High paying jobs in Rochester, MN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Rochester, MN, 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 Rochester, MN run 9.2% below the national average (2024), so a Rochester, MN salary is worth about 1.10× 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 Rochester, MN

OccupationMedian, Rochester, MN · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,900 – $118,96080
2Dental Hygienists$103,440
Associate's degree
$82,570 – $115,740180
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$100,770
Associate's degree
$81,890 – $120,220240
4Respiratory Therapists$98,700
Associate's degree
$82,190 – $114,580160
5Brickmasons and Blockmasons$93,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,150 – $114,25050
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$84,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $106,700490
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,630
Associate's degree
$66,960 – $104,77050
8Architectural and Civil Drafters$83,780
Associate's degree
$58,670 – $105,14060
9Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$82,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,030 – $99,57040
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,330
Associate's degree
$77,720 – $106,100720
11Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$79,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,120 – $96,48050
12Electricians$79,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $118,080510
13Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,790 – $97,610290
14Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$59,620 – $103,310100
15Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$78,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,380 – $91,86080
16Surgical Technologists$78,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,080 – $95,310170
17Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$77,570
Associate's degree
$62,390 – $101,100130
18Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$77,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,410 – $94,600190
19Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$77,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,300 – $96,430390
20Surgical Assistants$76,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,060 – $93,15040
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,730
Associate's degree
$51,360 – $103,57090
22Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$74,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,140 – $82,75080
23Sheet Metal Workers$73,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,890 – $98,40060
24Physical Therapist Assistants$73,580
Associate's degree
$61,020 – $78,46050
25Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$72,270
No formal educational credential
$48,910 – $97,090110
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $132,360680
27Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,980 – $108,87080
28Industrial Machinery Mechanics$71,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,460 – $94,190200
29Insurance Sales Agents$70,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,240 – $153,960190
30Public Safety Telecommunicators$70,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $77,47070
31Billing and Posting Clerks$67,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $72,290500
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,070 – $142,490450
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$65,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,230 – $82,430210
34Computer User Support Specialists$65,200
Some college, no degree
$47,130 – $94,210420
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,940 – $85,800350
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,170 – $74,320570
37Carpenters$63,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,610 – $95,810460
38Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,330 – $76,23080
39Dental Assistants$63,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,090 – $74,510320
40Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,500
No formal educational credential
$49,800 – $70,30070
41Food Processing Workers, All Other$62,330
No formal educational credential
$50,980 – $62,33060
42Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,340 – $93,4901,260
43Roofers$61,940
No formal educational credential
$40,970 – $93,78090
44Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$61,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $75,19050
45Library Technicians$61,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,100 – $77,29040
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,890 – $83,340140
47Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,500 – $64,530200
48Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,240
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040230
49Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,230
Associate's degree
$45,520 – $96,640200
50Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $71,86050

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

#	Occupation	MedianRochester, MN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,440	$86,900 – $118,960	80
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$103,440	$82,570 – $115,740	180
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$100,770	$81,890 – $120,220	240
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$98,700	$82,190 – $114,580	160
5	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,070	$82,150 – $114,250	50
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,880	$48,760 – $106,700	490
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,630	$66,960 – $104,770	50
8	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$83,780	$58,670 – $105,140	60
9	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,730	$61,030 – $99,570	40
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,330	$77,720 – $106,100	720
11	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,870	$56,120 – $96,480	50
12	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,650	$46,090 – $118,080	510
13	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,580	$61,790 – $97,610	290
14	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$59,620 – $103,310	100
15	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,270	$62,380 – $91,860	80
16	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,070	$60,080 – $95,310	170
17	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$77,570	$62,390 – $101,100	130
18	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,500	$48,410 – $94,600	190
19	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,230	$61,300 – $96,430	390
20	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,880	$64,060 – $93,150	40
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,730	$51,360 – $103,570	90
22	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,330	$46,140 – $82,750	80
23	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,680	$47,890 – $98,400	60
24	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,580	$61,020 – $78,460	50
25	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$72,270	$48,910 – $97,090	110
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,210	$46,380 – $132,360	680
27	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$57,980 – $108,870	80
28	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,530	$51,460 – $94,190	200
29	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,340	$49,240 – $153,960	190
30	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,140	$61,360 – $77,470	70
31	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,390	$50,310 – $72,290	500
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$37,070 – $142,490	450
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,350	$54,230 – $82,430	210
34	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$65,200	$47,130 – $94,210	420
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$50,940 – $85,800	350
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,750	$53,170 – $74,320	570
37	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,610	$45,610 – $95,810	460
38	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$51,330 – $76,230	80
39	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,450	$46,090 – $74,510	320
40	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,500	$49,800 – $70,300	70
41	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$62,330	$50,980 – $62,330	60
42	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,180	$45,340 – $93,490	1,260
43	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$61,940	$40,970 – $93,780	90
44	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,920	$37,590 – $75,190	50
45	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,750	$47,100 – $77,290	40
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$44,890 – $83,340	140
47	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$47,500 – $64,530	200
48	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,240	$42,390 – $81,040	230
49	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,230	$45,520 – $96,640	200
50	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $71,860	50

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

High paying jobs in Rochester, MN that need no experience

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