High paying jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA, 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA run 6.4% below the national average (2024), so a Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

OccupationMedian, Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA · Employed

1Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$82,150
Associate's degree
$53,220 – $99,850130
2Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$78,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,650 – $97,040220
3Respiratory Therapists$78,380
Associate's degree
$59,950 – $92,160230
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$77,680
Associate's degree
$60,420 – $94,740120
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$76,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $99,990580
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$72,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,310 – $105,6601,360
7Dental Hygienists$70,730
Associate's degree
$36,690 – $78,710400
8Electricians$69,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $118,1801,050
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,740
Associate's degree
$59,620 – $91,190360
10Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $96,900210
11Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$65,870
Associate's degree
$47,740 – $104,69080
12Sheet Metal Workers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,880 – $126,430140
13Tool and Die Makers$64,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,440 – $76,990120
14Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $85,2601,250
15Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,180
Associate's degree
$45,410 – $92,370140
16Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $83,270760
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040710
18Correctional Officers and Jailers$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,200 – $84,930870
19Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,080 – $89,510650
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,820 – $74,3402,270
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $123,1602,040
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,690 – $98,150450
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,320 – $80,670380
24Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $80,320200
25Physical Therapist Assistants$60,520
Associate's degree
$48,740 – $74,510200
26Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$60,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $80,350110
27Firefighters$60,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,370 – $85,730190
28Postal Service Clerks$60,250
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,360150
29Carpenters$60,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,640 – $81,2901,070
30Computer Network Support Specialists$59,900
Associate's degree
$49,200 – $107,380120
31Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,490
No formal educational credential
$47,440 – $76,460150
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,780 – $90,120950
33Mechanical Drafters$59,270
Associate's degree
$46,420 – $77,510130
34Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $70,450980
35Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $73,030250
36Massage Therapists$58,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,870 – $85,990110
37Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,000
No formal educational credential
$40,070 – $79,320140
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,600
Associate's degree
$41,920 – $76,950400
39Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,670 – $78,8305,210
40Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$57,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,490 – $57,490110
41Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$56,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $75,050110
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$56,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,660 – $110,3301,070
43Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,030 – $76,260440
44Information and Record Clerks, All Other$54,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,760 – $62,830220
45Computer User Support Specialists$54,010
Some college, no degree
$37,200 – $86,200810
46Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$52,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,300 – $52,880140
47Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $74,790750
48Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$51,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $60,560350
49Procurement Clerks$50,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $61,36080
50Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,610 – $63,890350

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

#	Occupation	MedianScranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$82,150	$53,220 – $99,850	130
2	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,690	$47,650 – $97,040	220
3	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,380	$59,950 – $92,160	230
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$77,680	$60,420 – $94,740	120
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,560	$47,580 – $99,990	580
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,210	$49,310 – $105,660	1,360
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$70,730	$36,690 – $78,710	400
8	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,540	$42,210 – $118,180	1,050
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,740	$59,620 – $91,190	360
10	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$47,640 – $96,900	210
11	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$65,870	$47,740 – $104,690	80
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$41,880 – $126,430	140
13	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,530	$47,440 – $76,990	120
14	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,770	$46,840 – $85,260	1,250
15	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,180	$45,410 – $92,370	140
16	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$47,150 – $83,270	760
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	710
18	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,800	$44,200 – $84,930	870
19	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,750	$46,080 – $89,510	650
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,740	$53,820 – $74,340	2,270
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$37,860 – $123,160	2,040
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,160	$43,690 – $98,150	450
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$46,320 – $80,670	380
24	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$44,240 – $80,320	200
25	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,520	$48,740 – $74,510	200
26	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,430	$47,310 – $80,350	110
27	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,410	$39,370 – $85,730	190
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$60,250	$42,600 – $76,360	150
29	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,240	$38,640 – $81,290	1,070
30	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$59,900	$49,200 – $107,380	120
31	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,490	$47,440 – $76,460	150
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$46,780 – $90,120	950
33	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,270	$46,420 – $77,510	130
34	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$47,740 – $70,450	980
35	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$41,600 – $73,030	250
36	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,380	$28,870 – $85,990	110
37	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,000	$40,070 – $79,320	140
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,600	$41,920 – $76,950	400
39	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,580	$39,670 – $78,830	5,210
40	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,490	$34,490 – $57,490	110
41	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,790	$36,550 – $75,050	110
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,330	$33,660 – $110,330	1,070
43	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,440	$37,030 – $76,260	440
44	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,950	$43,760 – $62,830	220
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$54,010	$37,200 – $86,200	810
46	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,880	$37,300 – $52,880	140
47	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,630	$37,860 – $74,790	750
48	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,220	$37,350 – $60,560	350
49	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,500	$36,610 – $61,360	80
50	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,450	$34,610 – $63,890	350

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA. 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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA that need no experience

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