High paying jobs in America that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in America, 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.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

Find high paying jobs

OccupationMedian, America · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$98,100
Associate's degree
$74,880 – $126,050222,740
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$96,590
Associate's degree
$67,820 – $129,37090,160
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,470 – $128,690131,070
4Respiratory Therapists$82,280
Associate's degree
$63,660 – $118,050139,790
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,110
Associate's degree
$55,980 – $118,660230,490
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$79,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,780 – $128,890138,090
7Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$78,350
Associate's degree
$47,030 – $118,33059,930
8Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,190
Associate's degree
$49,510 – $115,70095,130
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,850 – $117,040324,230
10Computer Network Support Specialists$76,220
Associate's degree
$47,120 – $127,780146,190
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$76,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,510 – $115,120670,520
12Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,310 – $103,68097,720
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$74,310
Associate's degree
$39,000 – $121,35062,960
14Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,840 – $105,59065,010
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,300
Associate's degree
$51,490 – $89,78051,290
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $137,5501.2M
17Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$69,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,980 – $148,8401.3M
18Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380
Associate's degree
$47,750 – $89,510112,430
19Transportation Security Screeners$66,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $78,35050,290
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,150
Associate's degree
$46,260 – $99,710103,700
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,120
Associate's degree
$47,300 – $99,15075,570
22Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $94,460176,600
23Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,950
Associate's degree
$44,220 – $98,98068,520
24Advertising Sales Agents$64,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,240 – $146,01091,700
25Surgical Technologists$64,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,940 – $96,940117,460
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,120 – $95,170439,640
27Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,740 – $83,440648,410
28Tool and Die Makers$64,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,680 – $92,68056,930
29Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,240 – $96,730140,920
30Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$63,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,150 – $108,420465,840
31Electricians$63,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,640 – $108,510757,220
32Paralegals and Legal Assistants$62,890
Associate's degree
$44,740 – $101,500392,880
33Structural Iron and Steel Workers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,580 – $108,26068,380
34Insurance Sales Agents$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,330 – $138,140479,100
35Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
Associate's degree
$39,000 – $102,69073,910
36Postal Service Clerks$62,130
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03073,720
37Brickmasons and Blockmasons$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,820 – $100,01052,550
38Computer User Support Specialists$61,860
Some college, no degree
$40,980 – $100,540717,190
39Sheet Metal Workers$61,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $105,650119,770
40Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $88,740289,960
41Medical Equipment Repairers$61,660
Associate's degree
$38,490 – $98,28065,990
42Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,050 – $95,210409,670
43Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,000 – $88,55060,020
44Carpenters$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $99,910670,090
45Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040328,820
46Chemical Technicians$60,390
Associate's degree
$41,740 – $92,04057,540
47Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,800 – $81,15086,340
48Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $91,060128,490
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,190 – $101,090478,090
50Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $86,000390,160

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

#	Occupation	MedianAmerica	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,100	$74,880 – $126,050	222,740
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$96,590	$67,820 – $129,370	90,160
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,320	$51,470 – $128,690	131,070
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,280	$63,660 – $118,050	139,790
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,110	$55,980 – $118,660	230,490
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,870	$48,780 – $128,890	138,090
7	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$78,350	$47,030 – $118,330	59,930
8	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,190	$49,510 – $115,700	95,130
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,000	$48,850 – $117,040	324,230
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,220	$47,120 – $127,780	146,190
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,210	$47,510 – $115,120	670,520
12	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,330	$45,310 – $103,680	97,720
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,310	$39,000 – $121,350	62,960
14	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,090	$46,840 – $105,590	65,010
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,300	$51,490 – $89,780	51,290
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,080	$39,090 – $137,550	1.2M
17	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,990	$37,980 – $148,840	1.3M
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$68,380	$47,750 – $89,510	112,430
19	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,770	$44,700 – $78,350	50,290
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,150	$46,260 – $99,710	103,700
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,120	$47,300 – $99,150	75,570
22	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,510	$46,820 – $94,460	176,600
23	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,950	$44,220 – $98,980	68,520
24	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,820	$35,240 – $146,010	91,700
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,650	$45,940 – $96,940	117,460
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$46,120 – $95,170	439,640
27	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,400	$49,740 – $83,440	648,410
28	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,050	$44,680 – $92,680	56,930
29	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,890	$44,240 – $96,730	140,920
30	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,800	$44,150 – $108,420	465,840
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,190	$42,640 – $108,510	757,220
32	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,890	$44,740 – $101,500	392,880
33	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$44,580 – $108,260	68,380
34	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$37,330 – $138,140	479,100
35	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,280	$39,000 – $102,690	73,910
36	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,130	$42,600 – $75,030	73,720
37	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$44,820 – $100,010	52,550
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,860	$40,980 – $100,540	717,190
39	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,800	$38,630 – $105,650	119,770
40	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,770	$44,530 – $88,740	289,960
41	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,660	$38,490 – $98,280	65,990
42	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,010	$40,050 – $95,210	409,670
43	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,850	$42,000 – $88,550	60,020
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$40,410 – $99,910	670,090
45	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	328,820
46	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,390	$41,740 – $92,040	57,540
47	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$38,800 – $81,150	86,340
48	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,020	$39,110 – $91,060	128,490
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$42,190 – $101,090	478,090
50	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$40,080 – $86,000	390,160

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

By field

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in America that need no experience

More for America

By field

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience