High paying jobs in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, 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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD run 13.5% below the national average (2024), so a Sioux City, IA-NE-SD salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

OccupationMedian, Sioux City, IA-NE-SD · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$102,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,900 – $115,01090
2Dental Hygienists$83,920
Associate's degree
$79,300 – $95,290120
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $115,610190
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,450
Associate's degree
$67,410 – $96,66040
5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,690 – $86,160220
6Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,360 – $89,85050
7Electricians$73,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,600 – $84,930300
8Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,220 – $133,020780
9Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $90,910150
10Industrial Machinery Mechanics$68,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,510 – $88,970350
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,440
Associate's degree
$48,980 – $90,57040
12Sheet Metal Workers$67,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,480 – $80,37050
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,740 – $79,44040
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$65,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,900 – $84,080110
15Postal Service Clerks$65,370
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03040
16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$64,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,240 – $68,39040
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,260
Associate's degree
$51,600 – $78,720150
18Respiratory Therapists$63,800
Associate's degree
$63,760 – $82,01040
19Millwrights$62,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,220 – $76,74040
20Massage Therapists$61,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,760 – $64,25030
21Insurance Sales Agents$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $135,570200
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,630
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $79,46040
23Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,130
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040170
24Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,580 – $97,410240
25Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $82,860180
26Physical Therapist Assistants$60,530
Associate's degree
$48,780 – $76,35040
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,810 – $74,050260
28Advertising Sales Agents$60,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,930 – $93,49030
29Firefighters$60,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,580 – $60,030110
30Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,330 – $81,880200
31Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $76,24080
32Surgical Technologists$59,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,510 – $107,65090
33Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $73,030200
34Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$58,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $63,28070
35Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$58,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,010 – $79,56050
36Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $72,800440
37Highway Maintenance Workers$57,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,560 – $62,580180
38Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$57,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $66,840980
39Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$57,410
No formal educational credential
$42,580 – $64,290120
40Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,780 – $63,68030
41Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,750 – $77,400130
42Machinists$56,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $63,14080
43Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$56,170
Some college, no degree
$28,700 – $73,52050
44Paralegals and Legal Assistants$56,100
Associate's degree
$37,740 – $77,11080
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,910 – $65,63050
46Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$54,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,470 – $62,40080
47Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$54,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,760 – $107,860240
48Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$54,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,570 – $63,800410
49Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$54,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,980 – $75,420330
50Mechanical Drafters$53,630
Associate's degree
$41,760 – $79,90040

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

#	Occupation	MedianSioux City, IA-NE-SD	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,340	$78,900 – $115,010	90
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,920	$79,300 – $95,290	120
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,880	$61,110 – $115,610	190
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,450	$67,410 – $96,660	40
5	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$49,690 – $86,160	220
6	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,390	$52,360 – $89,850	50
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,910	$46,600 – $84,930	300
8	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,500	$44,220 – $133,020	780
9	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,430	$51,220 – $90,910	150
10	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,940	$48,510 – $88,970	350
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,440	$48,980 – $90,570	40
12	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,350	$44,480 – $80,370	50
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,350	$33,740 – $79,440	40
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,430	$46,900 – $84,080	110
15	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,370	$42,600 – $75,030	40
16	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,990	$43,240 – $68,390	40
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,260	$51,600 – $78,720	150
18	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$63,800	$63,760 – $82,010	40
19	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,450	$49,220 – $76,740	40
20	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,890	$44,760 – $64,250	30
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$38,410 – $135,570	200
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,630	$49,210 – $79,460	40
23	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,130	$42,390 – $81,040	170
24	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$45,580 – $97,410	240
25	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$46,290 – $82,860	180
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,530	$48,780 – $76,350	40
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,440	$49,810 – $74,050	260
28	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,130	$36,930 – $93,490	30
29	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,030	$40,580 – $60,030	110
30	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,840	$39,330 – $81,880	200
31	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,760	$47,310 – $76,240	80
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,670	$38,510 – $107,650	90
33	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,140	$46,940 – $73,030	200
34	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,670	$48,330 – $63,280	70
35	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,430	$46,010 – $79,560	50
36	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$39,270 – $72,800	440
37	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,760	$40,560 – $62,580	180
38	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,470	$39,110 – $66,840	980
39	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$57,410	$42,580 – $64,290	120
40	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,850	$43,780 – $63,680	30
41	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$40,750 – $77,400	130
42	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,350	$37,840 – $63,140	80
43	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$56,170	$28,700 – $73,520	50
44	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$56,100	$37,740 – $77,110	80
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,940	$40,910 – $65,630	50
46	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,980	$36,470 – $62,400	80
47	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,930	$34,760 – $107,860	240
48	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,800	$43,570 – $63,800	410
49	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,230	$36,980 – $75,420	330
50	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$53,630	$41,760 – $79,900	40

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD. 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.

More for Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Other metro areas in IA

By field in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD that need no experience

More for Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Other metro areas in IA

By field in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience