High paying jobs in Texas that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Texas, 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 Texas run 2.9% below the national average (2024), so a Texas salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Texas.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Texas

OccupationMedian, Texas · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$99,240
Associate's degree
$71,530 – $117,89016,380
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$92,580
Associate's degree
$64,360 – $106,0906,960
3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$84,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,600 – $122,18016,850
4Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$84,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,670 – $108,65010,510
5Occupational Therapy Assistants$81,500
Associate's degree
$60,980 – $95,9005,610
6Respiratory Therapists$79,540
Associate's degree
$61,310 – $99,69012,130
7Mechanical Drafters$79,380
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $106,0804,630
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $107,55017,280
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $116,61029,220
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,630
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $102,63020,250
11Physical Therapist Assistants$78,000
Associate's degree
$43,900 – $99,64010,510
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,240 – $98,35063,100
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$75,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,540 – $102,5009,700
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,560 – $109,35013,540
15Calibration Technologists and Technicians$74,100
Associate's degree
$46,170 – $108,1205,020
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,050
Associate's degree
$41,550 – $105,5608,960
17Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$73,860
Associate's degree
$38,720 – $113,0507,110
18Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$68,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,680 – $79,4004,640
19Computer Network Support Specialists$66,780
Associate's degree
$45,440 – $110,5709,930
20Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,380 – $137,02095,670
21Surgical Technologists$65,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,950 – $92,58010,160
22Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,320
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $100,35011,710
23Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0304,900
24Chemical Technicians$62,580
Associate's degree
$43,970 – $105,6506,090
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,310
Associate's degree
$39,190 – $98,44029,540
26Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,910 – $76,14057,560
27Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,020
Associate's degree
$45,650 – $103,3405,060
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,710 – $89,14020,080
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,580 – $95,77056,950
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,360 – $127,930135,030
31Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,04026,700
32Advertising Sales Agents$60,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,710 – $99,7106,230
33Firefighters$60,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,020 – $77,17028,170
34Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $106,23020,880
35Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$60,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,320 – $96,4806,770
36Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $81,89044,090
37Computer User Support Specialists$59,490
Some college, no degree
$38,690 – $90,14072,030
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,140 – $89,12013,440
39Massage Therapists$59,370
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,870 – $109,9708,630
40Maintenance Workers, Machinery$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $90,6508,800
41Machinists$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $83,07021,700
42Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $81,66029,870
43Electricians$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,920 – $80,30076,770
44Medical Equipment Repairers$58,370
Associate's degree
$38,030 – $89,1505,540
45Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$58,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,690 – $89,36011,630
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$57,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,100 – $81,86034,730
47Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$56,390
No formal educational credential
$40,600 – $75,2807,900
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,150 – $79,400209,680
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$55,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,470 – $86,20033,080
50Sheet Metal Workers$54,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,010 – $78,4009,540

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

#	Occupation	MedianTexas	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$99,240	$71,530 – $117,890	16,380
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$92,580	$64,360 – $106,090	6,960
3	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,440	$48,600 – $122,180	16,850
4	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,100	$45,670 – $108,650	10,510
5	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$81,500	$60,980 – $95,900	5,610
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,540	$61,310 – $99,690	12,130
7	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$79,380	$52,000 – $106,080	4,630
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,940	$46,760 – $107,550	17,280
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,800	$46,560 – $116,610	29,220
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,630	$48,550 – $102,630	20,250
11	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,000	$43,900 – $99,640	10,510
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,900	$51,240 – $98,350	63,100
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,740	$46,540 – $102,500	9,700
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,480	$46,560 – $109,350	13,540
15	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,100	$46,170 – $108,120	5,020
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,050	$41,550 – $105,560	8,960
17	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$73,860	$38,720 – $113,050	7,110
18	Railroad Conductors and YardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,980	$45,680 – $79,400	4,640
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,780	$45,440 – $110,570	9,930
20	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,970	$36,380 – $137,020	95,670
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,220	$39,950 – $92,580	10,160
22	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,320	$44,950 – $100,350	11,710
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	4,900
24	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,580	$43,970 – $105,650	6,090
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,310	$39,190 – $98,440	29,540
26	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,240	$48,910 – $76,140	57,560
27	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,020	$45,650 – $103,340	5,060
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$45,710 – $89,140	20,080
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,930	$41,580 – $95,770	56,950
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$33,360 – $127,930	135,030
31	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	26,700
32	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,280	$31,710 – $99,710	6,230
33	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,180	$40,020 – $77,170	28,170
34	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,150	$36,230 – $106,230	20,880
35	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,120	$38,320 – $96,480	6,770
36	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,840	$38,270 – $81,890	44,090
37	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,490	$38,690 – $90,140	72,030
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,370	$39,140 – $89,120	13,440
39	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,370	$34,870 – $109,970	8,630
40	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$38,440 – $90,650	8,800
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$38,600 – $83,070	21,700
42	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,810	$40,930 – $81,660	29,870
43	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$37,920 – $80,300	76,770
44	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$58,370	$38,030 – $89,150	5,540
45	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,230	$39,690 – $89,360	11,630
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,760	$38,100 – $81,860	34,730
47	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$40,600 – $75,280	7,900
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,290	$38,150 – $79,400	209,680
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,850	$35,470 – $86,200	33,080
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,240	$37,010 – $78,400	9,540

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Texas. 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 Texas

Metro areas in Texas

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Texas

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Texas to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Texas that need no experience

More for Texas

Metro areas in Texas

By field in Texas

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience