High paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Charleston-North Charleston, SC 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC run 1.0% above the national average (2024), so a Charleston-North Charleston, SC salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC

OccupationMedian, Charleston-North Charleston, SC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,630 – $183,950610
2Dental Hygienists$94,570
Associate's degree
$80,180 – $97,710540
3Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,520
Associate's degree
$61,410 – $102,500150
4Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$91,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,780 – $123,840250
5Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$88,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,470 – $101,610130
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,080
Associate's degree
$77,200 – $108,220210
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,370
Associate's degree
$61,790 – $131,300520
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$85,270
Associate's degree
$65,980 – $93,870170
9Computer Network Support Specialists$81,990
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $113,780690
10First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$81,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,090 – $125,160340
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,820 – $93,160380
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $115,210370
13Crane and Tower Operators$80,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,990 – $97,340320
14Advertising Sales Agents$80,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $133,760520
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,870 – $105,8901,530
16Power Plant Operators$79,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,240 – $100,200150
17Respiratory Therapists$79,410
Associate's degree
$60,020 – $90,670390
18Insurance Sales Agents$78,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,180 – $202,9001,330
19Detectives and Criminal Investigators$78,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,160 – $171,250190
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,770 – $106,9602,560
21First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$77,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,900 – $113,4801,760
22Food Service Managers$75,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,840 – $115,650960
23Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,820 – $98,680300
24Maintenance Workers, Machinery$75,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,340 – $91,300140
25Tool and Die Makers$74,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,190 – $77,000160
26Chefs and Head Cooks$74,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $87,600770
27Crossing Guards and Flaggers$73,990
No formal educational credential
$34,730 – $99,410140
28First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$73,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,230 – $129,080540
29First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$73,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,900 – $102,140330
30Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,730
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $96,820640
31Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,330
Associate's degree
$46,650 – $107,680210
32Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,160
Associate's degree
$62,330 – $82,210410
33Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,460
Associate's degree
$48,310 – $105,810260
34Lodging Managers$67,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,320 – $145,280140
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$65,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $104,3404,650
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$65,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,850 – $98,410530
37Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030130
38Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,140 – $152,7503,170
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,210 – $76,3501,480
40Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$63,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $155,3601,190
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,690 – $90,0001,380
42Automotive Body and Related Repairers$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,790 – $78,110660
43Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $83,200470
44Chemical Technicians$63,050
Associate's degree
$52,280 – $101,970330
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,310 – $131,6404,290
46Tax Preparers$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,630 – $80,880210
47Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,640 – $78,340600
48Physical Therapist Assistants$62,270
Associate's degree
$37,270 – $91,300280
49Massage Therapists$62,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$18,960 – $99,410400
50First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$62,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,750 – $80,750350

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharleston-North Charleston, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,610	$66,630 – $183,950	610
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,570	$80,180 – $97,710	540
3	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,520	$61,410 – $102,500	150
4	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,000	$36,780 – $123,840	250
5	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,130	$53,470 – $101,610	130
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,080	$77,200 – $108,220	210
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,370	$61,790 – $131,300	520
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$85,270	$65,980 – $93,870	170
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,990	$56,100 – $113,780	690
10	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,800	$59,090 – $125,160	340
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,690	$65,820 – $93,160	380
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,330	$60,530 – $115,210	370
13	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,880	$46,990 – $97,340	320
14	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,410	$39,190 – $133,760	520
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,990	$51,870 – $105,890	1,530
16	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,900	$57,240 – $100,200	150
17	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,410	$60,020 – $90,670	390
18	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,890	$46,180 – $202,900	1,330
19	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,410	$53,160 – $171,250	190
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,470	$56,770 – $106,960	2,560
21	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,300	$47,900 – $113,480	1,760
22	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,700	$49,840 – $115,650	960
23	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$49,820 – $98,680	300
24	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,190	$52,340 – $91,300	140
25	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,320	$62,190 – $77,000	160
26	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,210	$47,480 – $87,600	770
27	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$73,990	$34,730 – $99,410	140
28	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,450	$46,230 – $129,080	540
29	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,280	$44,900 – $102,140	330
30	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,730	$58,450 – $96,820	640
31	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,330	$46,650 – $107,680	210
32	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,160	$62,330 – $82,210	410
33	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,460	$48,310 – $105,810	260
34	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,970	$40,320 – $145,280	140
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,910	$45,900 – $104,340	4,650
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,470	$46,850 – $98,410	530
37	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$54,330 – $75,030	130
38	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,120	$38,140 – $152,750	3,170
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,100	$49,210 – $76,350	1,480
40	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,450	$44,210 – $155,360	1,190
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,440	$43,690 – $90,000	1,380
42	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$48,790 – $78,110	660
43	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$45,720 – $83,200	470
44	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,050	$52,280 – $101,970	330
45	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$34,310 – $131,640	4,290
46	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$33,630 – $80,880	210
47	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$39,640 – $78,340	600
48	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,270	$37,270 – $91,300	280
49	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,140	$18,960 – $99,410	400
50	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,090	$40,750 – $80,750	350

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Charleston-North Charleston, 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC that need no degree

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