High paying jobs in Rockford, IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Rockford, IL, 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 Rockford, IL run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a Rockford, IL salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Rockford, IL

OccupationMedian, Rockford, IL · Employed

1Structural Iron and Steel Workers$100,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,200 – $114,730190
2Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$97,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,670 – $117,050260
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,020
Associate's degree
$78,190 – $109,130110
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,930 – $120,140440
5Electricians$93,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,690 – $125,090370
6Dental Hygienists$86,120
Associate's degree
$78,410 – $97,590370
7Sheet Metal Workers$78,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $109,010150
8Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,920 – $107,710500
9Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$77,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,580 – $89,64090
10Respiratory Therapists$77,640
Associate's degree
$62,680 – $98,970160
11Firefighters$77,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,430 – $88,910410
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,500
Associate's degree
$49,340 – $98,420260
13Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$75,320
No formal educational credential
$47,830 – $104,210140
14Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,960 – $117,550190
15Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$75,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $91,56050
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $115,560160
17Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$73,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,570 – $101,60080
18Carpenters$72,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,470 – $104,360810
19Painters, Construction and Maintenance$72,700
No formal educational credential
$42,220 – $98,740130
20Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,830 – $99,500320
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,190
Associate's degree
$46,370 – $88,07070
22Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$70,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,170 – $82,460440
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,300 – $134,0301,320
24Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,190
Associate's degree
$49,020 – $95,31050
25Advertising Sales Agents$67,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,740 – $162,160110
26Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,910
Associate's degree
$56,230 – $86,66090
27Millwrights$66,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $83,68060
28Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$66,450
Associate's degree
$36,930 – $102,380110
29Roofers$65,100
No formal educational credential
$42,790 – $105,680180
30Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$64,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,510 – $89,81060
31Physical Therapist Assistants$64,040
Associate's degree
$40,340 – $78,19090
32Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,440
Associate's degree
$47,080 – $110,18060
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,660 – $102,46070
34Computer Network Support Specialists$62,020
Associate's degree
$44,530 – $91,660120
35Surgical Technologists$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $77,810160
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,030 – $95,970310
37Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$60,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,220 – $63,77070
38Massage Therapists$60,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,710 – $80,820230
39Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $88,79050
40Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,660 – $88,5901,690
41Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $120,810980
42Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,700
Associate's degree
$40,430 – $80,610200
43Postal Service Clerks$59,490
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03050
44Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040420
45Construction Laborers$58,390
No formal educational credential
$38,950 – $97,350830
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $87,960320
47Automotive Body and Related Repairers$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,030 – $77,360110
48Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$57,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $86,870150
49Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $61,11090
50Correctional Officers and Jailers$56,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $78,830250

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

#	Occupation	MedianRockford, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,290	$60,200 – $114,730	190
2	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,250	$57,670 – $117,050	260
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,020	$78,190 – $109,130	110
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,230	$50,930 – $120,140	440
5	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,280	$58,690 – $125,090	370
6	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$86,120	$78,410 – $97,590	370
7	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,640	$44,700 – $109,010	150
8	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,510	$60,920 – $107,710	500
9	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,830	$53,580 – $89,640	90
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$62,680 – $98,970	160
11	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,150	$34,430 – $88,910	410
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,500	$49,340 – $98,420	260
13	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$75,320	$47,830 – $104,210	140
14	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,070	$46,960 – $117,550	190
15	Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe CleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,010	$38,630 – $91,560	50
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,660	$39,190 – $115,560	160
17	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,960	$44,570 – $101,600	80
18	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,770	$46,470 – $104,360	810
19	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$72,700	$42,220 – $98,740	130
20	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,000	$49,830 – $99,500	320
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,190	$46,370 – $88,070	70
22	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,090	$52,170 – $82,460	440
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,970	$39,300 – $134,030	1,320
24	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,190	$49,020 – $95,310	50
25	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,030	$32,740 – $162,160	110
26	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,910	$56,230 – $86,660	90
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,560	$39,520 – $83,680	60
28	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,450	$36,930 – $102,380	110
29	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$65,100	$42,790 – $105,680	180
30	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,370	$48,510 – $89,810	60
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$40,340 – $78,190	90
32	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,440	$47,080 – $110,180	60
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,460	$37,660 – $102,460	70
34	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$62,020	$44,530 – $91,660	120
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$47,730 – $77,810	160
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,020	$39,030 – $95,970	310
37	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,900	$36,220 – $63,770	70
38	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,880	$36,710 – $80,820	230
39	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$48,350 – $88,790	50
40	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,900	$38,660 – $88,590	1,690
41	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,720	$35,950 – $120,810	980
42	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,700	$40,430 – $80,610	200
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$42,600 – $75,030	50
44	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	420
45	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$58,390	$38,950 – $97,350	830
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$41,010 – $87,960	320
47	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$36,030 – $77,360	110
48	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,200	$36,680 – $86,870	150
49	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$36,350 – $61,110	90
50	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,650	$47,760 – $78,830	250

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

High paying jobs in Rockford, IL that need no experience

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