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$61,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $94,740560
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $129,7205,710
32Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$61,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,550 – $81,8502,930
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,420 – $77,4902,340
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,160 – $79,2001,400
35Electricians$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,070 – $80,7403,600
36Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,130
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,200
37Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,690250
38Surgical Technologists$60,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,870 – $90,500380
39Computer User Support Specialists$60,790
Some college, no degree
$39,470 – $96,2002,350
40Firefighters$60,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,940 – $77,3102,020
41Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$60,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,180 – $77,520630
42Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $78,340380
43Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,210 – $89,510510
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,770 – $77,750500
45Surveying and Mapping Technicians$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $81,800450
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $81,7201,230
47Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,270 – $78,6202,700
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,190 – $94,45011,760
49Massage Therapists$57,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,720 – $98,910490
50Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,950 – $83,9201,260

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

#	Occupation	MedianRichmond, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$104,250	$94,870 – $119,350	780
2	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,680	$41,150 – $133,470	330
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$79,740 – $103,010	440
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$85,510	$58,820 – $132,450	480
5	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,130	$41,010 – $99,390	540
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,750	$66,960 – $96,420	630
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,600	$60,250 – $98,150	1,130
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,780	$50,320 – $105,540	1,790
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$50,920 – $105,600	490
10	Chemical Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,930	$43,330 – $96,520	340
11	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,840	$46,950 – $185,100	330
12	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,760	$50,000 – $93,430	210
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,640	$54,850 – $83,090	560
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,960	$37,500 – $99,230	380
15	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,120	$47,980 – $86,170	210
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,940	$40,670 – $88,730	210
17	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$46,790 – $92,500	1,900
18	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,460	$42,750 – $111,610	610
19	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,480	$47,020 – $82,580	930
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,030	$56,010 – $77,930	2,570
21	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,220	$50,710 – $76,500	270
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$37,920 – $166,790	5,080
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,940	$48,400 – $91,960	1,930
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,830	$48,480 – $90,630	380
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,720	$53,270 – $96,220	3,410
26	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,650	$46,890 – $95,800	650
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,330	$37,540 – $141,940	2,040
28	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,160	$37,190 – $100,470	310
29	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,840	$44,420 – $81,020	760
30	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,600	$46,990 – $94,740	560
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,510	$36,250 – $129,720	5,710
32	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,510	$36,550 – $81,850	2,930
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,480	$44,420 – $77,490	2,340
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,390	$46,160 – $79,200	1,400
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$39,070 – $80,740	3,600
36	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$42,390 – $81,040	1,200
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$54,330 – $75,690	250
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,980	$47,870 – $90,500	380
39	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,790	$39,470 – $96,200	2,350
40	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,790	$38,940 – $77,310	2,020
41	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,010	$41,180 – $77,520	630
42	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$45,230 – $78,340	380
43	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,590	$45,210 – $89,510	510
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,560	$38,770 – $77,750	500
45	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$38,810 – $81,800	450
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$40,620 – $81,720	1,230
47	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,130	$38,270 – $78,620	2,700
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,190	$37,190 – $94,450	11,760
49	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,730	$39,720 – $98,910	490
50	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,710	$42,950 – $83,920	1,260

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

High paying jobs in Richmond, VA that need no experience

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