High paying jobs in Virginia that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Virginia, 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 Virginia run 1.1% above the national average (2024), so a Virginia salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Virginia.

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

Find high paying jobs in Virginia

OccupationMedian, Virginia · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$102,950
Associate's degree
$86,730 – $125,5603,770
2Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$98,410
Associate's degree
$64,000 – $131,8103,720
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$95,660
Associate's degree
$77,540 – $122,9302,160
4Respiratory Therapists$82,910
Associate's degree
$65,540 – $106,4703,340
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$82,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,150 – $125,1702,260
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,670
Associate's degree
$60,000 – $106,1705,140
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,540
Associate's degree
$56,920 – $123,6104,670
8Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,220 – $102,4704,120
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$76,880
Associate's degree
$38,370 – $131,3302,410
10Computer Network Support Specialists$76,760
Associate's degree
$47,060 – $127,4305,650
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,520 – $106,8602,920
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$74,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,140 – $109,9707,860
13Physical Therapist Assistants$73,760
Associate's degree
$54,170 – $93,6003,370
14Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $169,61041,390
15Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$71,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,020 – $92,4701,570
16Transportation Security Screeners$69,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,130 – $76,9001,870
17Surgical Technologists$67,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,980 – $102,0201,910
18Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$67,240
Associate's degree
$42,750 – $104,8902,710
19Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,100
Associate's degree
$45,300 – $99,3201,480
20Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,000 – $96,82019,970
21Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $95,3001,420
22Computer User Support Specialists$65,040
Some college, no degree
$44,990 – $101,56020,910
23Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,580 – $79,17015,550
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,060 – $92,2109,470
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,990
Associate's degree
$47,860 – $100,55010,250
26Real Estate Sales Agents$63,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,610 – $122,1005,750
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,540 – $82,9404,340
28Riggers$63,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $76,5401,920
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,450
Associate's degree
$47,170 – $93,9702,600
30Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,800 – $148,70022,570
31Electricians$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,780 – $105,72023,630
32Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,980
33Massage Therapists$62,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,070 – $119,5702,730
34Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0407,900
35Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$61,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,630 – $90,8908,490
36Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,030 – $90,2903,310
37Machinists$61,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,120 – $86,3805,660
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $79,1508,070
39Medical Equipment Repairers$61,070
Associate's degree
$44,010 – $97,3201,360
40Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,840 – $78,5202,130
41Insurance Sales Agents$60,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,310 – $133,1009,480
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,970 – $78,05013,780
43Structural Iron and Steel Workers$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $73,8902,300
44Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,990 – $76,9102,040
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,760 – $83,42014,690
46Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $80,8202,130
47Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $79,4703,460
48Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,540 – $92,57017,880
49Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,520 – $79,63010,100
50Firefighters$58,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,310 – $77,31011,160

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

#	Occupation	MedianVirginia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$102,950	$86,730 – $125,560	3,770
2	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$98,410	$64,000 – $131,810	3,720
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$95,660	$77,540 – $122,930	2,160
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,910	$65,540 – $106,470	3,340
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$82,200	$58,150 – $125,170	2,260
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,670	$60,000 – $106,170	5,140
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,540	$56,920 – $123,610	4,670
8	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,090	$45,220 – $102,470	4,120
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,880	$38,370 – $131,330	2,410
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,760	$47,060 – $127,430	5,650
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,590	$49,520 – $106,860	2,920
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,240	$49,140 – $109,970	7,860
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,760	$54,170 – $93,600	3,370
14	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,640	$37,700 – $169,610	41,390
15	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,320	$47,020 – $92,470	1,570
16	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,910	$46,130 – $76,900	1,870
17	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,580	$47,980 – $102,020	1,910
18	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$67,240	$42,750 – $104,890	2,710
19	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,100	$45,300 – $99,320	1,480
20	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,870	$50,000 – $96,820	19,970
21	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,500	$46,570 – $95,300	1,420
22	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$65,040	$44,990 – $101,560	20,910
23	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,920	$50,580 – $79,170	15,550
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$46,060 – $92,210	9,470
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,990	$47,860 – $100,550	10,250
26	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,980	$36,610 – $122,100	5,750
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$45,540 – $82,940	4,340
28	RiggersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,620	$49,160 – $76,540	1,920
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,450	$47,170 – $93,970	2,600
30	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$37,800 – $148,700	22,570
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$40,780 – $105,720	23,630
32	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	1,980
33	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,220	$38,070 – $119,570	2,730
34	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	7,900
35	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,780	$40,630 – $90,890	8,490
36	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,340	$44,030 – $90,290	3,310
37	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,290	$45,120 – $86,380	5,660
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$45,250 – $79,150	8,070
39	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,070	$44,010 – $97,320	1,360
40	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,790	$40,840 – $78,520	2,130
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,520	$36,310 – $133,100	9,480
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,470	$43,970 – $78,050	13,780
43	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$47,040 – $73,890	2,300
44	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$41,990 – $76,910	2,040
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,730	$39,760 – $83,420	14,690
46	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$37,460 – $80,820	2,130
47	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$38,590 – $79,470	3,460
48	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,330	$36,540 – $92,570	17,880
49	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$42,520 – $79,630	10,100
50	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,670	$38,310 – $77,310	11,160

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

Metro areas in Virginia

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

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Virginia that need no experience

More for Virginia

Metro areas in Virginia

By field in Virginia

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience