High paying production jobs in Indiana with no degree

The best paid production occupations in Indiana that require no bachelor's degree — a high school diploma, a certificate, or an associate's degree is the typical entry. This is the narrowest cut on the site, so it is also the shortest list: where a field has only two or three such occupations, there is no page at all rather than a page pretending otherwise.

Cost of living: prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average (2024), so a Indiana salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Indiana.

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

Find production jobs in Indiana

OccupationMedian, Indiana · Employed

1Power Plant Operators$107,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$76,700 – $123,5401,190
2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $101,54026,870
3Tool and Die Makers$68,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,810 – $92,9404,090
4Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$63,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,100 – $90,4501,490
5Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,680 – $68,5803,870
6Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders$58,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,190 – $65,4201,520
7Machinists$57,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,400 – $73,50014,320
8Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $75,5506,240
9Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$53,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $65,5901,510
10Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$53,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $75,2903,140
11Tire Builders$51,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $58,4701,320
12Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $74,88013,280
13Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,890 – $60,6203,740
14Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $60,8002,580
15Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,550 – $71,1709,690
16Production Workers, All Other$48,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,560 – $77,6202,530
17Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $72,86024,790
18Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $66,6004,840
19Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $77,7808,030
20Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $61,3604,170
21Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,960 – $73,8409,680
22Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,480 – $59,5803,150
23Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$46,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $63,9901,520
24Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $61,4702,110
25Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$45,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $61,5102,010
26Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,240 – $77,90085,610
27Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$45,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $57,9805,980
28Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $64,2402,750
29Printing Press Operators$45,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,820 – $61,3304,820
30Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,530 – $60,0907,480
31Upholsterers$45,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,020 – $58,5501,400
32Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$44,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,330 – $59,07012,880
33Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,880 – $62,9408,810
34Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,910 – $62,4002,840
35Slaughterers and Meat Packers$43,770
No formal educational credential
$36,430 – $48,3001,210
36Furniture Finishers$43,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,220 – $62,8201,280
37Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$42,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,630 – $56,5508,220
38Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$42,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,270 – $58,8401,270
39Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$42,450
No formal educational credential
$36,680 – $45,0002,640
40Butchers and Meat Cutters$42,440
No formal educational credential
$31,510 – $56,7701,850
41Helpers--Production Workers$42,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,270 – $50,7402,450
42Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,230 – $57,5503,570
43Food Batchmakers$39,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,250 – $58,4905,570
44Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,420 – $58,3501,250
45Sewing Machine Operators$38,440
No formal educational credential
$30,060 – $51,1803,400
46Bakers$36,150
No formal educational credential
$22,880 – $47,3603,600
47Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$30,930
No formal educational credential
$26,000 – $38,7903,190

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

#	Occupation	MedianIndiana	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,000	$76,700 – $123,540	1,190
2	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,950	$48,110 – $101,540	26,870
3	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,050	$46,810 – $92,940	4,090
4	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,200	$49,100 – $90,450	1,490
5	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$40,680 – $68,580	3,870
6	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,300	$42,190 – $65,420	1,520
7	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,800	$39,400 – $73,500	14,320
8	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$37,680 – $75,550	6,240
9	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,990	$40,600 – $65,590	1,510
10	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,540	$40,590 – $75,290	3,140
11	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,170	$40,590 – $58,470	1,320
12	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,730	$38,410 – $74,880	13,280
13	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,420	$37,890 – $60,620	3,740
14	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,780	$36,070 – $60,800	2,580
15	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,590	$38,550 – $71,170	9,690
16	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,260	$35,560 – $77,620	2,530
17	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,900	$35,590 – $72,860	24,790
18	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,650	$37,390 – $66,600	4,840
19	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,320	$35,930 – $77,780	8,030
20	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,310	$38,790 – $61,360	4,170
21	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,980	$36,960 – $73,840	9,680
22	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,790	$37,480 – $59,580	3,150
23	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,400	$36,070 – $63,990	1,520
24	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,150	$37,430 – $61,470	2,110
25	Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,820	$37,230 – $61,510	2,010
26	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$31,240 – $77,900	85,610
27	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,550	$29,700 – $57,980	5,980
28	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,430	$36,860 – $64,240	2,750
29	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,230	$34,820 – $61,330	4,820
30	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,100	$36,530 – $60,090	7,480
31	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,080	$35,020 – $58,550	1,400
32	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,600	$33,330 – $59,070	12,880
33	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,290	$31,880 – $62,940	8,810
34	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,960	$36,910 – $62,400	2,840
35	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$43,770	$36,430 – $48,300	1,210
36	Furniture FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,220	$37,220 – $62,820	1,280
37	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,810	$35,630 – $56,550	8,220
38	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,620	$34,270 – $58,840	1,270
39	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$36,680 – $45,000	2,640
40	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$42,440	$31,510 – $56,770	1,850
41	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,210	$31,270 – $50,740	2,450
42	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$35,230 – $57,550	3,570
43	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,700	$30,250 – $58,490	5,570
44	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,680	$35,420 – $58,350	1,250
45	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,440	$30,060 – $51,180	3,400
46	BakersNo formal educational credential	$36,150	$22,880 – $47,360	3,600
47	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$30,930	$26,000 – $38,790	3,190

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

Metro areas in Indiana

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

By field in Indiana

Without a degree

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

High paying production jobs in Indiana with no degree

More for Indiana

Metro areas in Indiana

By field in Indiana

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state with no degree