High paying jobs in Asheville, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Asheville, NC and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Asheville, NC run 3.5% below the national average (2024), so a Asheville, NC salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Asheville, NC

OccupationMedian, Asheville, NC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$101,170
Associate's degree
$81,440 – $107,230300
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,090 – $173,340210
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$82,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,250 – $169,740330
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,920
Associate's degree
$66,700 – $99,930120
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$81,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$69,770 – $121,980130
6Respiratory Therapists$81,550
Associate's degree
$66,620 – $92,960150
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$80,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $106,260150
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,840 – $110,74080
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$73,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,210 – $97,8401,080
10Lodging Managers$73,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,150 – $105,770100
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,570 – $103,390800
12Food Service Managers$73,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $101,420400
13Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,840
Associate's degree
$55,550 – $81,45070
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,680
Associate's degree
$58,860 – $93,120410
15Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,440
Associate's degree
$48,510 – $105,76070
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,600 – $100,790840
17Postal Service Clerks$69,700
No formal educational credential
$56,740 – $76,36080
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$66,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,070 – $82,350530
19Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,280 – $75,070860
20Surgical Technologists$65,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,720 – $82,430160
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,650 – $87,630130
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,230 – $136,1201,670
23Physical Therapist Assistants$63,860
Associate's degree
$44,150 – $77,780140
24Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,620
Associate's degree
$49,730 – $92,580130
25Paramedics$63,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,650 – $77,690280
26Detectives and Criminal Investigators$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,940 – $136,120140
27Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$62,380
Associate's degree
$34,880 – $84,33080
28Construction and Building Inspectors$62,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $82,800280
29Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,740410
30Maintenance Workers, Machinery$61,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,180 – $74,420240
31First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,080 – $88,72060
32Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,430
Associate's degree
$42,290 – $105,330150
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,210 – $92,530160
34Tool and Die Makers$60,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,300 – $82,950130
35Chefs and Head Cooks$60,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,010 – $84,420290
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,250 – $87,8301,380
37Architectural and Civil Drafters$59,560
Associate's degree
$44,680 – $94,670140
38Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$59,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $88,600250
39Mechanical Drafters$59,270
Associate's degree
$48,180 – $72,00080
40Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,550 – $73,760460
41Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,870 – $102,920330
42Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$58,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,420 – $75,720190
43Computer User Support Specialists$58,640
Some college, no degree
$39,520 – $81,590530
44First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$58,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,350 – $97,760220
45Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,040 – $92,020110
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,520 – $75,980660
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$58,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,220 – $69,50090
48Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,190 – $77,840710
49First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,830 – $81,340810
50Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,580 – $125,7901,490

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

#	Occupation	MedianAsheville, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$101,170	$81,440 – $107,230	300
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,280	$62,090 – $173,340	210
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,650	$52,250 – $169,740	330
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,920	$66,700 – $99,930	120
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,670	$69,770 – $121,980	130
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,550	$66,620 – $92,960	150
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,220	$44,530 – $106,260	150
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$52,840 – $110,740	80
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,720	$52,210 – $97,840	1,080
10	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,490	$40,150 – $105,770	100
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,100	$46,570 – $103,390	800
12	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,090	$45,760 – $101,420	400
13	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,840	$55,550 – $81,450	70
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,680	$58,860 – $93,120	410
15	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,440	$48,510 – $105,760	70
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,470	$49,600 – $100,790	840
17	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$69,700	$56,740 – $76,360	80
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,510	$49,070 – $82,350	530
19	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,470	$50,280 – $75,070	860
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,450	$43,720 – $82,430	160
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,200	$49,650 – $87,630	130
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,920	$38,230 – $136,120	1,670
23	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,860	$44,150 – $77,780	140
24	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,620	$49,730 – $92,580	130
25	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,480	$47,650 – $77,690	280
26	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$50,940 – $136,120	140
27	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$62,380	$34,880 – $84,330	80
28	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,320	$48,110 – $82,800	280
29	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $82,740	410
30	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,740	$46,180 – $74,420	240
31	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$35,080 – $88,720	60
32	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,430	$42,290 – $105,330	150
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,000	$46,210 – $92,530	160
34	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,950	$48,300 – $82,950	130
35	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,390	$38,010 – $84,420	290
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,880	$43,250 – $87,830	1,380
37	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,560	$44,680 – $94,670	140
38	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,440	$46,040 – $88,600	250
39	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$59,270	$48,180 – $72,000	80
40	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,200	$39,550 – $73,760	460
41	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$39,870 – $102,920	330
42	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,730	$40,420 – $75,720	190
43	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$58,640	$39,520 – $81,590	530
44	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,490	$45,350 – $97,760	220
45	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,190	$40,040 – $92,020	110
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,120	$43,520 – $75,980	660
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,110	$43,220 – $69,500	90
48	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,090	$46,190 – $77,840	710
49	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,080	$41,830 – $81,340	810
50	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,840	$33,580 – $125,790	1,490

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

High paying jobs in Asheville, NC that need no degree

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