High paying entry level jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

These occupations in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC run 2.7% below the national average (2024), so a Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC salary is worth about 1.03× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

OccupationMedian, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Employed

1Nurse Anesthetists$277,550
Master's degree
$222,510 – $334,180910
2Dentists, General$189,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$103,490 – $312,0001,140
3Lawyers$157,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,830 – $371,1705,380
4Pharmacists$150,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$91,770 – $173,9302,530
5Software Developers$135,920
Bachelor's degree
$93,690 – $172,36020,820
6Financial Risk Specialists$133,530
Bachelor's degree
$82,840 – $214,5401,880
7Physician Assistants$133,140
Master's degree
$99,610 – $169,2201,680
8Data Scientists$132,460
Bachelor's degree
$70,790 – $171,2004,420
9Nurse Practitioners$130,310
Master's degree
$107,350 – $170,4901,970
10Veterinarians$129,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,940 – $214,370750
11Engineers, All Other$118,230
Bachelor's degree
$72,140 – $167,7501,030
12Database Administrators$113,890
Bachelor's degree
$64,770 – $164,220550
13Computer Systems Analysts$110,790
Bachelor's degree
$76,360 – $168,6607,870
14Computer Occupations, All Other$110,790
Bachelor's degree
$43,330 – $170,5803,290
15Financial and Investment Analysts$106,510
Bachelor's degree
$65,540 – $172,3106,790
16Project Management Specialists$105,200
Bachelor's degree
$62,860 – $165,54011,570
17Operations Research Analysts$105,180
Bachelor's degree
$62,100 – $131,7301,360
18Electrical Engineers$103,360
Bachelor's degree
$65,140 – $213,2101,770
19Civil Engineers$102,370
Bachelor's degree
$73,790 – $164,9903,730
20Industrial Engineers$102,090
Bachelor's degree
$75,670 – $140,0002,680
21Web Developers$101,980
Bachelor's degree
$61,790 – $152,890510
22Mechanical Engineers$101,950
Bachelor's degree
$74,530 – $157,1202,470
23Physical Therapists$101,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$80,840 – $126,1801,680
24Credit Analysts$100,640
Bachelor's degree
$65,990 – $165,3302,190
25Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,650
Associate's degree
$78,070 – $107,950730
26Occupational Therapists$98,450
Master's degree
$63,710 – $121,0901,140
27Dental Hygienists$98,390
Associate's degree
$92,120 – $103,7601,910
28Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$97,440
Doctoral or professional degree
$57,890 – $212,140450
29Web and Digital Interface Designers$94,290
Bachelor's degree
$43,800 – $162,4201,070
30Accountants and Auditors$92,910
Bachelor's degree
$59,200 – $167,33016,820
31Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$91,160
Bachelor's degree
$60,890 – $136,1301,160
32Registered Nurses$90,620
Bachelor's degree
$69,680 – $110,02027,010
33Network and Computer Systems Administrators$89,990
Bachelor's degree
$23,700 – $136,8704,180
34Chemists$88,890
Bachelor's degree
$58,120 – $132,850650
35Financial Specialists, All Other$87,530
Bachelor's degree
$58,820 – $156,5401,230
36Computer Programmers$84,720
Bachelor's degree
$48,110 – $143,140670
37Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$82,930
Bachelor's degree
$47,960 – $160,4609,500
38Business Operations Specialists, All Other$82,020
Bachelor's degree
$51,530 – $171,86010,940
39Respiratory Therapists$82,020
Associate's degree
$65,170 – $100,4501,110
40Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$81,990
Bachelor's degree
$64,990 – $133,9403,900
41Logisticians$79,000
Bachelor's degree
$54,400 – $121,2702,330
42Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,950
Associate's degree
$58,690 – $100,8702,470
43Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,650 – $128,9201,310
44Human Resources Specialists$78,330
Bachelor's degree
$48,150 – $130,6108,930
45Public Relations Specialists$75,190
Bachelor's degree
$43,920 – $149,9902,470
46Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,760
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $107,350650
47Business Teachers, Postsecondary$74,530
Doctoral or professional degree
$29,410 – $184,120440
48Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$72,970
Master's degree
$30,530 – $110,710510
49Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,780
Associate's degree
$58,430 – $79,210450
50Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$72,730
Bachelor's degree
$51,180 – $115,970740

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$277,550	$222,510 – $334,180	910
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$189,220	$103,490 – $312,000	1,140
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$157,180	$61,830 – $371,170	5,380
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$150,580	$91,770 – $173,930	2,530
5	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$135,920	$93,690 – $172,360	20,820
6	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$133,530	$82,840 – $214,540	1,880
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$133,140	$99,610 – $169,220	1,680
8	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$132,460	$70,790 – $171,200	4,420
9	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$130,310	$107,350 – $170,490	1,970
10	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$129,080	$78,940 – $214,370	750
11	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$118,230	$72,140 – $167,750	1,030
12	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$113,890	$64,770 – $164,220	550
13	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$110,790	$76,360 – $168,660	7,870
14	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$110,790	$43,330 – $170,580	3,290
15	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$106,510	$65,540 – $172,310	6,790
16	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$105,200	$62,860 – $165,540	11,570
17	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,180	$62,100 – $131,730	1,360
18	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,360	$65,140 – $213,210	1,770
19	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,370	$73,790 – $164,990	3,730
20	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,090	$75,670 – $140,000	2,680
21	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$101,980	$61,790 – $152,890	510
22	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,950	$74,530 – $157,120	2,470
23	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$101,060	$80,840 – $126,180	1,680
24	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$100,640	$65,990 – $165,330	2,190
25	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,650	$78,070 – $107,950	730
26	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$98,450	$63,710 – $121,090	1,140
27	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,390	$92,120 – $103,760	1,910
28	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,440	$57,890 – $212,140	450
29	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$94,290	$43,800 – $162,420	1,070
30	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$92,910	$59,200 – $167,330	16,820
31	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$91,160	$60,890 – $136,130	1,160
32	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$90,620	$69,680 – $110,020	27,010
33	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$89,990	$23,700 – $136,870	4,180
34	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$88,890	$58,120 – $132,850	650
35	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$87,530	$58,820 – $156,540	1,230
36	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$84,720	$48,110 – $143,140	670
37	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$82,930	$47,960 – $160,460	9,500
38	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$82,020	$51,530 – $171,860	10,940
39	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,020	$65,170 – $100,450	1,110
40	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$81,990	$64,990 – $133,940	3,900
41	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$79,000	$54,400 – $121,270	2,330
42	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,950	$58,690 – $100,870	2,470
43	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,580	$51,650 – $128,920	1,310
44	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$78,330	$48,150 – $130,610	8,930
45	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$75,190	$43,920 – $149,990	2,470
46	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,760	$49,470 – $107,350	650
47	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$74,530	$29,410 – $184,120	440
48	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$72,970	$30,530 – $110,710	510
49	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,780	$58,430 – $79,210	450
50	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$72,730	$51,180 – $115,970	740

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC. 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.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

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