High paying jobs in Salem, OR that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Salem, OR, 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 Salem, OR run 3.6% above the national average (2024), so a Salem, OR salary is worth about 0.96× 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 Salem, OR

OccupationMedian, Salem, OR · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,750 – $157,200180
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$127,680
Associate's degree
$96,350 – $137,070110
3Commercial Pilots$125,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,770 – $198,940140
4Dental Hygienists$119,050
Associate's degree
$106,970 – $125,660300
5Respiratory Therapists$104,360
Associate's degree
$89,160 – $122,190130
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$101,580
Associate's degree
$77,280 – $123,610240
7Electricians$98,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,630 – $129,0101,000
8Massage Therapists$96,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,670 – $117,490160
9Brickmasons and Blockmasons$92,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,400 – $99,070120
10Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$90,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,590 – $122,710500
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,200
Associate's degree
$58,320 – $115,480140
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,600 – $109,350510
13Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,100 – $91,470700
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$83,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $104,74060
15Computer Network Support Specialists$82,440
Associate's degree
$58,930 – $109,970160
16Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$81,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,510 – $94,96070
17Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$80,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $97,700440
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$79,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,420 – $95,370660
19Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,490 – $95,860180
20Glaziers$78,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,760 – $110,040160
21Surgical Technologists$78,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,640 – $95,730100
22Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$74,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,490 – $93,130160
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$74,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,160 – $95,370230
24Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,490 – $117,310750
25Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,280 – $95,310220
26Tree Trimmers and Pruners$71,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,490 – $97,130100
27Architectural and Civil Drafters$70,870
Associate's degree
$47,080 – $102,100110
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$67,990
No formal educational credential
$48,990 – $91,590170
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $125,250870
30Physical Therapist Assistants$67,090
Associate's degree
$52,860 – $83,160130
31Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,970 – $80,540100
32Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$65,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,810 – $91,330350
33Firefighters$64,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,040 – $95,980330
34Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36080
35Highway Maintenance Workers$64,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,920 – $70,320150
36Crossing Guards and Flaggers$62,990
No formal educational credential
$38,890 – $82,470250
37Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$62,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,930 – $70,320230
38Logging Equipment Operators$62,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,700 – $81,750100
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,160 – $131,710710
40Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$62,400
No formal educational credential
$36,460 – $112,900200
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,970 – $82,040310
42Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$62,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $77,49060
43Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$62,020
No formal educational credential
$53,000 – $70,480180
44Real Estate Sales Agents$61,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,210 – $109,980260
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$61,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $84,890290
46Computer User Support Specialists$61,510
Some college, no degree
$49,610 – $95,7101,170
47Surveying and Mapping Technicians$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,450 – $91,97090
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,810 – $82,400310
49Automotive Body and Related Repairers$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,930 – $92,300140
50Sheet Metal Workers$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $109,480270

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

#	Occupation	MedianSalem, OR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,500	$58,750 – $157,200	180
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$127,680	$96,350 – $137,070	110
3	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$125,120	$60,770 – $198,940	140
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$119,050	$106,970 – $125,660	300
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,360	$89,160 – $122,190	130
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$101,580	$77,280 – $123,610	240
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,850	$57,630 – $129,010	1,000
8	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$96,080	$62,670 – $117,490	160
9	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,110	$64,400 – $99,070	120
10	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,270	$63,590 – $122,710	500
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,200	$58,320 – $115,480	140
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,320	$62,600 – $109,350	510
13	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,690	$64,100 – $91,470	700
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,390	$46,120 – $104,740	60
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$82,440	$58,930 – $109,970	160
16	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,500	$38,510 – $94,960	70
17	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,610	$48,330 – $97,700	440
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,600	$65,420 – $95,370	660
19	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,950	$57,490 – $95,860	180
20	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,420	$47,760 – $110,040	160
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,010	$67,640 – $95,730	100
22	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,860	$47,490 – $93,130	160
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,610	$56,160 – $95,370	230
24	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,270	$56,490 – $117,310	750
25	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,160	$60,280 – $95,310	220
26	Tree Trimmers and PrunersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,190	$48,490 – $97,130	100
27	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$70,870	$47,080 – $102,100	110
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$67,990	$48,990 – $91,590	170
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,700	$44,800 – $125,250	870
30	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,090	$52,860 – $83,160	130
31	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,270	$53,970 – $80,540	100
32	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,050	$46,810 – $91,330	350
33	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,900	$45,040 – $95,980	330
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$42,600 – $76,360	80
35	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,550	$50,920 – $70,320	150
36	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$62,990	$38,890 – $82,470	250
37	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,830	$49,930 – $70,320	230
38	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,740	$50,700 – $81,750	100
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$39,160 – $131,710	710
40	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$62,400	$36,460 – $112,900	200
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$46,970 – $82,040	310
42	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,090	$46,440 – $77,490	60
43	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$62,020	$53,000 – $70,480	180
44	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,650	$34,210 – $109,980	260
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,590	$40,080 – $84,890	290
46	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,510	$49,610 – $95,710	1,170
47	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$43,450 – $91,970	90
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,060	$39,810 – $82,400	310
49	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$38,930 – $92,300	140
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$46,030 – $109,480	270

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

High paying jobs in Salem, OR that need no experience

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