High paying jobs in Roanoke, VA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Roanoke, 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 Roanoke, VA run 6.4% below the national average (2024), so a Roanoke, VA salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Roanoke, VA

OccupationMedian, Roanoke, VA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$98,550
Associate's degree
$80,020 – $121,990170
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,140
Associate's degree
$75,420 – $99,720110
3Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$82,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,460 – $127,760330
4Respiratory Therapists$78,820
Associate's degree
$63,460 – $91,160190
5Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,740
Associate's degree
$50,130 – $112,340120
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,710
Associate's degree
$51,780 – $93,810340
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,520 – $106,300630
8Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,870
Associate's degree
$54,990 – $87,81060
9Physical Therapist Assistants$67,140
Associate's degree
$49,010 – $81,350130
10Mechanical Drafters$66,560
Associate's degree
$50,560 – $89,39060
11Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,36060
12Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,120
Associate's degree
$50,210 – $77,490160
13Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,330 – $69,24050
14Massage Therapists$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,700 – $101,87060
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $124,1401,290
16Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,920
Associate's degree
$46,910 – $77,06060
17Computer Network Support Specialists$62,140
Associate's degree
$38,240 – $93,71090
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $77,520310
19Surgical Technologists$61,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,200 – $79,080110
20Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,240
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040360
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,040 – $72,530950
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,080
Associate's degree
$48,360 – $79,340120
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,060
Associate's degree
$45,790 – $78,040390
24Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,650 – $65,210110
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,620 – $77,780840
26Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,280230
27Industrial Machinery Mechanics$59,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,730 – $79,510600
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,170 – $104,4701,110
29Insurance Sales Agents$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $99,820470
30Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,900 – $73,610420
31Electricians$58,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $75,600610
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,700 – $97,0502,760
33Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$56,370
Associate's degree
$30,400 – $72,54080
34Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,100 – $63,800940
35Computer User Support Specialists$55,750
Some college, no degree
$36,430 – $87,550430
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$55,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,970 – $74,660100
37Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,470 – $60,03050
38Advertising Sales Agents$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,340 – $134,86080
39Tax Preparers$53,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,310 – $86,18050
40Opticians, Dispensing$52,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $66,03090
41Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$52,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,920 – $60,740590
42Machinists$52,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,620 – $89,320290
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $71,870560
44Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$51,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,980 – $78,550740
45Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$51,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $76,360440
46Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $70,790140
47Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$50,340
No formal educational credential
$35,640 – $59,670180
48Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $61,560120
49Correctional Officers and Jailers$50,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,990 – $59,350270
50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,980 – $59,16080

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

#	Occupation	MedianRoanoke, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,550	$80,020 – $121,990	170
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,140	$75,420 – $99,720	110
3	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,180	$47,460 – $127,760	330
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,820	$63,460 – $91,160	190
5	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,740	$50,130 – $112,340	120
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,710	$51,780 – $93,810	340
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,880	$52,520 – $106,300	630
8	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,870	$54,990 – $87,810	60
9	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,140	$49,010 – $81,350	130
10	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,560	$50,560 – $89,390	60
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$54,330 – $76,360	60
12	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,120	$50,210 – $77,490	160
13	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$40,330 – $69,240	50
14	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$35,700 – $101,870	60
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,950	$36,150 – $124,140	1,290
16	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,920	$46,910 – $77,060	60
17	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,140	$38,240 – $93,710	90
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$44,720 – $77,520	310
19	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,600	$36,200 – $79,080	110
20	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,240	$42,390 – $81,040	360
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,210	$51,040 – $72,530	950
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,080	$48,360 – $79,340	120
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,060	$45,790 – $78,040	390
24	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,000	$40,650 – $65,210	110
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,900	$47,620 – $77,780	840
26	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$48,880 – $75,280	230
27	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,250	$42,730 – $79,510	600
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,930	$34,170 – $104,470	1,110
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$34,790 – $99,820	470
30	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$43,900 – $73,610	420
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,200	$38,590 – $75,600	610
32	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,430	$37,700 – $97,050	2,760
33	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$56,370	$30,400 – $72,540	80
34	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,040	$43,100 – $63,800	940
35	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,750	$36,430 – $87,550	430
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,380	$36,970 – $74,660	100
37	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,300	$35,470 – $60,030	50
38	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$30,340 – $134,860	80
39	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,630	$35,310 – $86,180	50
40	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,650	$36,010 – $66,030	90
41	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,460	$37,920 – $60,740	590
42	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,000	$42,620 – $89,320	290
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,700	$38,270 – $71,870	560
44	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,230	$33,980 – $78,550	740
45	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,080	$39,030 – $76,360	440
46	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,060	$39,930 – $70,790	140
47	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$50,340	$35,640 – $59,670	180
48	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,220	$36,920 – $61,560	120
49	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,070	$47,990 – $59,350	270
50	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,010	$38,980 – $59,160	80

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Roanoke, 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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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Roanoke, VA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Roanoke, VA that need no experience

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