High paying entry level jobs in Jacksonville, NC

These occupations in Jacksonville, NC 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 Jacksonville, NC run 7.9% below the national average (2024), so a Jacksonville, NC salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Jacksonville, NC

OccupationMedian, Jacksonville, NC · Employed

1Dentists, General$188,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,520 – $306,75050
2Pharmacists$132,850
Doctoral or professional degree
$92,990 – $164,32080
3Software Developers$123,110
Bachelor's degree
$76,270 – $177,120140
4Nurse Practitioners$120,700
Master's degree
$100,190 – $149,69070
5Veterinarians$120,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$71,990 – $196,63040
6Physician Assistants$116,300
Master's degree
$99,400 – $149,63060
7Engineers, All Other$115,210
Bachelor's degree
$78,990 – $157,73050
8Mechanical Engineers$99,780
Bachelor's degree
$74,640 – $129,96050
9Computer Systems Analysts$98,100
Bachelor's degree
$74,850 – $123,22080
10Avionics Technicians$97,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$74,370 – $116,15060
11Physical Therapists$95,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$74,310 – $122,09080
12Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$93,640
Bachelor's degree
$61,530 – $114,99070
13Civil Engineers$90,070
Bachelor's degree
$64,700 – $126,44080
14Computer Occupations, All Other$89,420
Bachelor's degree
$67,850 – $133,470240
15Occupational Therapists$85,540
Master's degree
$60,060 – $110,08040
16Registered Nurses$84,750
Bachelor's degree
$66,760 – $122,430870
17Dental Hygienists$82,380
Associate's degree
$77,750 – $94,270120
18Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$82,340
Associate's degree
$51,170 – $106,33070
19Lawyers$81,660
Doctoral or professional degree
$39,790 – $170,890170
20Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81,330
Bachelor's degree
$50,840 – $119,430700
21Financial Specialists, All Other$81,330
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $119,43080
22Network and Computer Systems Administrators$79,690
Bachelor's degree
$48,080 – $102,93080
23Project Management Specialists$79,240
Bachelor's degree
$49,440 – $133,080210
24Logisticians$77,400
Bachelor's degree
$60,570 – $119,430120
25Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,210
Associate's degree
$44,240 – $93,29040
26Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$75,890
Bachelor's degree
$64,830 – $97,47050
27Accountants and Auditors$73,740
Bachelor's degree
$46,680 – $124,490360
28Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,500 – $95,950110
29Child, Family, and School Social Workers$66,520
Bachelor's degree
$44,260 – $74,940180
30Human Resources Specialists$64,730
Bachelor's degree
$43,120 – $113,310290
31Fundraisers$64,100
Bachelor's degree
$39,950 – $83,56030
32Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$63,930
Associate's degree
$43,470 – $79,26070
33Physical Therapist Assistants$61,780
Associate's degree
$52,310 – $75,73030
34Public Relations Specialists$61,050
Bachelor's degree
$32,810 – $91,56080
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$60,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,440 – $74,940130
36Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$58,800
Bachelor's degree
$31,840 – $110,150170
37Graphic Designers$58,230
Bachelor's degree
$34,360 – $88,71030
38Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,660 – $69,24070
39Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$55,970
Master's degree
$38,500 – $64,280120
40Respiratory Therapists$54,790
Associate's degree
$50,900 – $76,20040
41Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$53,660
Bachelor's degree
$40,760 – $58,390130
42Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$52,730
Bachelor's degree
$39,350 – $77,73030
43Medical Records Specialists$51,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,870 – $69,24080
44Paralegals and Legal Assistants$51,630
Associate's degree
$36,460 – $78,850210
45Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$51,460
Master's degree
$45,020 – $77,02040
46Teachers and Instructors, All Other$50,000
Bachelor's degree
$44,780 – $98,180370
47Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$49,660
Bachelor's degree
$32,880 – $80,010150
48Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$48,370
Bachelor's degree
$43,830 – $57,7701,000
49Dental Assistants$47,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,250 – $54,260170
50Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$47,690
Bachelor's degree
$38,750 – $62,44050

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

#	Occupation	MedianJacksonville, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$188,850	$99,520 – $306,750	50
2	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$132,850	$92,990 – $164,320	80
3	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$123,110	$76,270 – $177,120	140
4	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$120,700	$100,190 – $149,690	70
5	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$120,430	$71,990 – $196,630	40
6	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$116,300	$99,400 – $149,630	60
7	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$115,210	$78,990 – $157,730	50
8	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,780	$74,640 – $129,960	50
9	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$98,100	$74,850 – $123,220	80
10	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$97,240	$74,370 – $116,150	60
11	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$95,190	$74,310 – $122,090	80
12	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$93,640	$61,530 – $114,990	70
13	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$90,070	$64,700 – $126,440	80
14	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$89,420	$67,850 – $133,470	240
15	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$85,540	$60,060 – $110,080	40
16	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$84,750	$66,760 – $122,430	870
17	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,380	$77,750 – $94,270	120
18	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$82,340	$51,170 – $106,330	70
19	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$81,660	$39,790 – $170,890	170
20	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,330	$50,840 – $119,430	700
21	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$81,330	$63,130 – $119,430	80
22	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$79,690	$48,080 – $102,930	80
23	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$79,240	$49,440 – $133,080	210
24	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$77,400	$60,570 – $119,430	120
25	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,210	$44,240 – $93,290	40
26	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$75,890	$64,830 – $97,470	50
27	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$73,740	$46,680 – $124,490	360
28	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,240	$53,500 – $95,950	110
29	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$66,520	$44,260 – $74,940	180
30	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$64,730	$43,120 – $113,310	290
31	FundraisersBachelor's degree	$64,100	$39,950 – $83,560	30
32	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,930	$43,470 – $79,260	70
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,780	$52,310 – $75,730	30
34	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$61,050	$32,810 – $91,560	80
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,770	$49,440 – $74,940	130
36	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$58,800	$31,840 – $110,150	170
37	Graphic DesignersBachelor's degree	$58,230	$34,360 – $88,710	30
38	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$41,660 – $69,240	70
39	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$55,970	$38,500 – $64,280	120
40	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$54,790	$50,900 – $76,200	40
41	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$53,660	$40,760 – $58,390	130
42	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$52,730	$39,350 – $77,730	30
43	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,930	$35,870 – $69,240	80
44	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$51,630	$36,460 – $78,850	210
45	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$51,460	$45,020 – $77,020	40
46	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$50,000	$44,780 – $98,180	370
47	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$49,660	$32,880 – $80,010	150
48	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$48,370	$43,830 – $57,770	1,000
49	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,970	$35,250 – $54,260	170
50	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$47,690	$38,750 – $62,440	50

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Jacksonville, NC. 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 Jacksonville, NC to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Jacksonville, NC

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