High paying jobs in Wisconsin that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average (2024), so a Wisconsin salary is worth about 1.06× 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 Wisconsin.

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

Find high paying jobs in Wisconsin

OccupationMedian, Wisconsin · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$129,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,390 – $269,9901,090
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$105,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,330 – $119,8502,520
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$102,090
Associate's degree
$82,430 – $124,4501,530
4Dental Hygienists$96,540
Associate's degree
$80,370 – $110,2405,080
5Respiratory Therapists$84,210
Associate's degree
$70,520 – $100,3201,940
6Millwrights$82,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,530 – $93,2801,220
7Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,020 – $120,07010,210
8Computer Network Support Specialists$81,010
Associate's degree
$57,840 – $107,8401,140
9Brickmasons and Blockmasons$80,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,110 – $100,3601,050
10Insurance Sales Agents$79,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $163,3807,860
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,140
Associate's degree
$61,870 – $99,4205,010
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,570 – $103,6208,760
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$78,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,530 – $94,45012,320
14Sheet Metal Workers$77,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,160 – $107,0603,180
15Electricians$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,830 – $101,77014,310
16Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$76,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,230 – $109,550980
17Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,370 – $100,1408,140
18Surgical Technologists$74,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,410 – $86,6702,180
19Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,970
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $94,3201,560
20Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,520 – $99,8501,270
21Correctional Officers and Jailers$73,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,540 – $92,1407,360
22Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,880
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $102,3501,520
23Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$69,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $92,150960
24Tool and Die Makers$68,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,940 – $81,6702,450
25Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$67,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,220 – $79,4701,610
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,360 – $88,79013,870
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$65,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,060 – $130,51037,700
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,660 – $89,2602,090
29Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,270
Associate's degree
$47,070 – $82,9902,660
30Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$48,410 – $93,9104,490
31Physical Therapist Assistants$64,080
Associate's degree
$51,960 – $77,4401,650
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,900 – $123,28022,720
33Mechanical Drafters$63,770
Associate's degree
$48,010 – $92,2601,630
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,820 – $78,4907,390
35Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,710 – $91,080950
36Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,7902,230
37Advertising Sales Agents$63,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,950 – $118,7401,290
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,930
Associate's degree
$48,840 – $96,8302,200
39Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $82,2106,750
40Medical Equipment Repairers$62,220
Associate's degree
$41,610 – $115,6101,490
41Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,930 – $98,0706,630
42Carpenters$61,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,110 – $93,04013,880
43Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,400
44Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,780 – $81,9602,120
45Medical Records Specialists$60,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,750 – $79,7202,870
46Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,250 – $76,7501,520
47Public Safety Telecommunicators$60,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,430 – $74,9701,820
48Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$59,970
No formal educational credential
$38,490 – $85,3401,140
49Occupational Therapy Assistants$59,960
Associate's degree
$44,620 – $72,9401,050
50Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0406,470

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

#	Occupation	MedianWisconsin	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,860	$66,390 – $269,990	1,090
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,820	$58,330 – $119,850	2,520
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$102,090	$82,430 – $124,450	1,530
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,540	$80,370 – $110,240	5,080
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,210	$70,520 – $100,320	1,940
6	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,630	$57,530 – $93,280	1,220
7	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,210	$50,020 – $120,070	10,210
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,010	$57,840 – $107,840	1,140
9	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,120	$47,110 – $100,360	1,050
10	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,450	$47,430 – $163,380	7,860
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,140	$61,870 – $99,420	5,010
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$50,570 – $103,620	8,760
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,090	$58,530 – $94,450	12,320
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,760	$45,160 – $107,060	3,180
15	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$44,830 – $101,770	14,310
16	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,540	$58,230 – $109,550	980
17	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$51,370 – $100,140	8,140
18	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,120	$59,410 – $86,670	2,180
19	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,970	$48,640 – $94,320	1,560
20	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,930	$44,520 – $99,850	1,270
21	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,470	$56,540 – $92,140	7,360
22	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,880	$49,470 – $102,350	1,520
23	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,020	$37,440 – $92,150	960
24	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,120	$46,940 – $81,670	2,450
25	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,460	$56,220 – $79,470	1,610
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,620	$49,360 – $88,790	13,870
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,930	$39,060 – $130,510	37,700
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,450	$48,660 – $89,260	2,090
29	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,270	$47,070 – $82,990	2,660
30	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$48,410 – $93,910	4,490
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,080	$51,960 – $77,440	1,650
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,020	$39,900 – $123,280	22,720
33	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,770	$48,010 – $92,260	1,630
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,760	$51,820 – $78,490	7,390
35	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$47,710 – $91,080	950
36	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$50,340 – $78,790	2,230
37	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,270	$37,950 – $118,740	1,290
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,930	$48,840 – $96,830	2,200
39	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,450	$45,250 – $82,210	6,750
40	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$62,220	$41,610 – $115,610	1,490
41	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,710	$45,930 – $98,070	6,630
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,660	$45,110 – $93,040	13,880
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	1,400
44	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,770	$48,780 – $81,960	2,120
45	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,280	$46,750 – $79,720	2,870
46	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,250 – $76,750	1,520
47	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,000	$46,430 – $74,970	1,820
48	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$59,970	$38,490 – $85,340	1,140
49	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,960	$44,620 – $72,940	1,050
50	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	6,470

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

Metro areas in Wisconsin

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

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Wisconsin that need no experience

More for Wisconsin

Metro areas in Wisconsin

By field in Wisconsin

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience