High paying jobs in St. Cloud, MN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in St. Cloud, MN, 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 St. Cloud, MN run 12.4% below the national average (2024), so a St. Cloud, MN salary is worth about 1.14× 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 St. Cloud, MN

OccupationMedian, St. Cloud, MN · Employed

1Insulation Workers, Mechanical$100,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,870 – $107,26080
2Dental Hygienists$100,480
Associate's degree
$85,130 – $103,040220
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,270 – $116,10080
4Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$90,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,770 – $116,850830
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,150
Associate's degree
$79,980 – $109,68070
6Electricians$81,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,860 – $103,540730
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,330
Associate's degree
$65,690 – $90,490150
8Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$79,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,980 – $98,390700
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,370
Associate's degree
$66,470 – $85,51060
10Roofers$79,250
No formal educational credential
$46,130 – $91,620130
11Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,690
Associate's degree
$64,360 – $95,64040
12Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$78,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,920 – $94,690220
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,930 – $100,110380
14Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,090 – $77,910100
15Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$74,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,580 – $98,160250
16Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$73,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,560 – $82,27060
17Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$69,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,130 – $90,93060
18Surgical Technologists$69,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,970 – $82,03090
19Computer Network Support Specialists$69,270
Associate's degree
$45,950 – $86,59090
20Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$67,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,540 – $83,61050
21Postal Service Clerks$65,540
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36050
22Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,780 – $82,03060
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,800 – $124,9801,240
24Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$64,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $81,940330
25Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,130
Associate's degree
$51,380 – $80,08070
26Physical Therapist Assistants$64,120
Associate's degree
$56,250 – $72,28060
27Mechanical Drafters$64,000
Associate's degree
$50,290 – $90,44070
28Highway Maintenance Workers$63,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,600 – $73,100170
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,610 – $78,780210
30Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$62,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,510 – $80,540620
31Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,410 – $80,280230
32Advertising Sales Agents$62,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,610 – $108,23070
33Correctional Officers and Jailers$62,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,940 – $86,370120
34Machinists$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $77,340460
35Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$61,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,640 – $81,3802,140
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,580 – $80,890930
37Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,790
Associate's degree
$50,610 – $84,13060
38Computer User Support Specialists$61,470
Some college, no degree
$46,400 – $84,720400
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,170
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,740210
40Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$61,100
No formal educational credential
$48,220 – $89,880140
41Dental Assistants$61,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,140 – $72,480270
42Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,380 – $79,78040
43Carpenters$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,570 – $89,510570
44Medical Records Specialists$60,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,450 – $98,24080
45Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$60,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $73,250110
46Public Safety Telecommunicators$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,510 – $61,47070
47Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,890
Associate's degree
$41,960 – $87,480210
48Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,740
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,03050
49Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $113,090640
50Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$59,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $65,59060

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

#	Occupation	MedianSt. Cloud, MN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,520	$61,870 – $107,260	80
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,480	$85,130 – $103,040	220
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,470	$78,270 – $116,100	80
4	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,230	$50,770 – $116,850	830
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,150	$79,980 – $109,680	70
6	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,890	$47,860 – $103,540	730
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,330	$65,690 – $90,490	150
8	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,530	$58,980 – $98,390	700
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,370	$66,470 – $85,510	60
10	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$79,250	$46,130 – $91,620	130
11	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,690	$64,360 – $95,640	40
12	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,360	$55,920 – $94,690	220
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,880	$57,930 – $100,110	380
14	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$60,090 – $77,910	100
15	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,420	$46,580 – $98,160	250
16	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,930	$54,560 – $82,270	60
17	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,820	$49,130 – $90,930	60
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,270	$53,970 – $82,030	90
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,270	$45,950 – $86,590	90
20	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,050	$52,540 – $83,610	50
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,540	$42,600 – $76,360	50
22	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,710	$43,780 – $82,030	60
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,700	$38,800 – $124,980	1,240
24	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,410	$48,280 – $81,940	330
25	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,130	$51,380 – $80,080	70
26	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,120	$56,250 – $72,280	60
27	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,000	$50,290 – $90,440	70
28	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,650	$47,600 – $73,100	170
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,030	$53,610 – $78,780	210
30	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,820	$48,510 – $80,540	620
31	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,720	$45,410 – $80,280	230
32	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,590	$30,610 – $108,230	70
33	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,400	$52,940 – $86,370	120
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$48,280 – $77,340	460
35	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,960	$45,640 – $81,380	2,140
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,900	$49,580 – $80,890	930
37	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,790	$50,610 – $84,130	60
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,470	$46,400 – $84,720	400
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,170	$42,390 – $83,740	210
40	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$61,100	$48,220 – $89,880	140
41	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,000	$49,140 – $72,480	270
42	Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,650	$47,380 – $79,780	40
43	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$45,570 – $89,510	570
44	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,490	$46,450 – $98,240	80
45	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,460	$45,670 – $73,250	110
46	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$44,510 – $61,470	70
47	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,890	$41,960 – $87,480	210
48	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,740	$54,330 – $75,030	50
49	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$37,940 – $113,090	640
50	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,390	$42,630 – $65,590	60

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in St. Cloud, MN. 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 St. Cloud, MN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in St. Cloud, MN that need no experience

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