Nebraska · BLS, May 2025 wages

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

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

78 occupations in Nebraska pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is elevator and escalator installers and repairers at $56.58 an hour.

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

All 78, 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 Nebraska 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
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56.58	$117,690	$75,650 to $122,410	140	High school diploma or equivalent
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$53.71	$111,710	$94,910 to $127,630	70	Associate's degree
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53.59	$111,460	$75,950 to $134,950	200	High school diploma or equivalent
Nuclear power reactor operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52.24	$108,650	$108,650 to $124,120	50	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51.01	$106,100	$85,860 to $117,860	730	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$50.41	$104,850	$91,290 to $121,090	60	Postsecondary nondegree award
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$50.15	$104,320	$93,750 to $108,280	120	Associate's degree
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48.33	$100,530	$79,510 to $123,930	290	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$47.44	$98,670	$84,370 to $107,760	120	Associate's degree
Power distributors and dispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47.39	$98,570	$84,540 to $102,580	240	High school diploma or equivalent
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47.22	$98,210	$88,350 to $114,520	360	High school diploma or equivalent
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46.82	$97,380	$76,930 to $117,250	1,420	High school diploma or equivalent
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45.21	$94,040	$89,540 to $99,300	150	High school diploma or equivalent
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$44.51	$92,580	$85,140 to $96,210	1,280	Associate's degree
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44.30	$92,150	$71,810 to $108,570	1,490	High school diploma or equivalent
Media and communication equipment workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44.27	$92,080	$81,240 to $116,360	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical doorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42.60	$88,610	$78,070 to $102,570	440	High school diploma or equivalent
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42.21	$87,790	$84,350 to $91,320	270	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.90	$82,980	$68,260 to $117,770	1,870	High school diploma or equivalent
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$39.77	$82,710	$77,670 to $92,130	290	Associate's degree
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$39.74	$82,670	$78,540 to $99,370	780	Associate's degree
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$39.22	$81,590	$73,600 to $86,140	840	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersPostsecondary nondegree award	$38.85	$80,810	$73,540 to $98,630	370	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.70	$80,490	$70,370 to $95,440	340	High school diploma or equivalent
Mechanical engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$38.49	$80,050	$60,290 to $99,640	250	Associate's degree
Rotary drill operators, oil and gasNo formal educational credential	$38.05	$79,140	$57,020 to $86,390	40	No formal educational credential
Funeral home managersAssociate's degree	$37.78	$78,590	$64,480 to $82,560	110	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.43	$77,850	$62,710 to $95,790	4,610	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.09	$77,150	$38,030 to $82,140	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Fire inspectors and investigatorsPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.91	$76,770	$56,120 to $86,840	60	Postsecondary nondegree award
Court reporters and simultaneous captionersPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.77	$76,480	$65,880 to $83,140	60	Postsecondary nondegree award
BailiffsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.58	$76,090	$55,590 to $76,610	50	High school diploma or equivalent
Insulation workers, mechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.51	$75,940	$50,700 to $79,060	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.46	$75,830	$61,700 to $94,680	3,160	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.33	$75,570	$61,520 to $91,030	6,020	High school diploma or equivalent
Police and sheriff's patrol officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.88	$74,620	$63,170 to $93,480	3,490	High school diploma or equivalent
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wallNo formal educational credential	$35.16	$73,140	$47,160 to $81,880	310	No formal educational credential
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.03	$72,860	$63,480 to $82,650	1,670	Associate's degree
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.00	$72,800	$66,120 to $77,910	130	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.71	$72,200	$60,210 to $82,520	6,040	High school diploma or equivalent
Tool and die makersPostsecondary nondegree award	$33.24	$69,150	$60,850 to $80,030	360	Postsecondary nondegree award
Legal support workers, all otherAssociate's degree	$33.18	$69,010	$63,320 to $76,490	160	Associate's degree
Cooling and freezing equipment operators and tendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.78	$68,170	$47,440 to $69,910	60	High school diploma or equivalent
Lodging managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.69	$67,990	$58,430 to $76,680	330	High school diploma or equivalent
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$32.31	$67,200	$50,970 to $82,000	260	Associate's degree
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleanersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.16	$66,890	$44,230 to $71,570	300	High school diploma or equivalent
Civil engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$32.02	$66,590	$57,030 to $81,780	370	Associate's degree
Environmental science and protection technicians, including healthAssociate's degree	$31.85	$66,240	$49,600 to $80,350	140	Associate's degree
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.83	$66,210	$56,100 to $79,380	1,860	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$31.48	$65,490	$59,910 to $80,080	710	Associate's degree
Structural iron and steel workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.48	$65,470	$54,070 to $74,860	610	High school diploma or equivalent
Computer network support specialistsAssociate's degree	$31.46	$65,450	$53,200 to $81,850	1,490	Associate's degree
Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except enginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.32	$65,150	$59,810 to $77,260	1,490	High school diploma or equivalent
Construction and building inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.25	$65,000	$51,880 to $79,540	570	High school diploma or equivalent
Stationary engineers and boiler operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.22	$64,930	$58,930 to $76,690	290	High school diploma or equivalent
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.07	$64,620	$48,220 to $82,720	40	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.03	$64,530	$64,530 to $80,990	220	High school diploma or equivalent
Sheet metal workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.98	$64,440	$46,030 to $88,310	440	High school diploma or equivalent
Morticians, undertakers, and funeral arrangersAssociate's degree	$30.92	$64,310	$46,140 to $80,900	210	Associate's degree
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.83	$64,120	$47,030 to $78,170	410	Postsecondary nondegree award
Industrial machinery mechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.82	$64,110	$57,550 to $75,670	2,880	High school diploma or equivalent
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.78	$64,030	$50,500 to $84,510	8,550	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.78	$64,020	$52,800 to $75,440	410	Postsecondary nondegree award
Surgical technologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.71	$63,880	$57,700 to $68,840	770	Postsecondary nondegree award
Sound engineering techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.68	$63,810	$53,790 to $77,690	50	Postsecondary nondegree award
Calibration technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.54	$63,530	$60,090 to $73,600	130	Associate's degree
Correctional officers and jailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.47	$63,380	$60,160 to $72,820	3,250	High school diploma or equivalent
Paralegals and legal assistantsAssociate's degree	$30.41	$63,250	$49,390 to $73,940	1,630	Associate's degree
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.38	$63,190	$52,800 to $68,730	70	Postsecondary nondegree award
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$30.38	$63,180	$50,250 to $72,550	210	Associate's degree
Geological technicians, except hydrologic techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.37	$63,160	$50,290 to $66,800	—	Associate's degree
Service unit operators, oil and gasNo formal educational credential	$30.28	$62,990	$57,600 to $63,180	30	No formal educational credential
Reinforcing iron and rebar workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.25	$62,920	$58,960 to $75,970	230	High school diploma or equivalent
Advertising sales agentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.24	$62,890	$40,940 to $108,180	1,190	High school diploma or equivalent
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$30.13	$62,660	$59,080 to $71,860	4,580	Postsecondary nondegree award
Chemical techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.12	$62,640	$53,890 to $65,090	280	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.11	$62,620	$47,130 to $76,500	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Cargo and freight agentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.05	$62,500	$51,320 to $78,500	390	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 Nebraska median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 78, sorted by hourly median

Other states

Sources and method