High paying jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in St. Joseph, MO-KS, 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. Joseph, MO-KS run 13.6% below the national average (2024), so a St. Joseph, MO-KS 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS

OccupationMedian, St. Joseph, MO-KS · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$100,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$72,190 – $128,75090
2Electricians$97,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,560 – $116,850350
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,240
Associate's degree
$74,630 – $116,18040
4Dental Hygienists$87,370
Associate's degree
$55,500 – $97,77080
5Sheet Metal Workers$83,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,640 – $110,580130
6Maintenance Workers, Machinery$76,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,420 – $82,420120
7Industrial Machinery Mechanics$75,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,710 – $97,510110
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $121,37060
9Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$74,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,940 – $101,41070
10Respiratory Therapists$73,860
Associate's degree
$59,980 – $91,45050
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$73,080
Associate's degree
$59,470 – $92,440130
12Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$68,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,660 – $116,580200
13Machinists$66,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $73,69080
14Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$66,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $66,060610
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,940 – $103,100320
16Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$62,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,870 – $92,490390
17Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$62,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,770 – $88,980130
18Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,630 – $85,880170
19Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,920 – $90,07070
20Physical Therapist Assistants$61,510
Associate's degree
$57,580 – $80,28050
21Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $74,51040
22Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$60,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,910 – $64,21030
23Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,840 – $71,030290
24Insurance Sales Agents$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,600 – $81,660130
25Carpenters$60,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,880 – $89,350220
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040120
27Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,660 – $106,71050
28Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$58,480
No formal educational credential
$39,540 – $77,64070
29Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,460 – $95,020110
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,930 – $79,170270
31Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$57,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,130 – $72,620830
32Postal Service Clerks$57,090
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $72,95040
33Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $100,40050
34Automotive Body and Related Repairers$56,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,210 – $78,11060
35Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,490 – $76,870850
36Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $66,840160
37Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$55,070
Associate's degree
$38,300 – $80,26040
38Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$54,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,020 – $71,3901,360
39Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$54,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,350 – $105,75070
40Computer User Support Specialists$52,520
Some college, no degree
$36,070 – $81,630150
41Construction Laborers$51,760
No formal educational credential
$37,220 – $77,630280
42Painters, Construction and Maintenance$51,230
No formal educational credential
$38,070 – $83,44040
43Roofers$51,140
No formal educational credential
$39,320 – $73,84030
44Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $59,94070
45Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$50,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,330 – $58,6401,120
46Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $54,58060
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $74,27090
48Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,780 – $60,71060
49Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,430 – $60,190120
50Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$49,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,060 – $61,780200

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

#	Occupation	MedianSt. Joseph, MO-KS	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,340	$72,190 – $128,750	90
2	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,350	$47,560 – $116,850	350
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,240	$74,630 – $116,180	40
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$87,370	$55,500 – $97,770	80
5	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,060	$35,640 – $110,580	130
6	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,530	$59,420 – $82,420	120
7	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,640	$52,710 – $97,510	110
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,440	$47,640 – $121,370	60
9	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,760	$46,940 – $101,410	70
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$73,860	$59,980 – $91,450	50
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,080	$59,470 – $92,440	130
12	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,290	$47,660 – $116,580	200
13	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,390	$38,190 – $73,690	80
14	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,060	$47,040 – $66,060	610
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,450	$37,940 – $103,100	320
16	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,820	$41,870 – $92,490	390
17	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,720	$38,770 – $88,980	130
18	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,910	$42,630 – $85,880	170
19	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$47,920 – $90,070	70
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,510	$57,580 – $80,280	50
21	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$40,590 – $74,510	40
22	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,840	$47,910 – $64,210	30
23	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,720	$47,840 – $71,030	290
24	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$28,600 – $81,660	130
25	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,150	$37,880 – $89,350	220
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$43,120 – $81,040	120
27	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,390	$44,660 – $106,710	50
28	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$58,480	$39,540 – $77,640	70
29	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,440	$40,460 – $95,020	110
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,170	$41,930 – $79,170	270
31	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,420	$36,130 – $72,620	830
32	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$57,090	$42,600 – $72,950	40
33	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,970	$39,520 – $100,400	50
34	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,850	$33,210 – $78,110	60
35	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,330	$38,490 – $76,870	850
36	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,190	$35,900 – $66,840	160
37	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$55,070	$38,300 – $80,260	40
38	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,400	$30,020 – $71,390	1,360
39	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,070	$37,350 – $105,750	70
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,520	$36,070 – $81,630	150
41	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$51,760	$37,220 – $77,630	280
42	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$51,230	$38,070 – $83,440	40
43	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$51,140	$39,320 – $73,840	30
44	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,020	$38,650 – $59,940	70
45	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,930	$39,330 – $58,640	1,120
46	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,930	$46,220 – $54,580	60
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$39,350 – $74,270	90
48	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,640	$49,780 – $60,710	60
49	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,560	$41,430 – $60,190	120
50	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,880	$44,060 – $61,780	200

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in St. Joseph, MO-KS. 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. Joseph, MO-KS to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in St. Joseph, MO-KS that need no experience

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