Montana · BLS, May 2025 wages

$30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Montana

Name: $30-an-hour jobs without a degree in Montana, 2025
Creator: Degreeless Jobs
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

77 occupations in Montana pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is electrical power-line installers and repairers at $53.04 an hour.

By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS

All 77, sorted by hourly median

State medians for employed workers. The 25th to 75th range is annual. Occupations reported on an annual basis only are not included.

Occupations in Montana with a median of $30 an hour or more that typically require less than a bachelor's degree
Occupation	Hourly median	Annual median	25th to 75th	Employed	Typical entry education
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53.04	$110,320	$87,090 to $118,820	680	High school diploma or equivalent
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53.00	$110,250	$62,780 to $121,960	30	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52.01	$108,180	$88,440 to $130,510	300	High school diploma or equivalent
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50.98	$106,040	$91,520 to $110,840	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$50.67	$105,400	$88,430 to $110,900	50	Associate's degree
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$48.74	$101,380	$83,030 to $108,680	60	Associate's degree
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$48.56	$101,000	$84,800 to $110,700	230	Associate's degree
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$48.31	$100,490	$83,320 to $102,170	50	Associate's degree
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$47.33	$98,440	$94,460 to $100,920	860	Associate's degree
Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47.26	$98,310	$78,900 to $103,200	550	High school diploma or equivalent
Musicians and singersNo formal educational credential	$46.84	—	—	260	No formal educational credential
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$46.82	$97,380	$95,480 to $113,330	130	Postsecondary nondegree award
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$46.42	$96,560	$64,890 to $99,220	50	Postsecondary nondegree award
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44.43	$92,410	$71,160 to $109,300	500	High school diploma or equivalent
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.45	$90,370	$61,150 to $98,360	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Locomotive engineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.38	$90,220	$90,220 to $90,370	470	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42.97	$89,380	$76,460 to $105,760	450	High school diploma or equivalent
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42.75	$88,920	$62,170 to $97,260	170	High school diploma or equivalent
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$41.80	$86,950	$79,700 to $99,580	150	Associate's degree
Funeral home managersAssociate's degree	$40.82	$84,900	$59,020 to $119,220	50	Associate's degree
Underground mining machine operators, all otherNo formal educational credential	$40.58	$84,410	$79,820 to $84,430	—	No formal educational credential
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.27	$83,750	$83,730 to $92,840	100	High school diploma or equivalent
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40.21	$83,630	$67,590 to $100,490	70	High school diploma or equivalent
Cardiovascular technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$39.83	$82,850	$49,880 to $101,920	190	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersPostsecondary nondegree award	$39.82	$82,820	$73,610 to $93,640	320	Postsecondary nondegree award
Crane and tower operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.81	$82,800	$74,170 to $95,840	30	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$39.45	$82,050	$59,430 to $109,010	140	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.15	$81,440	$63,850 to $100,610	2,690	High school diploma or equivalent
Plant and system operators, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.11	$81,340	$67,210 to $83,660	170	High school diploma or equivalent
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$39.03	$81,190	$67,360 to $85,320	390	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.56	$80,200	$69,240 to $89,370	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Tank car, truck, and ship loadersNo formal educational credential	$38.50	$80,070	$76,860 to $83,390	80	No formal educational credential
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.44	$79,960	$60,990 to $94,370	1,860	High school diploma or equivalent
Chemical equipment operators and tendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.25	$79,570	$53,320 to $88,940	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.06	$79,170	$79,170 to $80,440	200	High school diploma or equivalent
Health information technologists and medical registrarsAssociate's degree	$38.05	$79,140	$63,770 to $84,970	190	Associate's degree
Real estate sales agentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.03	$79,100	$67,590 to $91,170	370	High school diploma or equivalent
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all otherPostsecondary nondegree award	$38.01	$79,070	$56,470 to $87,520	190	Postsecondary nondegree award
Service unit operators, oil and gasNo formal educational credential	$37.38	$77,750	$58,130 to $96,380	310	No formal educational credential
Stationary engineers and boiler operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.35	$77,690	$56,750 to $108,210	110	High school diploma or equivalent
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$37.19	$77,340	$63,780 to $82,480	70	Associate's degree
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$37.05	$77,070	$65,850 to $82,140	850	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.03	$77,030	$60,550 to $97,640	660	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.98	$76,910	$64,150 to $94,330	4,350	High school diploma or equivalent
ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.90	$76,760	$60,400 to $81,420	2,750	High school diploma or equivalent
Telecommunications line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.41	$75,720	$58,190 to $78,260	530	High school diploma or equivalent
Construction and building inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.39	$75,700	$61,110 to $84,240	290	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.38	$75,660	$62,040 to $87,480	120	Postsecondary nondegree award
Hearing aid specialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.20	$75,300	$65,640 to $77,270	60	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.88	$74,630	$65,250 to $75,200	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Medical equipment repairersAssociate's degree	$35.61	$74,070	$65,390 to $80,860	80	Associate's degree
Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installersPostsecondary nondegree award	$35.56	$73,970	$60,880 to $81,240	630	Postsecondary nondegree award
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$35.00	$72,800	$63,750 to $81,670	60	Associate's degree
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except enginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.88	$72,560	$62,590 to $83,200	1,330	High school diploma or equivalent
Food service managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.68	$72,140	$59,460 to $95,720	950	High school diploma or equivalent
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.51	$71,770	$53,820 to $87,530	50	High school diploma or equivalent
Earth drillers, except oil and gasHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.36	$71,470	$60,760 to $77,210	180	High school diploma or equivalent
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$34.07	$70,860	$59,760 to $81,810	60	Postsecondary nondegree award
Police and sheriff's patrol officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.68	$70,050	$59,860 to $77,500	2,160	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33.06	$68,760	$54,080 to $88,820	1,860	High school diploma or equivalent
Structural iron and steel workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.40	$67,390	$51,580 to $75,070	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Surgical assistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$32.39	$67,370	$56,610 to $85,810	100	Postsecondary nondegree award
Industrial machinery mechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.33	$67,250	$58,570 to $85,900	820	High school diploma or equivalent
Lodging managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.01	$66,580	$57,910 to $79,000	670	High school diploma or equivalent
Excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface miningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.66	$65,850	$52,430 to $81,480	150	High school diploma or equivalent
Architectural and civil draftersAssociate's degree	$31.61	$65,750	$58,390 to $77,510	600	Associate's degree
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$31.60	$65,730	$48,350 to $78,100	210	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.25	$64,990	$50,140 to $75,920	260	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.85	$64,170	$59,150 to $82,240	310	Postsecondary nondegree award
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.70	$63,860	$54,380 to $81,080	1,230	High school diploma or equivalent
Real estate brokersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.40	$63,240	$37,360 to $88,760	400	High school diploma or equivalent
Drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$30.39	$63,200	$57,130 to $75,950	280	Associate's degree
Tax preparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.33	$63,080	$47,470 to $82,850	360	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.20	$62,810	$53,690 to $97,880	180	High school diploma or equivalent
Court reporters and simultaneous captionersPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.16	$62,730	$59,960 to $68,620	50	Postsecondary nondegree award
Physical therapist assistantsAssociate's degree	$30.12	$62,650	$60,420 to $69,020	250	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.07	$62,550	$51,940 to $75,540	4,030	High school diploma or equivalent

Sources and method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates. Typical entry education from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). An occupation is listed when its typical entry education is below a bachelor’s degree and its Montana median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 77, sorted by hourly median

Other states

Sources and method