High paying jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Trenton-Princeton, NJ, 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ run 3.2% above the national average (2024), so a Trenton-Princeton, NJ salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ

OccupationMedian, Trenton-Princeton, NJ · Employed

1Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$103,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$83,930 – $105,030130
2Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$101,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,290 – $126,380120
3Dental Hygienists$100,920
Associate's degree
$98,140 – $110,460330
4Electricians$98,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,520 – $125,680600
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$97,300
Associate's degree
$77,220 – $117,400160
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$95,820
Associate's degree
$74,110 – $113,340220
7Firefighters$88,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,160 – $101,840340
8Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$86,860
Associate's degree
$50,150 – $110,320160
9Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$84,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,190 – $163,950900
10Computer Network Support Specialists$84,750
Associate's degree
$51,120 – $125,130190
11Legal Support Workers, All Other$84,490
Associate's degree
$50,450 – $147,530100
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,300 – $112,460770
13Roofers$82,100
No formal educational credential
$45,230 – $96,490140
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,710
Associate's degree
$59,480 – $122,840220
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$78,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,200 – $98,600260
16Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$77,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $161,4901,620
17Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,500 – $100,770150
18Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$76,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,490 – $110,850110
19Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$76,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,440 – $127,300280
20Physical Therapist Assistants$75,410
Associate's degree
$34,790 – $82,22080
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,840 – $80,890880
22Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$75,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,730 – $111,720430
23Advertising Sales Agents$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,170 – $118,540110
24Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$75,030
Associate's degree
$49,210 – $92,15080
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$73,250
Associate's degree
$48,050 – $104,650790
26Insurance Sales Agents$72,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,550 – $157,870320
27Computer User Support Specialists$71,920
Some college, no degree
$45,680 – $102,6901,180
28Construction Laborers$71,920
No formal educational credential
$38,200 – $106,370960
29Brokerage Clerks$71,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,790 – $93,530330
30Machinists$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,200 – $114,400120
31Surgical Technologists$70,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,780 – $90,310150
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$69,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,570 – $125,010270
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$69,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $89,330280
34Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$69,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,960 – $112,230840
35Audio and Video Technicians$68,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,940 – $109,39080
36Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$68,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $87,590780
37Opticians, Dispensing$67,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,960 – $83,930100
38Carpenters$65,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $121,540610
39Financial Clerks, All Other$64,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $90,980140
40Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,590
Associate's degree
$50,060 – $97,220170
41Bus Drivers, School$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $74,700720
42Sales and Related Workers, All Other$63,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $122,900130
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,330 – $82,940150
44Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$62,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,500 – $74,160110
45Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,040470
46Protective Service Workers, All Other$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $85,630170
47Public Safety Telecommunicators$60,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,610 – $82,580240
48Psychiatric Aides$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,390 – $74,420370
49Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$59,760
No formal educational credential
$38,310 – $68,930250
50Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$59,740
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $76,460470

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

#	Occupation	MedianTrenton-Princeton, NJ	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,650	$83,930 – $105,030	130
2	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,590	$70,290 – $126,380	120
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$100,920	$98,140 – $110,460	330
4	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,210	$48,520 – $125,680	600
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$97,300	$77,220 – $117,400	160
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$95,820	$74,110 – $113,340	220
7	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,090	$48,160 – $101,840	340
8	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,860	$50,150 – $110,320	160
9	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,920	$49,190 – $163,950	900
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$84,750	$51,120 – $125,130	190
11	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$84,490	$50,450 – $147,530	100
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,420	$58,300 – $112,460	770
13	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$82,100	$45,230 – $96,490	140
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,710	$59,480 – $122,840	220
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,410	$49,200 – $98,600	260
16	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,490	$44,010 – $161,490	1,620
17	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,290	$56,500 – $100,770	150
18	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,510	$60,490 – $110,850	110
19	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,360	$50,440 – $127,300	280
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,410	$34,790 – $82,220	80
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,380	$62,840 – $80,890	880
22	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,240	$47,730 – $111,720	430
23	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$35,170 – $118,540	110
24	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,030	$49,210 – $92,150	80
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,250	$48,050 – $104,650	790
26	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,200	$47,550 – $157,870	320
27	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,920	$45,680 – $102,690	1,180
28	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$71,920	$38,200 – $106,370	960
29	Brokerage ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,660	$59,790 – $93,530	330
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$46,200 – $114,400	120
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,610	$53,780 – $90,310	150
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,800	$51,570 – $125,010	270
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,480	$48,690 – $89,330	280
34	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,160	$48,960 – $112,230	840
35	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,730	$45,940 – $109,390	80
36	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,470	$47,510 – $87,590	780
37	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,110	$43,960 – $83,930	100
38	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,690	$44,700 – $121,540	610
39	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,740	$41,600 – $90,980	140
40	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,590	$50,060 – $97,220	170
41	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$46,290 – $74,700	720
42	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,230	$37,490 – $122,900	130
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$53,330 – $82,940	150
44	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,610	$50,500 – $74,160	110
45	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$43,120 – $81,040	470
46	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$35,650 – $85,630	170
47	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,480	$43,610 – $82,580	240
48	Psychiatric AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$45,390 – $74,420	370
49	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$59,760	$38,310 – $68,930	250
50	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$59,740	$45,530 – $76,460	470

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Trenton-Princeton, NJ. 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Trenton-Princeton, NJ that need no experience

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