High paying jobs in Springfield, IL that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Springfield, 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 Springfield, IL run 7.3% below the national average (2024), so a Springfield, IL salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Springfield, IL

OccupationMedian, Springfield, IL · Employed

1Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$117,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,740 – $158,39060
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$106,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$89,560 – $116,33080
3Power Plant Operators$102,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,340 – $123,53040
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,470
Associate's degree
$80,710 – $108,840120
5Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,150 – $102,570210
6Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $121,250220
7Sheet Metal Workers$90,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $112,45040
8Electricians$84,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $116,560330
9Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,990
Associate's degree
$52,830 – $112,790220
10Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$83,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $92,06070
11Dental Hygienists$83,070
Associate's degree
$78,620 – $98,580280
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$82,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,550 – $98,380420
13Structural Iron and Steel Workers$81,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,390 – $83,09040
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,640
Associate's degree
$51,860 – $103,86040
15Respiratory Therapists$78,340
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $104,040140
16Roofers$77,900
No formal educational credential
$46,430 – $99,180270
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,800
Associate's degree
$58,050 – $100,080210
18Carpenters$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,660 – $97,940290
19Medical Equipment Repairers$75,220
Associate's degree
$45,380 – $100,65040
20Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $115,09070
21Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,810 – $108,07050
22Highway Maintenance Workers$71,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $102,730180
23Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$70,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,690 – $101,000110
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,950 – $150,310510
25Occupational Therapy Assistants$67,140
Associate's degree
$50,410 – $84,15040
26Physical Therapist Assistants$66,390
Associate's degree
$49,140 – $97,59070
27Firefighters$65,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,830 – $94,850240
28Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,100 – $103,380220
29Computer Network Support Specialists$64,670
Associate's degree
$49,550 – $102,630120
30Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$64,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,530 – $98,760110
31Painters, Construction and Maintenance$63,930
No formal educational credential
$42,330 – $98,290110
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$63,310
No formal educational credential
$47,680 – $86,190100
33Surgical Technologists$62,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,300 – $78,890130
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,090 – $98,830130
35Construction Laborers$61,400
No formal educational credential
$37,750 – $97,130510
36Massage Therapists$61,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,040 – $81,200100
37Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03050
38Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$60,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,110 – $85,070130
39Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,820 – $90,17060
40Insurance Sales Agents$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,990 – $119,300260
41Correctional Officers and Jailers$60,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,400 – $98,120140
42Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$60,570
No formal educational credential
$36,960 – $82,15080
43Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,430 – $76,840500
44Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,990
Associate's degree
$43,040 – $78,350230
45Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040280
46Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,490 – $79,39040
47Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,780 – $120,450730
48Automotive Body and Related Repairers$59,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,120 – $78,050120
49Machinists$59,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,890 – $79,56090
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,160 – $100,06050

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

#	Occupation	MedianSpringfield, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,590	$62,740 – $158,390	60
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,630	$89,560 – $116,330	80
3	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,130	$64,340 – $123,530	40
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,470	$80,710 – $108,840	120
5	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,310	$45,150 – $102,570	210
6	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,370	$48,400 – $121,250	220
7	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,330	$45,970 – $112,450	40
8	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,780	$46,840 – $116,560	330
9	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,990	$52,830 – $112,790	220
10	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,990	$45,950 – $92,060	70
11	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,070	$78,620 – $98,580	280
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,740	$49,550 – $98,380	420
13	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,750	$51,390 – $83,090	40
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,640	$51,860 – $103,860	40
15	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,340	$64,480 – $104,040	140
16	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$77,900	$46,430 – $99,180	270
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,800	$58,050 – $100,080	210
18	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$43,660 – $97,940	290
19	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$75,220	$45,380 – $100,650	40
20	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,000	$48,440 – $115,090	70
21	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$53,810 – $108,070	50
22	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,320	$38,090 – $102,730	180
23	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,730	$47,690 – $101,000	110
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,680	$39,950 – $150,310	510
25	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,140	$50,410 – $84,150	40
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$66,390	$49,140 – $97,590	70
27	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,330	$35,830 – $94,850	240
28	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,000	$38,100 – $103,380	220
29	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$64,670	$49,550 – $102,630	120
30	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,410	$38,530 – $98,760	110
31	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$63,930	$42,330 – $98,290	110
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$63,310	$47,680 – $86,190	100
33	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,590	$50,300 – $78,890	130
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$40,090 – $98,830	130
35	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$61,400	$37,750 – $97,130	510
36	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,280	$37,040 – $81,200	100
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	50
38	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,900	$40,110 – $85,070	130
39	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,860	$45,820 – $90,170	60
40	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$34,990 – $119,300	260
41	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,590	$47,400 – $98,120	140
42	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$60,570	$36,960 – $82,150	80
43	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,110	$50,430 – $76,840	500
44	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,990	$43,040 – $78,350	230
45	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	280
46	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,530	$43,490 – $79,390	40
47	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$34,780 – $120,450	730
48	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,390	$39,120 – $78,050	120
49	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,340	$38,890 – $79,560	90
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,990	$46,160 – $100,060	50

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

High paying jobs in Springfield, IL that need no experience

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