High paying jobs in Rochester, NY that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Rochester, NY, 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, NY run 3.0% below the national average (2024), so a Rochester, NY salary is worth about 1.03× 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, NY

OccupationMedian, Rochester, NY · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,770 – $127,750310
2Dental Hygienists$93,650
Associate's degree
$80,290 – $95,160940
3Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$92,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,140 – $101,4301,800
4Firefighters$89,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,280 – $93,810730
5Real Estate Sales Agents$88,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $198,270270
6Respiratory Therapists$82,990
Associate's degree
$74,580 – $100,900410
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,850 – $128,040470
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$82,070
Associate's degree
$75,530 – $102,780400
9Insurance Sales Agents$79,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,550 – $168,100930
10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$77,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,340 – $105,090350
11Electricians$77,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,410 – $107,9102,540
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$77,280
Associate's degree
$48,070 – $98,790390
13Correctional Officers and Jailers$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,600 – $85,0701,390
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,390
Associate's degree
$63,050 – $95,870650
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,440 – $132,1003,220
16Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$73,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,740 – $100,340330
17Brickmasons and Blockmasons$73,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $94,350180
18Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$73,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,570 – $100,1401,460
19Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$71,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,850 – $88,040200
20Mechanical Drafters$69,750
Associate's degree
$42,890 – $90,980220
21Advertising Sales Agents$68,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,440 – $137,510260
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$67,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $132,0103,510
23Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$66,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,330 – $89,700220
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$66,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,800 – $97,500160
25Massage Therapists$66,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,240 – $92,000200
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$65,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,800 – $112,740910
27Computer Network Support Specialists$65,180
Associate's degree
$49,050 – $98,320650
28Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,770
Associate's degree
$48,200 – $97,640310
29Sheet Metal Workers$63,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $97,170510
30Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030250
31Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$63,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,860 – $91,1901,850
32Maintenance Workers, Machinery$63,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $83,710280
33Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,740 – $82,7101,290
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,180 – $78,980440
35Public Safety Telecommunicators$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,610 – $69,670440
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,060 – $81,460360
37Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $78,640460
38Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$62,370
No formal educational credential
$47,600 – $78,010290
39Opticians, Dispensing$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,210 – $78,680240
40Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0401,190
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,020 – $71,7803,330
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $83,180870
43Roofers$60,880
No formal educational credential
$32,240 – $74,510540
44Tool and Die Makers$60,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,960 – $86,600280
45Surgical Technologists$60,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,370 – $74,520340
46Computer User Support Specialists$60,620
Some college, no degree
$45,590 – $93,0002,520
47Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,290 – $76,650400
48Glaziers$60,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,490 – $106,300200
49Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$60,410
Associate's degree
$37,690 – $86,830190
50Medical Equipment Repairers$60,370
Associate's degree
$44,080 – $102,150280

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

#	Occupation	MedianRochester, NY	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,110	$58,770 – $127,750	310
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,650	$80,290 – $95,160	940
3	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,920	$57,140 – $101,430	1,800
4	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$89,120	$57,280 – $93,810	730
5	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,310	$45,760 – $198,270	270
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,990	$74,580 – $100,900	410
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,080	$54,850 – $128,040	470
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$82,070	$75,530 – $102,780	400
9	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,150	$42,550 – $168,100	930
10	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,530	$48,340 – $105,090	350
11	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,310	$45,410 – $107,910	2,540
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,280	$48,070 – $98,790	390
13	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$60,600 – $85,070	1,390
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,390	$63,050 – $95,870	650
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,450	$45,440 – $132,100	3,220
16	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,870	$47,740 – $100,340	330
17	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,860	$50,440 – $94,350	180
18	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,580	$43,570 – $100,140	1,460
19	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,490	$54,850 – $88,040	200
20	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,750	$42,890 – $90,980	220
21	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,310	$34,440 – $137,510	260
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,400	$38,220 – $132,010	3,510
23	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,650	$53,330 – $89,700	220
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,260	$48,800 – $97,500	160
25	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,110	$32,240 – $92,000	200
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,720	$46,800 – $112,740	910
27	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$65,180	$49,050 – $98,320	650
28	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,770	$48,200 – $97,640	310
29	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,710	$37,700 – $97,170	510
30	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$42,600 – $75,030	250
31	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,570	$45,860 – $91,190	1,850
32	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,500	$39,740 – $83,710	280
33	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,460	$46,740 – $82,710	1,290
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,120	$50,180 – $78,980	440
35	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$49,610 – $69,670	440
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,950	$47,060 – $81,460	360
37	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$46,260 – $78,640	460
38	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$62,370	$47,600 – $78,010	290
39	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$45,210 – $78,680	240
40	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	1,190
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,060	$53,020 – $71,780	3,330
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,240	$46,070 – $83,180	870
43	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$60,880	$32,240 – $74,510	540
44	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,820	$47,960 – $86,600	280
45	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,780	$40,370 – $74,520	340
46	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,620	$45,590 – $93,000	2,520
47	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,520	$40,290 – $76,650	400
48	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,520	$45,490 – $106,300	200
49	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,410	$37,690 – $86,830	190
50	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$60,370	$44,080 – $102,150	280

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

High paying jobs in Rochester, NY that need no experience

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