High paying jobs in Waco, TX that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Waco, TX, 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 Waco, TX run 7.5% below the national average (2024), so a Waco, TX salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Waco, TX

OccupationMedian, Waco, TX · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$95,340
Associate's degree
$80,960 – $100,530150
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,810 – $102,960110
3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$80,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,720 – $93,020350
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$80,580
Associate's degree
$44,540 – $107,40040
5Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,360
Associate's degree
$36,520 – $104,82080
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,260
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $101,720190
7Occupational Therapy Assistants$77,170
Associate's degree
$60,900 – $90,88050
8Physical Therapist Assistants$76,340
Associate's degree
$42,240 – $100,270140
9Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$75,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,150 – $94,870690
10Respiratory Therapists$75,370
Associate's degree
$65,360 – $91,760100
11Massage Therapists$72,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,530 – $105,49060
12Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$72,500
Associate's degree
$46,530 – $107,01070
13Computer Network Support Specialists$66,850
Associate's degree
$40,420 – $126,37060
14Surgical Technologists$66,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,730 – $80,35090
15Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,020 – $91,49060
16Tax Preparers$65,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,850 – $124,96040
17Tutors$64,750
Some college, no degree
$32,670 – $64,75050
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,230 – $123,470790
19Firefighters$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,310 – $69,740210
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,050 – $78,570780
21Surveying and Mapping Technicians$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $71,26070
22Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,070 – $61,480140
23Postal Service Clerks$59,970
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03080
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,570 – $78,130210
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,620
Associate's degree
$39,600 – $76,400250
26Maintenance Workers, Machinery$58,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $76,970170
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,110 – $80,220300
28Architectural and Civil Drafters$57,650
Associate's degree
$44,900 – $87,40060
29Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,590 – $84,31040
30Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,530 – $76,030490
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $77,180410
32Millwrights$57,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,400 – $81,79050
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,990 – $68,170100
34Computer User Support Specialists$56,420
Some college, no degree
$34,330 – $78,720470
35Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,300
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040360
36Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$56,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $72,490100
37Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,440 – $74,010440
38Residential Advisors$55,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,530 – $67,27040
39Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$54,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,400 – $110,460840
40Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$54,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,640 – $67,79040
41Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$53,750
Associate's degree
$32,690 – $75,36090
42Chemical Technicians$53,660
Associate's degree
$38,870 – $72,63080
43Plant and System Operators, All Other$52,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $110,84060
44Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,180 – $62,690270
45Machinists$50,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $95,820250
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$49,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,790 – $78,120250
47Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$49,160
No formal educational credential
$39,120 – $52,710130
48Highway Maintenance Workers$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $61,040100
49Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$49,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,320 – $92,160210
50Roofers$49,000
No formal educational credential
$36,310 – $61,410200

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

#	Occupation	MedianWaco, TX	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,340	$80,960 – $100,530	150
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,610	$51,810 – $102,960	110
3	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,580	$44,720 – $93,020	350
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,580	$44,540 – $107,400	40
5	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,360	$36,520 – $104,820	80
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,260	$47,120 – $101,720	190
7	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$77,170	$60,900 – $90,880	50
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,340	$42,240 – $100,270	140
9	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,850	$56,150 – $94,870	690
10	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$75,370	$65,360 – $91,760	100
11	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,560	$29,530 – $105,490	60
12	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$72,500	$46,530 – $107,010	70
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$66,850	$40,420 – $126,370	60
14	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,020	$51,730 – $80,350	90
15	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,610	$50,020 – $91,490	60
16	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,020	$43,850 – $124,960	40
17	TutorsSome college, no degree	$64,750	$32,670 – $64,750	50
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,880	$34,230 – $123,470	790
19	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$46,310 – $69,740	210
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,070	$51,050 – $78,570	780
21	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$39,520 – $71,260	70
22	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,930	$38,070 – $61,480	140
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$42,600 – $75,030	80
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,660	$42,570 – $78,130	210
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,620	$39,600 – $76,400	250
26	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,400	$37,170 – $76,970	170
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,900	$44,110 – $80,220	300
28	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,650	$44,900 – $87,400	60
29	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$38,590 – $84,310	40
30	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,550	$37,530 – $76,030	490
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$40,440 – $77,180	410
32	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,070	$30,400 – $81,790	50
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,770	$40,990 – $68,170	100
34	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$56,420	$34,330 – $78,720	470
35	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$56,300	$42,390 – $81,040	360
36	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,040	$37,340 – $72,490	100
37	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,860	$38,440 – $74,010	440
38	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,110	$28,530 – $67,270	40
39	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,570	$31,400 – $110,460	840
40	Recreational Vehicle Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,120	$29,640 – $67,790	40
41	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$53,750	$32,690 – $75,360	90
42	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,660	$38,870 – $72,630	80
43	Plant and System Operators, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,450	$36,650 – $110,840	60
44	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,440	$41,180 – $62,690	270
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,380	$36,830 – $95,820	250
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,450	$36,790 – $78,120	250
47	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$49,160	$39,120 – $52,710	130
48	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$35,880 – $61,040	100
49	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,070	$43,320 – $92,160	210
50	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$49,000	$36,310 – $61,410	200

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Waco, TX. 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 Waco, TX to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Waco, TX that need no experience

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