High paying jobs in Burlington, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Burlington, 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 Burlington, NC run 6.8% below the national average (2024), so a Burlington, NC salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Burlington, NC

OccupationMedian, Burlington, NC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$103,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,750 – $169,720110
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,120 – $115,79070
3Dental Hygienists$97,210
Associate's degree
$80,100 – $102,800100
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,280 – $162,660120
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,550
Associate's degree
$48,620 – $94,220120
6Tool and Die Makers$78,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,390 – $78,14040
7Physical Therapist Assistants$76,010
Associate's degree
$60,130 – $81,86040
8First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$71,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,250 – $101,980260
9First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$71,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,790 – $104,080360
10Computer Network Support Specialists$69,850
Associate's degree
$37,310 – $103,59050
11Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,740
Associate's degree
$49,100 – $90,63030
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,860 – $107,26050
13Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,160 – $150,870600
14Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,760 – $82,370100
15Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,650 – $83,190370
16Postal Service Clerks$65,170
No formal educational credential
$56,390 – $75,03040
17Food Service Managers$65,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,990 – $99,990170
18Detectives and Criminal Investigators$63,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,660 – $78,02050
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$63,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,110 – $95,370450
20Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,580 – $77,970260
21Construction and Building Inspectors$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,060 – $84,02050
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$61,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $95,95080
23Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,620170
24Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,500 – $78,360180
25Computer User Support Specialists$59,550
Some college, no degree
$39,570 – $90,510190
26First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $88,920500
27Self-Enrichment Teachers$58,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,030 – $77,970120
28Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,920 – $125,550380
29Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$58,310
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $71,47040
30Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$56,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,730 – $74,050260
31First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$56,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,000 – $87,93080
32Machinists$56,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $72,390110
33Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,290
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,870 – $94,0001,020
34Chefs and Head Cooks$55,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,690 – $87,11060
35Opticians, Dispensing$55,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,850 – $76,11040
36Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$55,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,620 – $74,63050
37Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$55,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $78,130130
38First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$54,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $80,53050
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$54,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,000 – $78,890500
40Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$52,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,490 – $73,940280
41Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$52,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,480 – $65,68030
42Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$51,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,010 – $73,76050
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$51,620
Associate's degree
$37,440 – $71,240110
44Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$51,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,060 – $61,980200
45Electricians$51,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,500 – $72,350230
46First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$51,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,540 – $75,24080
47Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$50,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,370 – $65,620100
48Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $64,790120
49Loan Interviewers and Clerks$50,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$19,360 – $60,06080
50Dental Assistants$50,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,910 – $57,360150

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

#	Occupation	MedianBurlington, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,690	$60,750 – $169,720	110
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,350	$73,120 – $115,790	70
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,210	$80,100 – $102,800	100
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,050	$56,280 – $162,660	120
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,550	$48,620 – $94,220	120
6	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,140	$49,390 – $78,140	40
7	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$76,010	$60,130 – $81,860	40
8	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,850	$45,250 – $101,980	260
9	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,390	$51,790 – $104,080	360
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,850	$37,310 – $103,590	50
11	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,740	$49,100 – $90,630	30
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$44,860 – $107,260	50
13	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,890	$32,160 – $150,870	600
14	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,860	$39,760 – $82,370	100
15	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,700	$55,650 – $83,190	370
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,170	$56,390 – $75,030	40
17	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,160	$34,990 – $99,990	170
18	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,780	$49,660 – $78,020	50
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,690	$46,110 – $95,370	450
20	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,450	$56,580 – $77,970	260
21	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$53,060 – $84,020	50
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,620	$44,990 – $95,950	80
23	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,010	$42,390 – $81,620	170
24	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,680	$40,500 – $78,360	180
25	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,550	$39,570 – $90,510	190
26	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$44,310 – $88,920	500
27	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,970	$22,030 – $77,970	120
28	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,340	$35,920 – $125,550	380
29	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,310	$41,600 – $71,470	40
30	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,890	$38,730 – $74,050	260
31	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,820	$46,000 – $87,930	80
32	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,460	$37,590 – $72,390	110
33	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,290	$39,870 – $94,000	1,020
34	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,530	$32,690 – $87,110	60
35	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,530	$36,850 – $76,110	40
36	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,440	$36,620 – $74,630	50
37	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,230	$35,410 – $78,130	130
38	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,370	$44,990 – $80,530	50
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,220	$42,000 – $78,890	500
40	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,450	$37,490 – $73,940	280
41	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,390	$38,480 – $65,680	30
42	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,640	$39,010 – $73,760	50
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$51,620	$37,440 – $71,240	110
44	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,570	$40,060 – $61,980	200
45	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,400	$37,500 – $72,350	230
46	First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,330	$30,540 – $75,240	80
47	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,960	$40,370 – $65,620	100
48	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,740	$38,810 – $64,790	120
49	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,420	$19,360 – $60,060	80
50	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,140	$37,910 – $57,360	150

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

High paying jobs in Burlington, NC that need no degree

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